... but only on loan. Emma our lovely new yard owner has lent them to Jay to ride throughout the summer.
This is Percy, who looks like a baby Shire... with a long flowing black mane and tail and big furry feet... glossy as ebony when he's all shined up. He really is a baby and doesn't know how to jump. Despite running out of all three of the practice jumps at a little showjumping competition yesterday, Jay managed to get him over 6 of the 7 in the real thing, and earned a 6th place rosette... pretty good going.
The background was in focus, the action part blurred... Eccles will be able to tell me why and how to put it right in future shots!And this is Jensen.... our Devil Pony... who is as naughty as a ninepin and bucked like a bronc all the way round his showjumping class, but managed to win the jump-off for fourth place and a green velvet rosette.So it takes two new ponies to do the job of one Clyde now he has retired does it.Clyde looked down from his high hilltop (he could actually see the jumping-field from there and we could see him ) and he snorted in derision and he said 'I dun this so much better'n wot them two do, didn't I Tils. And he did!
Eccles will be able to tell me why and how to put it right in future shots!
Action shots like this are difficult with compact cameras. First of all, try selecting the 'sports' option on your camera. That will tend to use a faster shutter speed to minimise blur.
You could also try sighting on Jay as she approaches. Keep her in the frame and pan as she passes. Keep the shutter button halfway down to keep focussing, then press the shutter fully as she clears the jump. It's possible your autofocus might not be able to keep up, in which case prefocus on the jump itself and snap as she takes it, but the panning technique is how the pros do it.Further, here's an example that I took a couple of years ago. I took it at a deliberately slow shutter-speed in order to blur the background. I sighted on the subject before snapping with autofocus on continuous, following him as he approached, then as he passed I fired off two or three shots in succession. This is Michael Schumower Thanks for that Eccs, nice clear tips. I shall have a go forthwith
Michael Schumower -