I owe the inspiration for this shot to Jerry Hayes who shot the rodeo a couple of years ago and came away with one of the most striking shots I’ve seen in years. This one pales in comparison and, given that Jerry was shooting this evening as well, I’m sure he came away with something better.
Regardless of how good Jerry’s picture is, this one shows the standard bearer in the arena during the singing of the national anthem at the start of the event. The lighting was wonderfully dramatic and I love the contrast between the dark, monochrome background and the vibrant colours of the rider and flag.
Dave, this shot is absolutely ace my man. Very well done, the processing is killer!
Thanks, James. I spent ages trying to get rid of the red clock but ended up just toning it down a bit and leaving it in the frame. Aside from that, I’m pretty happy with the result (even if it’s not as good as Jerry’s 🙂 )
I like the clock Dave. I think it adds something to the shot without being a scene stealer. Very nicely done. It’s amazing what ISO values we can get away with now.