Ready, Set… Shoot!

Two Bits

Action shots are hard to catch, but they are priceless when you get them right. As with everything, there are tricks. It helps to understand what you’re watching.

If it’s a show ring event you’re trying to capture, the hours you spend standing there watching riders approach the jumps will you help you feel the rhythm, anticipate when the horse will arrive at a certain point, and know how he’ll be looking.

Studying horse magazines will give you an idea of typical shots and classic moments in different equine sports.

For events where an important moment is certain to take place at one particular point- a jump, a barrel, a slide area in a reining event or a letter in a dressage arena – you can pre-focus your camera. The instruction manual will tell you how.

Crazy about horses? Test your knowledge with AQHA’s Junior Master Horseman program. You can even earn certificates!

There are standard shots in action photography that work well. The trot, for instance, is best shot when the front foot nearest you reaches forward. It takes practice to see this. Watch that foot as the horse approaches, and count his hoof beats: one-two, one-two, establishing “two” as the beat which that front foot reaches forward. Click on “two,” when the horse is directly in front of you.

Now that you know all of Two Bits’ photography secrets, get out there and get to practicing!