Magic! How close would you get?

[Austin Greene]

For the sake of my 52 Weeks project, I decided to put my head within arms reach of some flying hooves today. It was a massive adrenaline rush, and a TON of fun! Only thing I'd say is next time I'll bring a helmet, purely out of precaution. For scale, the photo was taken at 17mm!

1.
52 Weeks: Magic (Week 27/52) by TogaLive, on Flickr

Story:
I found myself back in Davis for the weekend, without a clue what to shoot for the week's photo. Posting online, seeing if anyone would bite for a photoshoot, someone commented on photographing horses. The ideas starting spinning, and next thing I knew I was at a stable early Sunday morning.

Looking online, I saw nothing but telephoto shots of horses jumping. Now, there's nothing wrong with telephoto, but I really didn't feel like the photos gave the same scale that these beautiful creatures are due. Following that logic, I opted for my 17-40mm. I wanted to be close. Really, really close.

And I was. Meeting with our rider, Karissa, and her beautiful gelding Magic, I was nothing short of fascinated by the connection the two shared. Even having been raised around horses all my life, I simply couldn't help but appreciate the finesse exercised before me. Gaining the confidence to get the shot I needed, I stepped forward and crouched right at the corner of the jump. I was about 4 feet from where the two would jump just as Magic began his approach.

The seconds that followed stretched for an impossibly long time. Just beyond arm's reach, horse and rider left the ground, flew what seemed to be nearly overhead, and landed mere feet away. Even the dirt Magic kicked up had yet to fall back to earth as the two soared.

I was beyond impressed, and one happy photographer!

 

[mmaria]

It's a good photo and I envy you a bit for your day

 

[SpikeyJohnson]

Absolutely impressive. Way to get in the action instead of watching it from the sideline.

 

[Austin Greene]

Thanks you two! It certainly got me wondering why I haven't shot horses before, maybe that's up for a change.

Bump for the morning crowd, I suppose

 

[sscarmack]

Reminds me when I had my 14-24 and was shooting motocross and would see how close I could get haha.


Very cool shot! I'm a huge fan of horses.

 

[annamaria]

Nice angle of the shot.

 

[pthrift]

Very well shot. Truly. A different look at what's beem done a million times before, and this is executed excellently

 

[Bender]

Nice WA shot. Congrats.

 

[BrickHouse]

Love it! Very cool perspective.