Tossed
Bronco 1, Cowboy 0 at the Eagle Idaho Rodeo. This is always a fun venue to shoot - easy access, late afternoon light, and lots of action. There's nothing better...
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Bronco 1, Cowboy 0 at the Eagle Idaho Rodeo. This is always a fun venue to shoot - easy access, late afternoon light, and lots of action. There's nothing better than a good rodeo.
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Jul, 2015Views
200
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Awards
Top Shot Award 21
Winner in Rodeos Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at our local Idaho rodeo where I could get right up close to the action. My favorite event is bronc riding because anything can happen. Riders usually spend a lot more time off the horse than on.Time
Late afternoon is the best time for daytime rodeo photography and conditions were perfect here for fast shutter speeds and easy focusing.Lighting
The sun was bright so the light was hard and directional, perfect for stopping rodeo action with fast shutter speeds. Finding the right angle was only a matter of walking around the arena to find the best vantage point where the rider and horse would be lit from the side. A large f/2.8 aperture allowed the spectators to go slightly out of focus, drawing attention to the action.Equipment
I shot this image hand-held with a Nikon D750 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Shutter speed was 1/2000 sec at f/2.8, and ISO 200.Inspiration
I love rodeos because the action is nonstop and the unexpected is the order of the day - a photographer's dream. This rodeo is special because it's a mile from my house and many of the participants and spectators are local friends and neighbors. It's a true community event. So the inspiration to photograph it was easy!Editing
Post processing was minimal but important. Basic tonal values and color balance were handled with Adobe Lightroom 6, with a touch of dynamic contrast and sharpening added only to the rider and horse with OnOne Perfect Effects.In my camera bag
For action sports, I usually carry two full-frame Nikon bodies, a D750 and a D610. My go-to lens is the 70-200mm f/2.8, and 24-120mm f/4 for backup. A Fuji X-T1 with a 35mm f/1.4 prime is perfect for close shots of people and rodeo gear.Feedback
Small daylight rodeos are a great place to learn to shoot action sports. The atmosphere is always friendly and getting close to the action is as easy as finding a safe place to shoot through the safety fence. Pay attention at all times to the action in the arena - large animals can hit those fences with incredible force and you don't want to be daydreaming when they do! Shutter speed is the most important consideration for stopping action, so start with 1/1000 sec and go faster if possible. Wide apertures in the f/2.8 to f/5.6 range will isolate the subject without completely blurring the background. Don't worry too much about ISO, especially in daylight, so pump it up to whatever is necessary to keep shutter speed high. Anticipate the most exciting moments and shoot like crazy. Because things happen so fast at a rodeo, burst mode might seem like a great idea. However, the peak moment can often occur between burst exposures, so I've found that my own finger results in a higher success rate. When you get home, clean your gear from top to bottom because although rodeos are wicked fun, they are dusty, too. If you're lucky enough to find a small rodeo nearby, don't miss it!
