Karen Botvin  


'Cracker Day' by Karen Botvin

September 2020 - 'Cracker Day'

September 2020 - Karen Botvin

Original

About the Image(s)

This is an annual event in Flagler County, FL. It’s called Cracker Day, as FL cowboys are referred to as Crackers. This photo is from 2018 during the bull riding event. The sky was fairly washed out and there were heavy shadows across the rider's face. I added some blue by using the white balance sliders in LR. I also used the brush tool to selectively raise the shadows on the rider's face but also to darken down the fencing. I also used the radial filter to lighten the bull and rider just a bit to make them stand out from the fence. Lastly, I cropped off the unneeded space on the right side of the photo. It’s important to note that I had only been shooting just over a year at this point and really didn’t know what I was doing. This was shot with a Nikon D500 at f/7.1 1/640sec, ISO 180. I’m in the process of transitioning from a Windows system to a Mac and when I copied these photos over, they appeared darker then what I see in Photoshop. Hopefully, it’s just the mail program and they’re not too dark once uploaded. Comments welcome.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
6 comments posted




Larry Treadwell   Larry Treadwell
(Groups 36 & 67)
I love these types of rodeo shots---all the color and action make for good results.

I would suggest bumping up that shutter speed for peak action such as this. Best to be well above 1/1000 if you want real clarity in the image. Of course, you could slow it down even more and get creative. :-)   Posted: 09/07/2020 14:20:15
Karen Botvin   Karen Botvin
Glad you like my photo. Thanks so much, Larry, for the tips. I'll be sure to try that.   Posted: 09/08/2020 08:23:05



 
The more I see rodeo photos, the more I think I really need to go to a rodeo. This is a great image. I think you have cropped it the right way - everything to the right of the original just seems to be extra to me.   Posted: 09/08/2020 10:00:00



Shirley Pohlman   Shirley Pohlman
Wow, I'm impressed for someone who claims she had been shooting just over a year when this was shot. You will be dangerous. I especially like the way everyone's focus is on the rider, and you even caught the bull's eye. Cropping just to the right of the rider placed all the emphasis on him. Nice job.   Posted: 09/08/2020 22:45:58



Piers Blackett   Piers Blackett
Out of several rodeo photos displayed here in Oklahoma, this is one of the best I've seen - and the background with participation all adds to the scene. Great choice of post processing strategy. 1/640 appears to have been enough for the apparently slow-moving bull.   Posted: 09/09/2020 18:51:30



Martin Newland   Martin Newland
A wonderful action photo. However my eye is drawn immediately drawn to the fellow on the left in the pink shirt. Maybe tone that down and lighten the torso and face of the rider.   Posted: 09/09/2020 18:57:00