2014-02-07 

At the beginning of each calendar year a number of indoor events take place that challenge both the limits of my cameras, lenses and photographic skill!  This includes, but is not limited to  dog agility and mounted cowboy shoots.  The lighting is horrendous the events fast paced and it is all I can do to get something, well anything worth keeping.  I try to take pictures of fast moving medium to small dogs running on brown dirt under a combination of fluorescent lighting and ambient natural light.  Then I move on to larger subjects but with their riders shooting "blanks" trying to break balloons.  This adds a lot of smoke to the air creating an almost fog like environment.  What am I thinking?  Why couldn't I fine satisfaction in shooting still life in a controlled environment?

To top it off I recently upgraded my camera.  The very same reasons for which I did the upgrade now present their own challenges as I try to become comfortable with the new features!  It definitely falls into a two steps back three steps forward scenario.  Today I even broke out my old camera to see if there was something wrong with my new one.  In a word - "nope"!  When I used the same settings on each for the same scene the new camera produced better images.  Now I humbly accept the fact I once more have to try and bring my photographic skills closer to the capabilities of the camera!

Now imagine trying to keep the horse and rider in focus as they come galloping at you.  You may NOT use flash but you want to get everything sharp, well lit and then catch the moment they fire to capture the sparks coming from the gun!

Why do I do this to myself???  Well - I guess it is like gambling.  You win just enough to keep you coming back!