Cross Breeds

Suggestions for horse racing pictures?

I will be going to the track on Thursday. I have never been to one before and would love to get some really good photos. Unfortunately, it starts at 7:15pm, so the lighting will not be very good. Does anyone have any suggestions on what settings I should use? I want to avoid motion blur, but also reduce noise. My camera only goes up to an ISO of 800 and it has a lot of noise. Where can I find noise ninja?

Public Comments

1. Take your fastest lens - f2.8 minimum. Start at ISO 400, flash off, in Shutter Priority. See if the camera will let you make an exposure at 1/250 sec. If not, try ISO 800 and then ISO 1600. If you're maxed out at ISO 1600 and the camera still won't make an exposure, drop back to a shutter speed of 1/125 sec. Obviously some experimentation is required. Take a monopod for added stability. Plan on using a program like Noise Ninja to clean up your images and don't promise anyone large prints. Maybe someone who is experienced at photographing night horse racing will be of more help.
2. What Edwin said, and if possible, get out of the stands and shoot down at track level. HTH.
3. In addition to the already stated, when you get there scope out the artificail lighting and situate yourself between the track and the strongest bank of lighting, probably near the grand stand or paddock area. Or if there is lighting down by the track get as close to one as you can. It may seem a bit obvious but it's easy to overlook too in a crowded setting.
4. The artilce below has more on noise and a link to noise ninja http://digital-photography.suite101.com/article.cfm/iso_and_noise_in_digital_images It is pretty good so do no tbe afraid of a bit of noise. The result of a grainy shot in the half ligtht of morning could be atmospheric so look for different ways to use the light. Use a monopod or something to lean on, wall or fence etc to hold tthe camera steady so you can use slower shutter speeds without camera shake, and squeeeeeeze the shutter. The ligth will be changing so there probably aren't any fixed settings -- just take lots and experiment