Tips for photographing horse jumping

When you're shooting a horse jumping competition, it's all about freezing the action in your photo.  I shot a horse competition for the first time not too long ago and here's what I learned.

1. It's all about timing.  The ideal time is when the front hoofs are tucked underneath the horse. 

  

If you are a little slow on the shutter release button, you'll end up with an image closer to this one.  

Notice how the legs are coming down and getting ready to land.  This image doesn't have the same visual impact as the one above it.

2. Horse move quickly.  In order to got shots like this, I recommend shooting at a shutter speed no slower than 1/500th of a second.  Because the shutter speed needs to be so high, I was shooting at 2.8 and had the ISO cranked up to 8000.

3. If at all possible, shoot horse going over obstacles that conceal their hind legs.  There are times where their back hoofs are still on the ground as their front legs start coming down for the landing. 

This image does not have the same impact as the one below because you can see the back hoofs still on the ground.

This horse's hind hoofs are probably still on the ground, too, but because you don't see them, the overall image is more striking to the viewer.

This is one of my favorite images from the set.  The timing was right, I like how the rider's position matches that of the horse, it all came together nicely.

If you'd like to see more shots from this event, check out my site, John Shippee Photography.  If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

The Pretty Reckless at Jack Rabbits

I have been wanting to shoot The Pretty Reckless for quite some time.  I almost had the chance a few years ago when they were in town.  I'd worked things out with a friend of mine that works the door so that I would be able to bring my camera into the venue.  Then the day of the show, he called to let me know that the band had strict instructions that no cameras were going to be allowed.  :(

When I found out they were coming back to Jacksonville, I quickly contacted the band to arrange for a photo pass to the show.  After some communications back and forth, it was all set and ready to go.  Now the hard part; waiting the few months to pass between getting approval and waiting for the actual show.

The show was yesterday, September 25.  My calendar had it as this coming Sunday.  OOPS!  Fortunately, I was looking at Facebook and saw a post from the band that alerted me to my error.  I quickly grabbed the camera and headed out the door.  There was a small line outside, but at least I didn't miss the show.

Louna, a band from Russia, went on first.  This was their first show in the US, which made being there a little more special.

After Louna's set, it was time for Heaven's Basement.  They are from England.  While I don't recall them specifically saying so, I think this was their first time playing in the States, too.  They kind of reminded me of a young ACDC.

Then it was time for the headlining act, The Pretty Reckless.  Their set was particularly difficult to shoot.  There was more use of fog machines.  The lighting was harsher.  People kept crowding and pushing in front of me, and then raising their phones in front of my view to take photos.

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless

While it was a difficult show to shoot, I think they turned out pretty well.  More pictures from the show can be seen at my site John Shippee Photography.

Sunrise Surfers at Jacksonville Beach Pier

I have lived near the ocean almost my entire life.  It's something that I take for granted, and as such, I don't visit it nearly as much as I would like.  There's always an excuse:

• It's too far away (about 30 min drive)
• I'm too busy
• It's raining
• Antiques Roadshow is on Netflix

So every now and then I force myself to go to the beach.  I'm always glad that I did once I get there.  I usually go to the Jacksonville Beach Pier.  It's a little further out of the way than other parts of the beach for me, but it's worth the extra few minutes in the car.

• The pier adds a nice focal point to photographs
• There are people usually surfing nearby
• For a dollar, you can walk out on the pier and get a different view of things
• Parking is really close

Here are some photos from my most recent trip.

I call this one "the pier to enlightenment or I couldn't sleep and went to the beach to watch the sun rise"

These girls were really nice.  The one on the left was learning to surf.  I've always wanted to learn to surf, but never taken the time to do so.  Maybe someday...

Some tips that I learned/already knew and reinforced from photographing surfers this time were:

• bring an umbrella with you
• it was drizzling for a while, so it was nice to keep myself and the camera dry
• after it was done raining, it was still nice to have something to keep the sun out of my eyes
• it also kept me from getting sun burned, which I'm prone to do
• bring a tripod
• the camera can get heavy after holding it up for any period of time
• this also allowed me to always have the camera ready to shoot an action shot
• it leaves a hand free to hold the umbrella from the previous tip
• be nice to people
• I had various surfers come out of the water and talk to me about what I was shooting for and where they could see the images
• I met a few potential clients to shoot future surfing events
• one guy that wasn't surfing, just out for a run, stopped and talked to me for a bit, then asked where he could buy some prints of my work
• the lighting isn't ideal for shooting surfers just after sunrise
• I think next time, I'll try to go later in the day
• beware of the tides
• the tide was coming in while I was shooting, so there were a few times that I had move back
• leave any unnecessary gear in the car or at home
• you don't want to spend time worrying about it getting wet, sandy, stolen, etc...

The perspectives of flooding

A few months ago, I moved to an older part of the city.  One of the things people complain about here is the poor drainage and frequent flooding after it rains.  While I can see that flooding can pose problems, it can also create possibilities.  As with most things in the world, it depends on your perspective of the situation.

After a recent storm came through, I grabbed my camera and tripod and went for a walk.  I started out down by the river.  (which just made me think of that Chris Farley sketch about living in a van down by the water.  http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/83156259/ )  Any ways...

I got there just after the sun had set and had some gorgeous lighting and clouds.

St John's River at nightfall by John Shippee Photography

After taking a few photos, I looked to the left and saw that the road had flooded.  I walked past the flooded area and turned to see some great reflections in the road.

The taller building is an apartment complex and the smaller one that looks like a little castle is one of my favorite houses in the city.  Hopefully one day I'll get to see the interior of it.

My favorite shot from the night came from this spot.  To get the colors to show better, I opted for an HDR image instead of a standard photograph.

HDR image along the St. Johns River by John Shippee Photography

Yes, I could have stayed in and complained about the recent rain and mild flooding, but had I done so, I would have missed out on this gorgeous scene.  I'm so glad I chose to go out.

Some of my favorite Instagram photos.

Some of my favorite photos lately have been taken with my iPhone and edited with/for Instagram.  My username is @JohnShippee, in case you want to follow me.  A few of accounts that I follow are @Stace_a_Lace, who documents the legs/feet of people she sees on the streets of New York, and marscuriosity, which is the Mars Rover named Curiosity, that sends photos from Mars back to Earth and some of them get posted to Instagram.

Some of my favorite images from the over 400 that I have posted are below.

A highway in Jacksonville, Florida.

Storm clouds over the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

A view of three of the high rises in Jacksonville, Florida.

A collage of different views of Pittsburgh, PA.

A girl walking in the rain in Jacksonville, FL.

And here is a collection of other images, which can all be seen on my site, here:  http://smu.gs/13iypwY

http://smu.gs/13iypwY

Inexpensive tiltshift

I remember sitting in a cafe with some photo-buddies of mine and one pulled out a newspaper he had been reading with an article including some type of 10 best photos, or something to that effect.  The first photo was an aerial shot of a construction site where everything looked to be miniature.  I couldn't figure it out and was amazed.  I HAD to know how it was done.

After researching the photo for quite some time, I figured out it was done with a tilt shift lens.

(If you really want one, you can pick one up here for $1,900.  http://www.adorama.com/NK4528PCU.html?gclid=CNWEkPbXybgCFTRo7AodDQ8AeQ)

After learning what tilt shift photography was, I wanted to do it myself.  That is, until I figured out how much a lens was.  :/  I figured that I'd probably use this about as much as I use the fish-eye lens that I had to have.  Yes, it's nice for certain situations, but it is by no means a daily use lens.  The lack of use makes it hard to justify almost $2,000.

Then I learned about a (toy) lens called the Lens Baby.  (http://www.adorama.com/LBMUDGNKF.html?gclid=CNKS5-XYybgCFSUV7AodUC4AIw)

While it's definitely not an actual tilt shift lens, it is the same idea, and less than 1/10th the price.

Here are some photos I took with my lens baby today.

The rest of the images from this set can be seen at http://smu.gs/18AJ2Mj

Savage Burlesque at Eclipse

Event photography covers so many different areas of life that the only reason you can get bored as an event photographer is if you allow yourself to get bored.

Sometimes I'm photographing a club opening and the patrons having a good time.  Other times it is a group of friends having a night out and want photos as keepsakes.  And other times it is a fetish show at a club.  This past weekend was just such an event.

There was something going on around every corner.

From fireplay...

to classic burlesque...

to audience participation with rope play...

and foot worship...

to milk and latex...

to a girl in a straight jacket and dental restraint...

The night had plenty of visual stimulation for all.  I look forward to the next show and hope to see you there!

Instagram images and prints

With millions of users, I know it's not just me that likes Instagram.  I've seen some amazing images and found great inspiration through the app.  One of my problems with the app is that I'll see an image I like and then forget which account posted it so I can't find it later to further enjoy it.  There are some accounts I wish would offer an option to purchase prints.  I doubt I'm the only one to think of this idea.  Maybe people are thinking the same thing about my Instagram.  In case you are, I created an album on my website, www.JohnShippeePhotography.com, that will share and sell prints of images I upload to Instagram.  In keeping with the spirit of Instagram, they will be offered in square format only.



Are you on Instagram?  If so, follow me.  I'm @JohnShippee.

Matt and Amanda's Wedding

It's weird attending an event and to not be the official photographer.  I do not enjoy concerts as much if I can't have my camera with me.  I find myself thinking more about the shots, different angles, and the lighting more than I do the actual show anymore.  Last week I attended a friend's wedding and found that it is a lot like attending concerts now.  Fortunately, I was able to bring my camera, and the feedback I have received on my Facebook page has been pretty positive.  There are very few photos of the actual ceremony since the hired photographers were in between me and the ceremony.  That's ok, though.  It was a beautiful wedding!  (also, the reception had an open bar.  ;)  )

Soul Asylum at Freebird Live

I honestly had no idea that Soul Asylum was still together, let alone touring, or even better, coming to my city!  The downside, it was on a night where I already had plans.  :(  Everything turned out ok, though.  (well, almost, there were some downsides, but they are on the personal side of things.)  The plus side, I GOT TO SEE ( and photograph) SOUL ASYLUM!

The show was in the middle of the week, so the crowd was not as big as I expected.  While I feel bad for the bands when the crowd is small, but from a photography point of view, it's nice to be able to move about without worrying about people bumping into the camera or getting in the way of a shot.

Here are some of the photos from the show.

Fetish, Burlesque, Concert, and Fun

On Friday night, an assorted group of Burlesque and Fetish groups and performers joined together to put on a great set of performances at Brewster's Megaplex in Jacksonville, FL.  While I did not have a photopass, nor did I have any specific magazine in mind for the photos, I'm always excited to shoot a live show.

I also came up with a few ideas for future posts.  In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite images from the night.

Live burlesque image by John Shippee Photography

Live burlesque image by John Shippee Photography

Live burlesque / fetish image by John Shippee Photography

Fetish / Suspension image by John Shippee Photography

The rest of the images can be seen at my site, John Shippee Photography.

Soul Asylum in Concert

Yesterday I got lucky and was able to photograph Soul Asylum live at Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.  In case I haven't mentioned it before, this is one of my favorite venues to photograph a show in Jacksonville.  The lighting is almost always top notch (I say almost because I do wish they'd stop using red lights, but I'll save that complaint for another post.), the sound is great, the stage is a good height, and there is an upstairs and downstairs area, each with a bar, for the fans to view the show.

Soul Asylum at Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Soul Asylum at Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Soul Asylum at Freebird Live, Jacksonville Beach, FL

The rest of the photos can be seen here at my site, John Shippee Photography.

Tips for Painting with Light

There are many different ways to "paint with light" in photographs.  All the ways I've tried it, I have used the same setup.  What I generally use is:

• a sturdy tripod
• a camera with manual settings (I don't always use the same settings, but I rarely use a shutter speed faster than 3 seconds.)
• some sort of light source that you'll use to do your "painting".

Once you find where you want to do your shoot, take a couple of test shots to determine how much of your background you want to come through in your images.  If the background is too bright, either increase the aperture or increase the shutter speed.  I'd go with the aperture first.  You're going to want a longer exposure to be able to have time to do your "painting".

Oh, it also helps to dress in dark colors so you don't show up in your images.

Once you've got your test shots done, set the timer on your camera to give you a few seconds to get into position, then start your painting.

Here are a few examples that I did a few nights ago with some friends using LED (hula) Hoops as the light sources.

In this image, there's not much background visible, so I had to open up the aperture a bit.

This is more of what I was going for with the background.

The possibilities are endless.

Special thanks go out to Taylor and Natasha for modeling and hooping.

The rest of the set can be seen and purchased here on my site; www.JohnShippeePhotography.com.  Have you done any light painting?  I'd like to see it.  Leave me a comment with a link to your work or any tips you have that I didn't mention in this post.

Sports Photography

I have never considered myself a sports photographer.  Most likely because I'm not a huge sports fan.  As I sit here and think about it, I can only think of two sporting events that I have photographed.  A Jacksonville Jaguars NFL game and a good friend's (might as well say brother's) swim practice.  There are some interesting images to be captured in most any sporting event.  There are some boring ones, too.  The trick is, as with most types of photography, to capture the right moment.  For example, the swimmer entering the water after the starting gun is fired.

That is way more interesting than a few tenths of a second later when he's completely under the water and all you see is the remnants of the splash.  But don't get too comfortable in one position.  You never know how something will look from a different angle.  If you're allowed to move around, do it.

It also helps to be observant.  I don't know much about the various swim strokes, but after watching a few laps of various strokes and listening to the coach, I learned that the butterfly stroke looks a lot better in photos than the freestyle.  Or at least that's my opinion.

The rest of the images can be seen here at my gallery.

A few quick tips to leave you with in no particular order:

1. be observant
2. shoot with as fast of a shutter speed as you can.  These were taken at 1/1000 of a second.
3. do some research online if you know you are going to be shooting a sport you aren't familiar with.  Do a quick Google Image Search or check out ESPN's website to see what images they are showcasing.
4. if there are other photogs there, introduce yourself and ask questions.  It was an ESPN photog at the NFL game that told me he shoots at 1/1000 of a sec to capture the moments.
5. don't get discouraged.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, leave me a note in the comments section below.