Equestrian Photography

[bengineer]

I'm not a professional photographer or horseperson - I'm just the 'helpful husband' who supports my wife as she competes her Andalusian horses. I love sports photography, so this has become one of my creative outlets - documenting her success in the show ring. Insert shameless plug for our farm here.

This past weekend, she won her first USEF National Championship in Combined Driving. Here's my 'shot of the day' from the marathon course:

 Shot with Alpha 9 (a9) and FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS (SEL100400GM) 1/1600 | f8.0 | ISO 400

Those are our homebred Andalusian mares "Mona" and "Miss Lucy" with my wife Jenni driving. 

My "B" camera is an Alpha 77 II (a77II) that I usually have a Vario-Sonnar® T* 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM (SAL2470Z2) mounted. 1/1000 | f6.3 | ISO 200

The 100-400 has been great and covers just about every arena we have shown in. If it is a darker indoor I may switch to a faster lens and give up the reach - usually indoors I don't need to get out that far.

I recently got a Sony Tough Card and WOW what a difference it makes in burst shooting, and this was my first show with it. It totally kept up with shooting 20fps on the a9. Even on LONG bursts the buffer would finish writing out to the Tough Card within a few seconds. 

Any other equestrian photographers out there? I'd love to swap tips, workflows, and always more photos!

[CarolineJensen]

What beautiful subjects! You are so lucky to have access to these beauties! 

[ChrisQ]

Ah! Tryon!  I have shot up there multiple times, even have been the official photographer for a show up there.. LOVE driving, such a fun thing to watch because I cant imagine controlling all that in obstacles at speed!  great timing on that shot, ( I am an equestrian photographer)-- and you are right, get more of those sony tough cards... for both my a9ii and my a1 they make ALL the difference!

[ScottRobertLim]

Thanks for sharing!! Awesome you're still getting use out of the trusty A77ii!!