Horse Trotting, Menorca II, a photo from Menorca, Balearics

Photographer's Note

My first ever attempt at "panning", this was taken on the first day of my wonderful photographic holiday in Menorca with Philip Dunn - you can view his website here and find out about his courses and photographic holidays there too.

A lovely warm and sunny evening and these fellows (and lasses too) were driving their horses at considerable speed around the oval track - you can see the hippodrome well if you click on Map:[view].

Shot in RAW at 1/30sec and converted and edited in PSE9.

As always, all comments/critiques/advice are very welcome!

P.S. Following constructive comments from Martin (MJR), I have uploaded a fuller, less cropped version of this picture as a workshop.

SnapRJW, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

MJR (3179) 2011-05-26 6:09

John
Another new technique ! I bow to your, and your tutors, wider knowledge, but I would think a bigger frame would give a better feel to the movement. I am intrigued why 1/30th is the right tool for the job, I look forward to hearing more ! It was presumably recommended, but surely gives rise to the difficulties in freezing unwanted motion, even though a blur is wanted elsewhere. I await with baited breath your revelations !
rgds
Martin

SnapRJW (18816) 2011-05-26 7:32

Hello John - I have looked at both versions of the shot, to me, this one has sufficient detail to tell the story despite the close crop. In fact, of the two it is the most successful at conveying the feel of the exhilarating speed and is the more
"dramatic" of the two. I also like the blur of subject and BG it brings a sense of freedom to the shot. Nice job. Best wishes Rosemary

Rafer (14231) 2011-05-26 10:07

Me gusta ese momento..ese efecto que realza el dinamismo y la velocidad..creo que es buena!!! Greetings

romanaa (7386) 2011-05-26 12:20

Hello John,

I have tried panning with no good result, so I think this picture is quite a good achievement.

Although this picture shows the power and effort the rider has to put into the sport, I prefer the workshop post (I want to see more than the horse's bottom :-D). I do not mind missing legs / they just suggest the movement...

Best regards

Romana

ypeng (40) 2011-05-28 12:19

thanks for introducing a new technique at least to me. have today attempted to try some panning to no success but will keep trying.

emka (58260) 2011-05-29 0:00

Hi John,

I like this very dynamic shot. Excellent view.I hope to hear from you a lot about this photographic experience and to learn about panning and other things. Looking forward to the weekend in LD

MAlgo

delpeoples (45022) 2012-04-01 4:14

Clever Giovanni

With your panning, a technique I have not mastered. I actually like this tight crop. The conventional crop in your Workshop is good, but definitely less arty. I see what Martin is saying but would have gone with the tight crop you did. My gripe is much more tedious and nit-picking: there are about 6 big spots of dust (3 in the foreground and on the wheel, 2 to the left of the whip and one to the far right) that should have been cloned out. But aside from that, I think this is a really interesting, unique shot. Great work!

Un abbraccio
Lisa

macjake (39235) 2012-05-07 20:50

Ho John
i chose this photo from your gallery because of your recent panning attempt.
and i have to say that this one is far less effective, but like you said, its your first try.
I totally totally understand.
When i recently went out to do it myself, i couldn't even get 1 good photo!!!
But i guess its all subjective - if you want it to be blurry and sharp at the same time, then your newest post is more successful.

its fun to see the progression in your panning!
You're much better at it than i am!
Cheers
Craig