ontherocks wrote:
you did well for not having a sports camera and all.

ArtistryImage wrote:
Drew, certainly enchanting captures... albeit wonder what the narrative might have appeared if you had been wide open... i.e. f2.8?  appears you are stopped down considerable here...  just a thought to possibly isolate rider/horse from distractions of the background... however totally love the color harmonies here... splendid work indeed... 

As for what constitutes a "Sport Camera" might hang out here for a while..
http://www.sportsshooter.com/

I've grown professionally from their site...

all the best on your journey...

Thank you for your kind comments.

As you can see from the Info below that the top image was taken at f2.8. The others most likely were too.

File Name    Osberton Horse Trials 2013_0265.CR2
Camera Model    Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Firmware    Firmware Version 1.2.1
Shooting Date/Time    05/10/2013 15:29:32
Owner's Name   
Shooting Mode    Manual Exposure
Tv(Shutter Speed)    1/800
Av(Aperture Value)    2.8
Metering Mode    Spot Metering
ISO Speed    2000
Auto ISO Speed    OFF
Lens    EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Focal Length    70.0mm
Image Size    5760x3840
Image Quality    RAW
Flash    Off
FE lock    OFF
White Balance Mode    Daylight
AF Mode    AI Servo AF
AF Configuration Tool    Case 2
Tracking sensitivity    2
Accel./decel. tracking    1
AF point auto switching    2
AF area select mode    Manual selection
Picture Style    Faithful
Sharpness    0
Contrast    0
Saturation    0
Color tone    0
Color Space    sRGB
Long exposure noise reduction    Disable
High ISO speed noise reduction    Standard
Highlight tone priority    Enable
Auto Lighting Optimizer    Disable
Peripheral illumination correction    Enable
Chromatic aberration correction    Enable
Dust Delete Data    No
File Size    28820KB
Drive Mode    High-speed continuous shooting

Managing Light wrote:
Drew, the second image is a killer - the tones are almost pearlescent.  Look at the rider's facial complexion; it looks perfect - she could have been shot in the studio after an extensive MUA session.

Wonderful work, overall.

Thank you.

I had a MUA riding along side her for most of the course and just off camera left my assistant is holding a white reflector!

It's just one of (facial expressions) the many things I love about shooting athletes  and particularly equestrian competitors.

This was a class 2 event which is a pretty high level. The fences are high and wide and the rider and horse have to trust each other completely and both have to exhibit extremes of courage, confidence and athleticism.

Do you notice that her attention is not on the fence she is jumping - that's done and dusted even though they are only half way over it - her gaze is now to the next fence approximately 20 meters away ahead of her and slightly to her right. She's already anticipating the route in to it and the number of strides that will take them there.

Drew Smith Photography wrote:

Thank you for your kind comments.

As you can see from the Info below that the top image was taken at f2.8. The others most likely were too.

File Name    Osberton Horse Trials 2013_0265.CR2
Camera Model    Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Tv(Shutter Speed)    1/800
Av(Aperture Value)    2.8
Metering Mode    Spot Metering
ISO Speed    2000
Auto ISO Speed    OFF
Lens    EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Focal Length    70.0mm

That's cuz 2.8 @ 70mm looks different then 2.8 @ 200mm.

Smedley Whiplash wrote:
Amazing work Drew! 

I'm curious though about the post processing. The nudes in your portfolio (in roughly the same forest type setting), have a bit different tonal qualities.  Same camera?, different processing?, different day?

Hmm, different camera (5Dmk II for the nudes).

Different processing too as I love trying to bring out the detail in the horses and really accentuate their physicality as at this level they are at the peak of fitness and showing a lot of vascularity. I also like to drop the overall Saturation a little in Raw conversion and lift the shadows a little - its just a phase I'm going through.

And yes, a different day of course. By that I guess you mean different lighting.

As for 2.8 at 70mm looking different to 2.8 at 200mm, then I'm guessing that the compression isn't the same and this will change the look and feel of the image.

Drew Smith Photography wrote:
As for 2.8 at 70mm looking different to 2.8 at 200mm, then I'm guessing that the compression isn't the same and this will change the look and feel of the image.

Not just the compression, the actual DOF is different at the two focal lengths, and the hyperfocal distance is considerately different.  Depending on the focusing distance, the DOF at 70mm might be 5x greater then at 200mm, and that translates into how the background appears more or less focused beyond the subject.

Personally, I  like the greater DOF in the equine shots that show the beautiful setting, which IMO, is part of the experience where you are.  A tin building barrel racing venue or metal fenced arena has far less appeal.

Smedley Whiplash wrote:

Not just the compression, the actual DOF is different at the two focal lengths, and the hyperfocal distance is considerately different.  Depending on the focusing distance, the DOF at 70mm might be 5x greater then at 200mm, and that translates into how the background appears more or less focused beyond the subject.

Personally, I  like the greater DOF in the equine shots that show the beautiful setting, which IMO, is part of the experience where you are.  A tin building barrel racing venue or metal fenced arena has far less appeal.

Yes, quite so. And of course this is all affected by how far you are from your subject and how far the subject is from the background.

And just to demonstrate your point here's another shot from Osberton where I'm at 200mm at f2.8 and the background is quite distant. Notice the nicely OOF background:

Smedley Whiplash wrote:
Very awesome!   and I very much like the processing you've applied to them.

As do I.

Jakov Markovic wrote:
Well, it's not a sports camera, it's a portrait/wedding camera.

Its funny you should say that - I've been noticing chromatic confetti aberration on all my sports shots. Its hell to take out in post!

Adam Rich Photography wrote:
I'm very happy with the 5D Mk III / EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS combination. In good light, I'll use my 7D, but when I have go to high ISO, the 5D3 gets me what I need:



1/750 sec, f/2.8 ISO 8000

This is a beautiful image. The synergy of the rider and the horse is simply amazing. Look at just how relaxed they are. Poll bending and barrel rolling is just so more civilized than show jumping, trials and horse racing. I wonder if the fact that poll bending and barrel rolling was invented by women has something to do with it.

Drew Smith Photography wrote:

This rider in comparison has it all wrong.

He came in to close to the jump so the horse had to go up at a steep angle and is comming down to steep. Back hoofs are still over the obstacle. Reigns are too tight not letting the hosre free to take the landing that is a challenge because the only f@#king reason for the water is to make it impossible for the horse to know where the
earth below is so as to make it more likely for the whole obstacle to stump the horse...... especially considering that the rider is of no help here.

For lovers of all things equine and all things 5D Mk III

This IMHO invites discussion of love of all things equine as well as all things 5D MK III

Fred Greissing wrote:
Hi Skydancer.

With all due respect I think this discussion is relevant to the industry.
All industries have social responsibility. Animal welfare is one of these.

May I also point out the first phrase of the openning post:


This IMHO invites discussion of love of all things equine as well as all things 5D MK III

You may feel free to start a discussion on photographers' social responsibly in General Industry or Off Topic, but please stop hijacking this thread topic. Anymore, and I will be forced to brig you.