DaKodachrome

Photo

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

settings

Aperture f/5 ISO 100 Shutter 1/500 Focal Length 175/1

upload_date

Apr, 2016

Views

214

Likes

+14

Awards

Action Award

Zenith Award

Creative Winter Award

Curator's Selection

Great Shot

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Outstanding Creativity

Peer Award

Top Ranks

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

Chelsey is an accomplished barrel racer with wins in the National Barrel Horse Association and the 4-H show, we met at the county fair where she was competing in the rodeo. We had talked off and on through the winter about doing a personal photoshoot. Once the spring came around I went down to her family home in Church Road Va and we made some unforgettable images of her and her horses(4 total).

Time

This was a fairly long shoot from 4 in the afternoon to 8:30 at night to allow adequate time for the horses to rest and enough time to set up the practice arena for action shots at sunset. This image was actually made about three hours before sunset.

Lighting

I placed Chelsey and Ginger on a dirt road with the setting sun over their left shoulders to create a side/back light and used a large softbox from the left side of the frame to bring out just a bit of shadow detail while also balancing the background exposure.

Equipment

Canon 5d mark 3 with 70-200 F2.8 and a Profoto B1 flash unit with a Westcott Rapid box 48" octa XXL Softbox.

Inspiration

I wanted to capture the bond between horse and rider in a very dreamy and soft image. The light on this road was perfect for the look we were going for with a good distance to the background to completely blur the background trees while maintaining enough depth of field to keep both Chelsey and Ginger in focus (shot at f/5)

Editing

Minimal post processing to adjust color temperature and to remove a few flyaway hairs, added contrast and saturation.

In my camera bag

Camera Bag; I could do my entire job with my canon 5d mark 3 and 70-200 f/2.8. That combination always yields amazing results. I also carry an oben tripod everywhere I go. Canon 16-35 f/4 for my wide angle landscape shots.The Canon 24-105 f/4 is an amazing lens for everyday shooting with a great range for both landscapes and portrait work. I have recently added a Sigma 20mm f/1.4 for astrological photography. I always keep extra batteries, lens cloths, a lenspen, rocket air puffer, L-bracket, gaffer tape, and extra business cards. Lighting bag; Profoto B1 Location kit with 2 strobes (expensive but excellent on-location lighting kit) has oversized mesh pockets on either side with straps for light stands. Inside the bag I keep a snoot, reflector and collapsible softbox, outside of the bag I strap a Westcott Rapid box 48" octa XXL Softbox. Some days I feel like a pack mule hauling all this gear but the end result is always worth the effort.

Feedback

When working with animals a good rule is to be patient and allow adequate time for any complications that may arise (I was lucky enough to be working with some very professional horses). Observe rather than direct a moment (No amount of posing skills would have ever gotten this horse in this position with her eye closed perfectly). I pose very few of my images and rather watch what is happening in front of me and will give slight directions when needed. When lighting a scene like this I like to work my way from back to front, meter for the background then add your subject and get your lights dialed in to where you want them then let the moment happen and be prepared for when it does.

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Photo

Behind The Lens

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