Can anyone take me to the races?

KIPAX

KIPAX

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KIPAX Lancashire UK
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Anyone do horse racing?

OK.... So I am a sports photographer.. If I am asked to cover Tennis (never been asked yet) I will know what I am doing as I have been to a couple of tournaments and shot for no money no sales ...just for the experience.. then if asked I can confidently say yes to a commision.. same with some other sports...

Doing jobs for experience that I have never done before... these are my training days...Without these i cant really take on paid work not knowing what to do..

one sport I ahve never done is Horse racing and to be fair only been asked once.. But I would like to get at least one days shooting under my belt wiht someone who knows horse racing so if I am ever asked then....

So anyone.. (I will travel) need a hand on a midweek horse race event then can i come? :)
 
It's a nightmare to get official accreditation for as you might remember from this thread:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=277935

However there's still the scope to be commissioned to cover someone's horse I'd think.

I've just had a quick trawl through the sports pics and we don't seem to have anyone covering professionally, so can I suggest another angle?

Go to a meeting with an owner (with or without camera) and see what opportunities you can spot.

You might want to give Briony a PM ;)
 
Going on from Mark's idea, how about contacting any stables near you Tony and putting a few ideas in their heads, you never know.
 
DemiLion said:
However there's still the scope to be commissioned to cover someone's horse I'd think.
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which is what I was asked to do.. but having never done horse racing it wouldnt have been a good idea (hence the thread).. plus i was booked elsewhere :)

DemiLion said:
Go to a meeting with an owner (with or without camera) and see what opportunities you can spot.
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problem is i dont know any owners.. but i do know lots of photogrpahers..
 
Mark, Martin....all good ideas and thanks for the thoughts chaps :) But none of these would help.. I still wouldnt get the best advice on what or how to photogrpah horse racing.. I need to be with a photogrpaher for that .... I am looking for training not work opportunities...

appreciate the ideas :)
 
KIPAX said:
problem is i dont know any owners..
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See the hint at the bottom of my post!! :lol:

Absolute worse case scenario, I know Racing quite well and would be happy to meet up mid country somewhere (prefer south and east of Brum) to walk you through a day. I know the sport from the owner's side, the infrastructure of the sport's admin and have a fairly good idea of the standard shots involved.

Better if you find a current owner first though, as you'll get the relevant passes if you are very nice! :D
 
I got in touch with a local racing trainer near me and the photographer there has offered for me to go down with her and learn how to take racing photos during training so might be worth having a scout around your area for one?
 
kelack said:
I got in touch with a local racing trainer near me and the photographer there has offered for me to go down with her and learn how to take racing photos during training so might be worth having a scout around your area for one?
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This was what I was meaning in my post but probably didn't put it very well....'What a Plonker'. :lol:
 
I think what Tony is asking (correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree here Tony) :) is for an experienced racing snapper to show him the ropes regarding the etiquette of shooting horse racing, IE where its ok to stand and where it isn't, the best way to go about covering the different races most efficently & so on.
I'm pretty sure looking at his work he would make a blinking good job of any sport he decided to cover & doesn't need anyone to be telling him " 300mm lens, f4.5 @ 650sec here old chap" :lol: but it can cut the learning curve down considerably to be shown the ropes of how to get around a race course & what to look out for.

I'm afraid I can't be any use to you Tony I've never shot horse racing myself & don't know anyone who does ....sorry.

Stew.
 
chimper said:
I think what Tony is asking (correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree here Tony) :) is for an experienced racing snapper to show him the ropes regarding the etiquette of shooting horse racing, IE where its ok to stand and where it isn't, the best way to go about covering the different races most efficently & so on.
I'm pretty sure looking at his work he would make a blinking good job of any sport he decided to cover & doesn't need anyone to be telling him " 300mm lens, f4.5 @ 650sec here old chap" :lol: but it can cut the learning curve down considerably to be shown the ropes of how to get around a race course & what to look out for.

I'm afraid I can't be any use to you Tony I've never shot horse racing myself & don't know anyone who does ....sorry.

Stew.
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thats basically it yes...at a proper horce racing thingy :) Its not ultra important..just one of those things i should leasrn as i already turned such a job down...have a tentative offer if i will travel far enough :)


really do appreciate all the answers and help...really do :)

oh and thanks for the compliments:)
 
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You could always try a Point to Point?

They're totally open to photographers and obviously its fast horses going over fences the the concept is broadly the same...

Plus you can get right up to the paddock to get some nice shots.

Just a suggestion as it could be easier than trying to get into the flat races, the only problem is the season is over now!

There are a few pro's who regularly shoot p2p so worth asking them?
 
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no idea what point to point is but will certainly google it.. thanks :)
 
Maybe you could offer a trade? I'll show you mine if you show me yours sort of thing?
 
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Cross country and p2p are quite different!

Cross country is as you describe above, p2p is much closer to real racing, really its a step a lot of jockeys / horses take before 'going pro'

That said, they do still go over fences ( bigger than hurdles) but if you're looking to shoot horses flat out then they have plenty of straight also!

The name is also somewhat misleading as they do run circuits, so you'll often get 2 or 3 chances to get shots in the same race.

My girlfriend is an ex jocky so handy as she knows the courses down here and where the best shots can be had.

We've found some courses are quite relaxed and we've been allowed to take shots with the lens right through the wing of the fence but I wouldn't recommend that unless you know how the horses are likely to 'run out' (when they bottle the jump and run out the side), because 3/4 a ton moving at 35mph will make a mess of you and your kit!

However as long as you're sensible then you have the freedom to walk the course and shoot at your leisure!

The season starts again in about october. Have a look at jumpingforfun (Google it!)

I have a few of my first attempts here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=311771
But I've got better as the season has gone on!
 
adamdavi3s said:
Cross country and p2p are quite different!

Cross country is as you describe above, p2p is much closer to real racing, really its a step a lot of jockeys / horses take before 'going pro'

That said, they do still go over fences ( bigger than hurdles) but if you're looking to shoot horses flat out then they have plenty of straight also!

The name is also somewhat misleading as they do run circuits, so you'll often get 2 or 3 chances to get shots in the same race.

My girlfriend is an ex jocky so handy as she knows the courses down here and where the best shots can be had.

We've found some courses are quite relaxed and we've been allowed to take shots with the lens right through the wing of the fence but I wouldn't recommend that unless you know how the horses are likely to 'run out' (when they bottle the jump and run out the side), because 3/4 a ton moving at 35mph will make a mess of you and your kit!

However as long as you're sensible then you have the freedom to walk the course and shoot at your leisure!

The season starts again in about october. Have a look at jumpingforfun (Google it!)

I have a few of my first attempts here http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=311771
But I've got better as the season has gone on!
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Fair play , I stand corrected (though you do see 'cross country' events described as point to point on publicity - which is where the confusuin crept in ;) )
 
Did you ever go Tony?

if so how did you get on?
 
I once did a bit of horse racing. I basically wandered into Lingfield with my cameras on show, flashed the press pass and went to the clerk of the course's office. I spoke to some nice ladies there who gave me a pass for the course, so that was me in nice & easy.

Regarding the "form" for taking the pics, there appears to be a distinct methodology which involves figuring out how many laps they'll do, getting some shots from a specific spot/fence near the finish, then moving around to get run in and the finish, and then getting sharpish over to the winners circle to shoot the winner coming in, jockey dismounting, jubilant owners etc.

Repeat all day long. I found it massively dull TBH.

There will be the "regulars" there, so I just followed them around to get the lie of the land, and had a chat to a number of them in the usual way.

I did also get a nice set of pictures from the start which is quite a dramatic thing to see. Obviously if it's jumps you'll be looking for some remote fisheye action as well.

Andy
 
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Hi Tony. I went to a point to point a while ago, freezing cold day in February. Quite muddy, was concerned about the car getting bogged down in the car park field! Found that there is not that much 'racing', more a social thing, horse trading, eating picnics and sipping champagne with the green welly set perching on top of their range rovers. Got a couple of decent pics that did quite well in competition/exhibition. Want to go again, but I saw that one venue near me wanted to charge £30 a car entrance, and what with the petrol, I decided I could spend the money better. Have fun if you get there, be prepared to sit and wait between races.
 
Tobers said:
Regarding the "form" for taking the pics, there appears to be a distinct methodology which involves figuring out how many laps they'll do, getting some shots from a specific spot/fence near the finish, then moving around to get run in and the finish, and then getting sharpish over to the winners circle to shoot the winner coming in, jockey dismounting, jubilant owners etc.
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Sounds pretty much like what I do down at Cheltenham. I have to stick to a certain routine as I'm producing images for someone else. But if I was to go to the races by myself I would be looking to do something a little more 'arty', thinking outside of the box.

For example, I was down at Plumpton race course at the beginning of the year by myself, just papping odds and sods. there was a course photographer doing the 'routine', but there was also others like Ed Whitaker (Mr Racing Post Photos) doing the clever shots...

http://photos.racingpost.com/media/...zXQFJkkVnNqug..a?ts=MhT8kbYcAUMgvTNzUHKekw..a
 
We're off to Fakenham on New Year's day, so I'm planning to take the 70-200/2.8 and see if I can get a few shots for fun.
 
it was horse racing as apposed to anythign that had horses that i was looking into.. However on furthur investigation it doesn't look like i could make any money from it... havent been.. looks unlikely..
 
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