using flash on horses

I have friends who are active with cowboy shooting. And, no, they don't shoot cowboys.

The sport involves riding a horse as fast as possible in a pattern and shooting at balloons with blank cartridges. The detritus from the blank will break the balloons. The action is exciting and could make for some great pictures.

Many of these events are held inside. The lighting is terrible. I have tried using existing light but the results were worse than terrible. I have never tried using flash because I/we don't know how the horses might react. A bad reaction could lead to a serious, even fatal, accident. But we don't know for sure. Does anyone here have experience shooting flash shots (pictures) of horses?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bmmxq2YrY&feature=PlayList&p=0C45DB63BF19DF31&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=34

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We've had people here complain about green eyes with flash, and spooked horses with flash, and others say they photgraph horses using flash all the time, with no problems.

If I had your assignment, I'd stay ten feet away,. and not worry about it.

BAK

I've photographed stationary horses with flash, no issues
I've photographed fast moving show horses, again, no issues.
(Even got Will Shattner of Start Trek fame... he's involved with horse shows)

I've photographed million dollar thoroughbreds on the finest horse farms in Kentucky, USA - again, no issues.

However - you are right to consider what could happen, and investigate. You might want to just ask some of the riders their opinion... you don't want to startle one of the riders and cause an incident where the horse is injured, either.

Not sure if this will help you or not, but there is an Equine Photography Forum out there who may be of more help. Google it and try there as well. There are a lot of professional equestrian photographers out there, BTW.

I have shot some equestrian events in the past. A lot depends on the event itself, the horses, the riders and the spectators,not to mention the arena setting.

Talk to your friends who actually participate in the event. Horses and riders do spook easily, but that doesn't mean these do. They may be so used to it, that nothing affects them. Is flash prohibited at these events?

What I've seen is that at the lower levels of any competition, both horses and riders are a lot more unpredictable. The big events, they've pretty much seen and done it all, and not as easily shaken up or surprised.

Otherwise, do your friends ever practice for their event? Would they allow you to use add'l lighting during a practice session? Either flash or off camera lighting or flash units that could be triggered remotely with PW's or Cybersyncs, etc.?

Good luck!

DL

and before you start shooting.....................ensure that your public liability insurance has not expired!
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I have taken portraits with horses involved. You have to introduce the flash gradually to the horse and see the reaction. In my attempts, all horses were scared of umbrellas, not of the flashes themselves.

In this portrait, all flashes (umbrella to the camera left, zoomed sb800 at right and back) and stands were placed inside empty boxes, with the door open to allow the light do its job. The horse would not notice any strange thing in its usual environment, and so stayed calm. My flashes were set not to beep, that also helps. Remember that horses are always afraid of new things.

bagnon said:

I have taken portraits with horses involved. You have to introduce the flash gradually to the horse and see the reaction. In my attempts, all horses were scared of umbrellas, not of the flashes themselves.

In this portrait, all flashes (umbrella to the camera left, zoomed sb800 at right and back) and stands were placed inside empty boxes, with the door open to allow the light do its job. The horse would not notice any strange thing in its usual environment, and so stayed calm. My flashes were set not to beep, that also helps. Remember that horses are always afraid of new things.

Click to expand...

Very nice shot. I've not shot horses with flash yet, but I have managed to sit upon the ground when the horse I was on spooked at a piece of paper blowing across the path. I've had others almost stomp my off-road motorcycle because the sound scared them. And I've known others who would sit still when you fire machine bursts over their heads. Horses are wonderful, but are well programed with the flee response. If they're used to something, usually it won't frighten them.

I'm not sure how the OP could make certain all the horses in the competition were used to a flash, but he's got a good start with the noise and flash of blank cartridges they already are enduring, evidently without too much hassle. Maybe during practice runs he could fire the flash without a camera, with fair warning to all riders. If these guys are practicing "cowboy" stuff from the saddle, they are probably pretty good at hanging on when things go sideways, but make sure the riders know what's coming. Maybe have each rider lead his or her horse by as he fires a flash a couple of times, before the competition starts.

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Charlie Self



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