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The Heart of a Thoroughbred
1st PlaceThe Heart of a Thoroughbred
Judi


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Panning (Basic Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-5D
Lens: Sigma 50-500mm f/4.0-6.3 EX DG HSM for Canon EOS
Location: Australia
Date: Feb 9, 2008
Aperture: 29
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/50
Galleries: Sports, Photojournalism
Date Uploaded: Feb 11, 2008

 Post - Challenge

Thanks again everyone. I went down to the races as a bit of a break from everything. They only had 4 races that day, but because I had 3 kids in tow I only stayed for 3 races. This was about my third shot into the first race as they past the finishing line of which I was standing right in front of. I am lucky that I am allowed to stand in the Marshalling yard during the race.

I had a couple of others that I really liked which I will add here.



And one from just before the race.





I have been asked many times for some tips on panning. It is pretty easy. I use different lens depending on the subject. In this case the 50-500mm which combined with the 5D body is quite weighty but nevertheless, these images were handheld...so it can be done.

Your background is essential. You MUST have backgroundmatter...or there is nothing to blur out. In this case I was uncertain how much blur I would get. It is the blur that determines the streaking and therefore the speed of the subject. Foliage is the most commonly used matter. For these shots I had the different colours of the background grasses, the training sand, the railings, the distant trees and clouds.

Next step are your settings. I drop my ISO all the way down. For the 5D that is 100. I know that I want my shutter slow..usually around 1/80 or 1/50. That is a lot of extra light coming in. Whatever you give, you must take. It is always a balancing act. So whilst my ISO is low...my shutter is bringing in loads of light...so I need to counteract that with a narrow aperture (high number). This will help cut out the excessive light. For this shot I used an Aperture of 29. I also ensured I used continuous shooting mode.

I then prefocused using Autofocus on a spot on the ground where I knew the horses would be hitting in front of the finishing post. I flicked the lens over to Manual Focus and waited.

As the sound of the hooves came closer, I lifted the camera to the right of the finishing post. I watched the horses come nearer and as they entered my viewfinder, I started to follow them. That gives me the initial speed of following the sujbect. I then closed the shutter down. Because I was on continuous shooting mode I was then able to continue following the horses while firing off the shots. Even after my last shot was taken I still moved the camera with the horses to keep that flow happening.

As I said...this was my third shot of this burst....the horse had just past the finishing post. So it doesn't take much to get the speed happening. They were only a few meters from me....a focal length of 116mm on this shot was used.

I hope that helps.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 128
Avg (all users): 6.8374
Avg (commenters): 7.2222
Avg (participants): 6.8571
Avg (non-participants): 6.8316
Views since voting: 7611
Views during voting: 444
Votes: 246
Comments: 54
Favorites: 6 (view)

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AuthorThread
 02/25/2008 09:16:35 AM
Congratulations, Ms. Judi! Magnificent animal! Great shot! :)

My last foot race was run on a horsetrack in Florida...5K as I recall to benefit Breast Cancer Research (i.e. called "Race for The Cure".)

An amazing circumstance with excellent scenery, but hooo, Boy! I am soooooo out-of-shape! I posted a shot I took there in the last Minimal Edit Challenge I entered here...Sure gives a sense of accomplishment to do something great for others! :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:29:24 AM
Excellent capture. Thanks for posting the panning details.
Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/24/2008 02:41:33 PM
Really nice pic :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/22/2008 03:53:25 PM
I haven't tried any sort of panning shot, but your success and this beautiful shot so full of motion inspires me to try! Big congratulations on winning this race :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/22/2008 02:37:36 PM
would've given this a 10 had i voted, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/21/2008 04:48:44 PM
Great shot and great job. Thanks also for taking the time to write about the process. Very helpful!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/21/2008 04:37:05 AM
well done/congrats
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 04:06:21 PM
Congratulations Judi great shot. Went to the races a few weeks ago was a lot of fun but hard to a get good pictures with all the people. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 01:45:00 PM
Great shot!!! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 01:05:18 PM
Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:39:52 PM
judi judy
what happened to your imagination?
gone as swiftly as the horse?
never mind the blue ribbon next time better i hope
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 11:28:29 AM
Nice job Judi! Perfect example of panning and a super cool subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 10:47:03 AM
Awesome babe! Congrats!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 10:24:07 AM
Great job Judi :-) Love to see Blue ribbons on a horse. Congrats on your first place. :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 09:59:01 AM
Judi you are my heroine!!!! A HORSE picture with a Blue ribbon let alone in the top 10!!!!!

Fabulous picture, well done.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 07:44:20 AM
OK Judi this is getting out of hand. Is there any way I could slip you some $$$ and get you to slow down a little so I can catch up to you in the ribbon race?? You're amazing and I hope you never stop. Great image Judi and in basic at that. Not that you can't take a great shot without PP but just think of what this would have looked like if you had been able to work a little magic on it.

Great work again Judi, keep it coming and don't worry about little Ole me someday I'll score a ribbon, I hear the Brown ones are nice and scented too. What ever that means.!?

MAX!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 07:35:36 AM
Congrats Judi - excellent shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 06:45:40 AM
Congrats, well deserved Blue.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 06:31:14 AM
Congrats Judi. Great shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 06:05:56 AM
Congratulations again Judi. Well done
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 03:18:08 AM
Congrats, Judi, your horse beat my horses by a country mile! :-o
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 02:13:31 AM
Top Shot Judi, Realy like the aperture to shutter speed to bring the colors together, I didn't vote on this challenge, sure would have given this a good score.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 02:04:09 AM
This is very beautiful.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 01:58:29 AM
yet another spectacular image congrats YET again :) and well deserved

Message edited by author 2008-02-20 02:01:01.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 01:06:56 AM
My goodness Judi, how many ribbons already this year!????? This is awesome, crisp, amazing...bit like you :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 01:02:20 AM
Great shot Judi. Well deserved BLUE. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:35:02 AM
Judi, congratulation on another ribbon - very well deserved.
You are an extremely good and versatile photographer – you are always original and different.
Very refreshing compare to all those “one tricked dog” kind of photographers that are around...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:33:01 AM
Congrats Judi!! Hope you haven't used up all you ribbon shots, save a couple for the Olympics, will ya!! : ) Nice one!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:31:38 AM
Well worth the blue. Congratz
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:29:43 AM
I remember when I was about a couple of ribbons behind you then you just took off. Congrats on the blue. This one got my highest vote.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:23:08 AM
Gratz on your second 1st place ribbon in a row. Dont make this a habit cause im gonan beatcha next time. ;)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:21:22 AM
Is it ever a bad thing to have Judi on top of you?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:06:21 AM
Congrads on the blue!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:03:00 AM
This was in my top 2 in voting. gave it a 9. Great job Judi.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/20/2008 12:02:53 AM
Whooooot! WTG Judi! This is a fantastic shot, congrats on the blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/19/2008 11:26:18 PM
Very Nice Photo. Nice color, very clear.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 12:50:49 PM
Great that the horse is in motion but the jockey is not (and really sharp which is great). Shame the second horse is in view. Fat border, whats going on there?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 12:28:20 PM
beautiful
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 10:04:57 AM
i like how the legs and the background of the picture is blurry but the photo isnt.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 09:53:40 AM
Very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 07:01:29 AM
nice detail on the riders jersey
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/19/2008 01:06:52 AM
Very nice image. Looks like it was a great day. We still have snow on the ground :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/18/2008 07:35:19 PM
The panning is very effective. Good detail on the subject. Nice work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/17/2008 06:36:25 PM
very nice panning technique used with good contrast of subject and background
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2008 06:57:29 PM
Nice bright colors and good focus. Nice job.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2008 10:59:40 AM
Nice motion and subject sharpness. It seems like you used a longer exposure than some of the other horse shots which really accentuates the speed here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/15/2008 04:33:53 AM
Great color and lighting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/14/2008 07:29:39 PM
gorgeous
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/14/2008 02:27:50 PM
I think this is pretty much perfect. I love the vibrant colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/14/2008 12:47:41 PM
Very good use of panning, but (and this is just me) maybe you could've focused more on the horse instead of the jockey since your title is "Heart of a Thoroughbred"
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2008 08:17:08 PM
nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2008 07:02:45 PM
great shot very crisp. The great colors are a bonus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2008 01:43:51 PM
i remember liking another shot like this in the last Motion Panning challenge. Very nice colors, and very nice technique. this one works well for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/13/2008 03:42:48 AM
Lovely shot, very well done 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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