Have you ever wondered how racing could get even more heartpoundingly exciting? Let me introduce you to sidesaddle steeplechasing. A photo I took of the race a few years ago stars in this month’s Beyond The Lens.
When I saw the unique race in the High Hope Steeplechase program, I knew I had to photograph it. The bad news? There was only one race over jumps so there was only one chance to get race shots. The good news? They used the jump I was set up at as a warm up jump so I could practice before the pressure was on.
The jump had some fun lighting thanks to the trees surrounding it but I never expected that it would work as well as it did.
In the stretch, I could see two horses were neck-and-neck as they raced to the final jump. Finn McCool had a slight advantage and inched away with every stride. He was obviously having fun, with pricked ears as he focused on the final jump.
He hit the perfect spot to get just the right amount of shadowing from the filtered light. The second place horse in the shadows made a fun contrast between the two, especially with the gray in front. But my favorite part of this photo is his expression.
I was at just the right angle to make it look like he’s posing for the camera when he’s obviously having a blast. I love when horses show determination in photos but it’s even more fun when they’re doing it easily and give you every indication they’re happy to be running.
The bay in the photo cut the margin down to a neck after the jump but the gray wasn’t giving up. He won and looked extremely proud of himself post-race.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been to another sidesaddle race since that day. But you can bet the next time I see it on a race program I will be there with bells on!
Beyond The Lens is a monthly blog looking at some of Melissa’s favorite photos. Interested in scheduling a photoshoot with Pyrois Media or just want some photography advice? Contact us for more information.
Beyond The Lens is a monthly blog looking at some of Melissa’s favorite photos and why they mean so much to her. Interested in scheduling a photoshoot with Pyrois Media or just want some photography advice? Email Melissa@PyroisMedia.com for more information.