Shot With: Sony A7R V; 1/1000 sec at f/1.2 and ISO 1250
I made this image on September 3, 2023, at the Gunner Thames Memorial Rodeo in Wimberley, Texas. The rider is the former Miss Rodeo America 2017, and her horse is named ⬓Chic.⬠I tried to concentrate on the horse’s muscles, and I think the black and white image brings those muscles out more. Although I like the original image ⬔ a lot ⬔ I felt it was a good candidate to convert because the black and white would allow for greater separation of the horse and the dirt. As far as processing, I straightened the lines, cropped it using the original 3:2 aspect ratio, and de-noised it. Then, I imported it into Silver Efex where I used the FDR (harsh) preset. I brought it back into Lightroom and made small tweaks to my exposure, contrast, shadows, whites, and blacks to ensure there was good separation of the gray values. The rider said she liked the black and white image better!
This round’s discussion is now closed! 10 comments posted
Haru Nagasaki
Hi Stacy,
Thank you for sharing.
I think you captured the right moment. It has a good motions and well balanced compositions. Well done. I perfer to have a bit more space in left hand side, but that's personal taste.
In BW conversion, yes, your goal of highlighting muscles is met. It is better presented in BW for me.
On the other hand, the rider is migrated in the stand at the background. Altough it is blurred to some extent, the tone is similar to her jacket and her hat. The rider is outstanding better in color version in my eye.
but overall excellent shot!
Posted: 09/07/2023 01:57:25
Stacey Pearson
Thanks for your comments, Haru! I appreciate them all. My eye is drawn to the rider on the color image and to the horse on the black and white, and I think a 1:1 aspect ratio would work best. But, square images are not always popular, except with social media like Instagram. I really thought the barrel racer would prefer the color shot, but ⬠no ⬠she liked the B&W better. Maybe because it's unique??? Thanks again! Posted: 09/07/2023 09:44:18
Don Hill
(Group 40)
Hey Stacey, black and white make all the difference here (my opinion). My sister-in-law does barrel racing and Haru is correct, you got it at the right spot. Everything else seems to be right on. This printed image needs to be on two walls: yours and the former Miss Rodeo America. Posted: 09/18/2023 19:59:21
Stacey Pearson
Thank you, Don! Posted: 09/19/2023 16:03:46
Trevor Harvey
I've only ever been to 2 rodeos - and would go to another in a heartbeat. The images I got were incredibly grainy and I struggled with processing. You have it nailed, the mono really brings out the muscles in the horse and it is superb timing for the capture Posted: 09/19/2023 14:56:35
Stacey Pearson
Thank you, Trevor! The rodeo was definitely an exercise in understanding the exposure triangle. Dwindling sunlight/artificial lighting and fast-moving subjects were challenges. I had my fill of grainy images! Thanks again. Posted: 09/19/2023 17:57:31
Ed Taje
What is there left to say. You caught the action at exactly the right time. As you said BW worked out better due to the original colours. That particular event is really a team effort, horse and rider , and you show that well. Posted: 09/19/2023 17:35:01
Stacey Pearson
The horses are amazing athletes. Thank you, Ed! Posted: 09/19/2023 17:58:17
Melissa Cramer Sonnen
Hi Stacey. Nice racing shot. I might like to try a tiny crop on the right hand side. I would also try a selective darkening of the boards and seating in the background - it is SO white that I feel it draws the eye and makes it continue up the bleachers. Is the rider a little soft? I was not sure if that was because of the required size restiction for DDG. -MCS Posted: 09/19/2023 18:10:49
Stacey Pearson
Good suggestions, Melissa. Thank you! I always wonder whether to maintain the aspect ratio, or custom crop. Anyway, I intentionally focused on the horse's chest, and I wanted the rider and background to be softer than it is. I was trying to do something different. So many rodeo photographs focus on the rider. I wanted to show the animal as the athlete. Posted: 09/19/2023 18:52:21
