Grrr having to retype this because I just deleted the last 10 min worth of scribbling by mistake! :bang:
Aside from the shutter speed issue that's already been dealt with, that is incredibly daft and potentially dangerous advice. Unless you know the event, the course and how a horse is likely to react to any myriad influences, then stay back.
======= ======== =======
Right, this thread has excellent examples of the three basic SJ shots:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=331279
No1, the 45° angle: the easiest to make both rider and horse look good. Great for beginners of both species and a good seller.
No2, Head on: a dual purpose shot used for press and editorial as well as for parents who are more focused on their offspring enjoying the money that they've spent on the four hoofed wonder than the actual animal itself. Also great for environmental shots as there is less of the combination to fill up the frame. A lot more difficult to track the subject on to the fence and with them approaching head on much easier to fluff the focus.
No4, Side on: The most technically demanding in terms of making the horse, rider and photographer look good. Best used for experienced combinations or those who don't know what they're looking at. Used to evaluate the horse for training or for sales advertising, and also used as a training aid for jockeys. An instant sale if you (and they) get it right, in the bin if you/they don't. It should be exactly as seen; horse 1/2 to 1 ft off the ground, back legs together for an even take off (and muscle/bone wear), front tucked up and parallel. Rider up on the horse, showing well.
Tech:
Shutter speed of 1/500th min preferably 1/800th.
f/4 if you can get away with it, but check your depth of field in relation to aperture, focal length and focal distance. You may need to go out to f/5.6 to achieve critical focus on both horse and rider at times.
Exposure. Either M or Av.
Manual if you are just covering one fence. Meter off the ground in front of the fence (preferably grass or sand). If you are covering more than one fence and the light is even use M for that as well.
If you are covering the whole ring and the light varies with shade etc then use Av, but bear the following in mind:
Horse's colour: adjust approx +1 EC for Greys, +1/3 for Chestnuts and -1 for Dark Bays vary for shades in between. Scan the entire ground and watch the shutter speed. If it drops below your desired minimum up the ISO. Centre weighted seems to work better than most other methods, even if it is a bit old hat.
Use AI Servo and High continuous until you can guarantee that your timing is good enough to get exactly the shot that you want with one frame. Personally I always use 2-3 frames per fence, but others don't.
Jpeg v RAW - entirely your choice.
I absolutely understand where Kipax is coming from, but speaking as an organiser if everybody came up and asked permission to shoot it would drive me mad. The exceptions are commercial shooting for open sale and press seeking accreditation (this should have been booked in advance anyway).
Always be aware of what the animal is doing, where it is and where it's escape routes are - although this shouldn't be so much of an issue with an SJ ring as it is with XC on an open course.
