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[RC] Riding with a Camera - katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxKaren said: I know that there are a few of you that ride with your camera and take the most wonderful pictures. I was wondering what type of camera you use and do you stop to take the picture or do you take them "on the fly"? Having taken pictures of 3000+ miles of multi-day rides, here is what I did: My camera was a Minolta Maxxum 35 mm with a 28mm-300mm zoom lens (f4.5 so you have to have plenty of light), and I had another 18mm-35mm zoom lens (on a second camera, so I didn't have to monkey around with changing lenses and could just use a different camera) in a back pack designed especially (i.e. padded) for carrying camera equipment. I also carried at least 5 rolls of film (of differing speeds) and canned air, so I could dust off the camera when changing film. The camera was too big to carry in any kind of bag in front of me, and while I had the strap around my neck so it wouldn't fall to the ground if I let go of it, I didn't ride with it just around my neck because it bounced around. I carried it in my hand. I stopped to take the pictures (and sometimes got off but not always), and the horses that I was using learned to wait until they heard the shutter click before continuing. Needless to say, I had one handed horses; although I usually took both hands off the reins entirely to take the photos, because I did NOT use the autofocus feature of the cameras since even a horse that is standing mostly still is not a stable enough platform to take pictures using autofocus...and have them reliably be in focus. And I carried it in my hand, because if you don't have it in your hand, you won't get the shot (at least not the one of the 12 point buck). You probably won't get the one of the 12 point buck without a big telephoto lens either. Additionally, by definition, a photographer is an observer, not a participant. So, if you want to take pictures at rides, you have to be riding with companions (either people, or your horse) who are tolerant of you making the transition from participant to observer (and therefore NOT a participant)...and it is tiring, for everybody, including the horse. I ask because a few weeks ago I tried to take some pictures while on a training ride. Time and time again this fall I have seen the most beautiful 12 point buck and I wanted to try to get his picture (of course he didn't show up the day I had the camera). The only way you will ever get his picture is if you have your camera in your hand before you see him; and are prepared to take it, the instant you do. Scenery shots are a little easier to get because the scenery doesn't move, but these are about the only ones, and if you are moving on your horse, you won't get those either. I have now made the investment in a Minolta Maxxum 7D (so I no longer have to worry about that changing the film thing) which uses my same lenses. I have not, yet????, taken it on horse back. Mostly because I no longer have the horse that I considered reliable enough to risk thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment on...and the ones I do have are not very suited in allowing me to ride on them as a non-participant. And I consider that to be criteria number one for shooting off the back of a horse. You have to have a horse that has a reliable auto-pilot. Because, no matter what camera you use and no matter what your subject matter, the instant you stop (or don't stop) to take a picture, you are no longer piloting the horse. kat Orange County, Calif. -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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