131 - I've no strong views either way about horse racing, but I do find it an interesting challenge to take photos of. This is only the second time that I've tried this, and overall the results this time were a bit disappointing.
I can recommend it as a challenging environment for photos - everything is so fast, and timing is everything.
Horse racing in York has a long history. York Corporation records show that the City first fully supported racing in 1530. In 1607, racing is known to have taken place on the frozen River Ouse, between Micklegate Tower and Skeldergate Postern.
The first detailed records of a race meeting date from 1709, when much work was done to improve the course at Clifton Ings which was prone to flooding. Despite this work, the flooding continued and in 1730 racing transferred to Knavesmire, where today's course remains. However, in severe flooding this site can also be flooded!
It is unbeleivably fast isn't it. I've only been once, to Newmarket. We were being entertained by business associates of my husband and were in a posh marquee right next to the course, and I was really shocked. at the speed and the thunder of hooves. I don't know what I expected but I didn't expect the level of excitement.
Mind you after the racing Status Quo played and that was loud and exciting in a different way!
Thank you Lesley. I followed the cycle path to the opposite side of the course to the grandstand where there is a picnic area with picnic tables so I could sit between races, and where it was much less crowded. There is also quite a tight curve which helps improve the photo opportunities. So there were long periods of nothing followed by a few seconds frantic activity! I think there are more races at the end of the month, so perhaps I need to have another attempt then!
Awesome Ian well captured can see the intensity ... going must have been soft. I think my first words were horse. Even did school project age 7 on horse racing.. still got the letter from the Daily Mail (Robin Goodfellow) telling my mum that the material he sent might not all be suitable for a little girl of such tender years... one comment was at the risk of your daughter being expelled at a record early age!! .. ha ha.. and said they sent some booklets "except for the pictures they are not really children's reading matter .." I have followed racing for as long as I can remember... ---- so ian I hope you go again... It is as you say quiet for ages and then just a second of frenetic action and its gone you are just left with the thundering of horses hooves on the turf .. slowly getting fainter and fainter..
It looks great to me too. Our photography group went to a local stables where one rider and her horse performed especially for us - she rode round and round, over jumps and back again. We knew when the jumps were coming and were ready to click. Even so out of many takes I only liked one and that was flawed so I really appreciate your acheivement here.
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm Sue. The going was indeed soft - so soft that one area quite close to the course used for car parking had the car of one poor chap well and truly stuck in the mud!
Thank you Jane, glad you like it - but I still feel I could do better. There are four more events at York this year, so I must try and get to at least one of them!
@janek nice way to spend an hour or two.. I grew up around horses and ponies... brilliant animals .. @if1 i think i am off to the races soon .. once the weather turns a bit better for a happy snappy day ..
Nice capture Ian, can'r have been easy, those beasties go by so fast! perhaps you could take some picks of the 'covered up' ladies according to the new rules now:))))
Thank you Frida - there certainly isn't much time to think about composition, you just have to react instinctively as the race evolves. Sadly, I didn't see any of the 'covered up' ladies, as I was at the opposite side of the racecourse to the grandstands.
Thank you Jacqui - there is a long sweeping curve on York racecourse which is ideal for taking head-on shots with a zoom lens. I need to go and have another play here in 2013!
January 19th, 2013
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Mind you after the racing Status Quo played and that was loud and exciting in a different way!
Thank you Lesley. I followed the cycle path to the opposite side of the course to the grandstand where there is a picnic area with picnic tables so I could sit between races, and where it was much less crowded. There is also quite a tight curve which helps improve the photo opportunities. So there were long periods of nothing followed by a few seconds frantic activity! I think there are more races at the end of the month, so perhaps I need to have another attempt then!
Thank you Caren - It's certainly a challenge and I'd forgotten how fast everything happened! I think I need a bit more practice!
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm Sue. The going was indeed soft - so soft that one area quite close to the course used for car parking had the car of one poor chap well and truly stuck in the mud!
Thank you Hanson, it was a very interesting challenge!
Thank you Jane, glad you like it - but I still feel I could do better. There are four more events at York this year, so I must try and get to at least one of them!
Thank you Roslyn, glad you like it!
@if1 i think i am off to the races soon .. once the weather turns a bit better for a happy snappy day ..
Thank you Marie - but I still want another attempt at this!
Thank you Ruth - but I still think I could do it better, so I've put another couple of race meetings in the diary!
Well there's another race meeting in York on 27th/28th July, so hopefully I will get to one of those days!
Thank you Frida - there certainly isn't much time to think about composition, you just have to react instinctively as the race evolves. Sadly, I didn't see any of the 'covered up' ladies, as I was at the opposite side of the racecourse to the grandstands.
Thank you Jacqui - there is a long sweeping curve on York racecourse which is ideal for taking head-on shots with a zoom lens. I need to go and have another play here in 2013!