Today I got to shoot horse racing for the first time. As with every sport, there is so much to know in order to make a good great image. Those foolish enough to think that all you have to do is have long glass and push the button are sorely mistaken. I was one of those fools who almost fell into that trap. Almost…
I arrived at the track early enough to find parking, get my credential and observe a few races before the my coverage was to begin. Looking at the track, I was thinking “There is it. Sit there, AI servo and fire away down the home stretch.”
MISTAKE. WRONG.
I can tell you that not only is your placement all important, but so is knowing your gear. It is pounded into out heads all the time. Shoot more. Make mistakes. In the end, the real objective is to become so familiar with your gear that you are able to look through your viewfinder, track your focus and make sure that your meter isnt picking up some crazy reading and ruining the shot.
Shooting more = making more mistakes. Making more mistakes = learning from them. Learning from your mistakes = being a professional. Being a professional = my job.
