Rodeo Barrel Racing with Experiment in Motion Blur

[John David Cubit]

Using slow shutter speeds combined with camera panning produces dramatic motion blur in photographs of car and motorcycle racing. I wanted to see if I could get the same effect in rodeo photography. I tried this at the 2011 Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo. In most events (e.g., bronco riding and bull riding) the movements occurred in too many directions at once, producing mundane, fuzzy, unpleasing images that did a poor job of conveying the dynamics of motion. The few photos that came close to being acceptable were shots of barrel racing, where the horse and rider moved somewhat linearly, with little vertical movement. However, in my opinion, even the best of these shots did not capture the action as well as the sharper photos taken at higher shutter speeds. The three photos compare captures at shutter speeds of 1/2000th vs 1/125. (Equipment: Sony a900 with Sony 70-400 G lens.)

1. Rounding a barrel taken at 1/2000th.


2. Straight-away at 1/2000th.


3. Straight-away at 1/125th with horizontal panning. This was one of the very few test photos where vertical motion did not excessively blur the horse and rider.

[Dr. Harout]

Stunning shots. I do like the panned shot. It emphasizes the action.
As for the first shot, though it's a freeze-shot, the sand bursting makes you feel a mighty movement.
More please.

[jcoffin]

I definitely prefer the panned shot -- but at least in my experience, it reduces the ratio of keepers. A high shutter speed will yield a lot of good shots. Panning will yield a lot of garbage, but a few that are downright stunning.

[aster]

I like the 1/2000 shots for their buoyancy. If enhanced by actual force elements like the burst of sand dust around the horse's hooves the action is well interpreted and not too frozen.

The 1/125 shot with panning does give a strong feel of forceful forward move but I somehow miss the fine details that I could see around the hooves, in the 1/2000 images.

Is there no in-between, I wonder? A little over 1/125 and definitely less than 1/2000?

Thanks for sharing since these are great shots even though you sound a little displeased with them. : )

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

The panned shot is very good, a hard choice, I think I like the high shutter speed shots, they are sharper all over, great looking horses too.
Greg

[Anne_LilyofTheValley]

I like the first shot. I agree with Dr. Harout that the sand bursting added motion to the shot.

p.s. I love G Lenses, they look so sharp!