I ventured out to a gymkhana on Saturday and a Breed Show on Sunday, and was quite pleased with the end results:)



















Ok that's way too many, but I like them all:) Oh the grey with the bluish cast has been edited, it was a normal colour straight out of the camera.

Some very nice shots Michelle. I really like the composition of #6.

Beautiful shots, Michelle. I, too like the comp of #6, but I am really taken by #8. There is just something about the whole pic that speaks to me. Just beautiful. #9 and #7 (with some cloning work done on it) would be absolutely perfect for breed ads. I also like #2 just because I love draft horses, but he's a little too blocked up with shadows for my taste. Good job. Where was this show?

Thanks Bob and Julie:)

I must admit that I do prefer to non-ad type compositions, especially ones that show the emotional relationship between people and their animals.

I have fiddled with adjusting the levels in selected areas of the shadows on the clydie pic which made a big difference, will have to post the edit later.

Shot #5 and #6 were taken at a twilight gymkhana, the others at the Gosnells Summer Showoffs Breed Show (LOL so shooting in harsh mid summer Western Australian sun).

Michelle,
these are all very nice images both technically and creatively. How do you like your new camera/lenses?

I'm not sure if you've edited the Clydesdale, but it looks fine to me right now. In fact, looks just like Sundance , my Rottie boy. I can see them pulling the Budweiser wagon together !

Did you shoot RAW or jpeg?

Jim

Thanks Jim! I LOVE my new camera and lenses:) I'm shooting RAW1 which is the second smallest raw file (normal raw is just too big and I don't get enough shots to cover an event (even with 16G of cards, LOL even with RAW1 I have just had to buy 2 more 4gb cards and I have a fairly high keeper rate).

I did edit that shot of the clydie, but after I recalibarted my monitor with Spyder 3, I went back and did selective levels on the real shadow areas, which looks better except now I think I have some purple CA on the neck behind his cheekbone and on the halter leather in that area...but I might be being over picky.

This is the edited-edit

Michelle,
yes, I see the purple fringing. It would bother me, too.

I understand what you mean about eating up CF cards -- I've just started shooting the 40D and I shot an indoor show today at ISO 1,600 and ran out of space on a 4 GB card right in the middle of BOB. I was shooting full RAW but, still, the 40D is only 2 mpx more than the 30D and I never ran out of CF space shooting candids of only one Breed when shooting the 30D. Guess I'm going to need to invest in some 8 GB cards!

Continued good luck with the equipment and keep the images coming.

Jim

Those are really nice!! I do like the first clydesdale photo better than the adjusted one.