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My son is a professional Horseshow Photographer

By Franklyn Gallup of FriendlyBank.net

It was Thursday morning and I drove down to Portland to pick up my son at the Ramada Inn. Adam had flown into Portland Wednesday night from Florida where he now lives.

He was going to stay several days to take pictures for a horse show here in Washington state. My son takes the kind of pictures that make people say ooooh and ahhhh. He can freeze a horse and the flying dirt in mid air with the click of his finger.

Adam went and took pictures on Thursday afternoon by himself. They were doing cattle roping and bull dobbing.

I went up Saturday afternoon to spend some time with him. He uses a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS lens with his Canon 40D digital SLR camera.

The large opening on the lens allows a lot of light to enter the camera in a very short period of time. Most lens allow less light in because they have a smaller opening. This means the shutter must be open longer to compensate. This longer shutter speed causes moving subjects such as horses in motion to result in a blurred picture.

Adam has a computer and monitor set up so he can download pictures at the event. This also allows for riders and parents to view the pictures before they purchase a CD. Often riding instructors use the pictures to point out to students where improvement can be made.

Adam's camera allows for him to set up a new file for each rider as he is taking the pictures. For example, he may take 30 pictures of one rider completing and exercise where they are judged on form as well as time. At the end of that exercise he can create a new file right on the camera for the next rider. These files are in sequential order. St home he views the pictures and changes the file name to the rider's number which he sees in the pictures.

Each rider can order a CD with all of their pictures in all the events they participate in for $30. It is a heck of a good deal. The pictures are not copyrighted so they can be printed, and emailed.

You will notice I haven't included any of my son's pictures here. My son and daughter in law who is also a professional photographer don't put their pictures online. This protects their customer's privacy. In the case of the horse show this is high school equestrian teams so the riders are all minors which they don't put online as well for obvious reasons.

I have included some of the pictures of my son at work with pictures so blurred that I took with my camera that no identification is possible just to give you an idea of the event.

Adam is back home now resting up after the four grueling days of taking pictures.

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Thank you for sharing the difficulties of horseshow photography, Franklyn. My son is a horse trainer and I've ended up with some of the photos looking like your examples. It is difficult!
Best wishes.
Frederick

On Apr 28, 2010 7:09 frederick wrote: Good morning Franklyn,
Loved your intel about your son's horseshow photography.
I don't know if you can correct these errors:
"Bull Dobbing" is "Bull Dogging"

Actually, the event is called Steer Daubing. It is a precursor to steer roping and is a common event for high school girl equestrian teams.

Bull dogging is actually a much more aggressive event where the steer is actually wrestled with. It is often an event in Rodeo not girls equestrian events.

In steer daubing have to simply mark the bull with a marker on the end of a long stick. Adam tells me they use mustard to mark the steer. I used their spelling and they knew what it was. I am not surprised that horse people don't know the difference between a bull and a steer.

Yes, I can edit the Intel after it is published.

I added some more pictures to this Intel.

On a technical point, if your son sells the pictures without retaining copyright (which he has because he is the author of the pictures) he will also be deemed to be selling or transferring that copyright. This would make publishing them without the new owner's permission a breach of copyright.

theoldcoot Apr 28, 2010 11:05

Fascinating intel. Your son has a very specific niche that not many would think about or even realize exists. Thanks for sharin the info about the camera and lens

June Campbell Apr 28, 2010 11:23

What fun! I was once asked to take pictures of a chrysanthemum show and that was a most delightful assignment, but horses must be much more difficult to photograph because they move! Of course, flowers sit still for you, but the lighting can pose problems. Probably it is more interesting to take pictures of things like horses that can interact with people. Did you take the picture of Adam? That is a good shot, too.

I took all the pictures on the Intel with my little Olympus SP-500 UZ Digital Camera.

I'm fascinated with how people get into what they do! So many fall into something by chance - this looks like a tight niche that your son chose.

My son got involved with photography I think more because his wife was a professional photographer than any other factor. He definitely has a gift for it.

I asked him if he learned a lot from his wife. He said some but a lot of it he learned from reading the manual that came with the camera. I rarely read the directions so this is a novel idea for me.

Very interesting. I am a photography fan and love to see how others use it either for fun or as an occupation.

The Comic Guy Apr 28, 2010 12:37

Very nicely said, and done. Some of your pics demonstrate an eye for scope. All you need is practice and a better camera. It would be a pretty cool hobby at the least for ya.

James Emery Vigh Apr 28, 2010 12:43

Shows to go ya that the cowboy is never too old to learn.
Steer daubing as a girl's equestrian event is totally new to me.
Thank for the clarification, Franklyn.
Best wishes.
Frederick

I learned a lot about photography as I spent the weekend with my son. There seems to be a lot of difference between a picture taker and a Photographer.

My son was at this event by special request. They really like his work. My son and daughter-in-law actually do all types of Photography including weddings, hockey games, figure skating and portrait photography.

My son just got accepted into law school so he will have to fit any photography into a busy schedule.

Thanks Franklyn for sharing this intel of horseshow photographer. I have heard of a niche where somebody is called by insurance companies to take photos of accident cars. This is another freelance work which pays.

Hopefully those people don't have to take the pictures as the accident happens. I would think it would be very difficult to know when and where to be to do that.

On the other hand following the NASCAR schedule and demolition derbys would help.

Interesting subject. I'm the type who likes looking at pictures but never remembers to take my camera with me anywhere to take any.

I try to have mine with me all the time.

Hi Franklyn,
nope, there is nothing complicated about taking accident photos. Big car insurance companies in USA have photographers listed for every US state. After an accident they call the person closest living to the accident to take a picture of the damaged car. Very easy. I regret not to have kept the link, as I don't live in America.

tozcal2008 Apr 30, 2010 04:45

I have a little "point and shoot" digital! lol
I have so much to learn... very nice intel!

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