There are few more challenging sports to capture with a camera than horse racing, as the action on track can often be over in a blink of the eye.
Events such as the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes typically last just a few minutes, and long-time fans of the sport always wish to have the best moment of the winner passing the line in front on their camera roll forever.
Finding winners when betting on the racing can often be as difficult as snapping a picture of the victorious horse. However, there is always room for value when betting, as the enthusiasts of the sport are able to claim a horse racing sign up bonus.
Unfortunately, there are advantages to help get the perfect horse racing snap, but these are some tips that could help to get the ideal image.
Finding the Right Lenses
A key factor to get the best out of your snap when taking photos of live sport revolves around the camera and lenses that you’re using. Those looking to take professional quality snaps should look for cameras with a high frame rate, typically around eight frames per second.
As well as this, having a camera with low-light capabilities and fast autofocus also plays a role in getting the perfect image of horses on track. When it comes to lenses, professionals will typically opt for those that range between 70 and 200mm.
This will help catch close-up shots of the equines when they are travelling at their fastest speeds. However, it could still be challenging to capture sprinters travelling at over 40 mph in races such as the recent Bing Crosby Stakes, which was won by Lovesick Blues. High-quality images can be captured from the rail if you want a close-up view, but the perfect lenses can also ensure pinpoint accuracy from the stands.
Choosing Correct Settings
Taking images of horse racing action couldn’t be more different from getting a snap of a group of friends. The speeds that equines travel at on track mean that cameras must be set up in a format that aids the process rather than makes it more difficult.
Photographers should set their camera to capture in-focus and sharp images. This includes setting the shutter speed to a 1/1000th of a second. This will enable users to get an action shot of horses while they are galloping.
Furthermore, a wide aperture is also required to get a professional image of horses involved in a race. This setting will allow more light into the lens and ensure a isolated image of the horse. This is most important if you’re looking to get a snap of a single horse, as the background can often be blurry.
Positioning For a Picture
There is no bad place on the racecourse in order to get an image of a racehorse in full flow. However, the location where you situate yourself will ultimately impact the end result. If you’re looking to get an action shot of all runners involved, then you can locate yourself at the starting line, this can help capture a dynamic shot of all the runners bursting out of the gates.
However, if you’re looking to get a mid-race shot, then you can locate yourself somewhere after the starting gates, this will enable the camera to pick up the equine stars at near full speed. But, setting your cameras preferences is vitally important if this is the shot that you’re trying to achieve.
For the most part, camera operators will look to get the snap of the finishing line, as for many, this is the money shot, as a horse can be seen in all of its glory winning a prestigious prize.
Pictures of horses crossing the line first, such as Sovereignty in this year’s Kentucky Derby, will be plastered across the news, meaning it could be a business-making venture for those talented enough with a lens.
Editing Images
If you’re looking to take pictures professionally in the hope of making a business, then the editing process is almost as important as capturing the image in the first place. Many will opt to use tools such as Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom to make adjustments to their images before sending them for publication.
However, there are a number of factors that must be taken into account during the editing process. Among these include sharpening the details to make the photo standout even more. This includes sharpening the finer details of the horses, and the colours of the silks of the jockeys involved.
Editing will also include cropping, but it is important to only remove pieces of the image that aren’t important for the overall finished product. Cropping enables the photographer to ensure that the action is in the middle of the image.
Finally, editing allows the photographer to fix the lightning, adjusting it to ensure that the image stands out. This is mostly important if you’re taking images in changing weather conditions.