For many photographers, night shooting is the opposite of easy. Most cameras aren’t big fans of the dark and with very limited chances to practice shooting in the dark, it isn’t my easiest task with a camera.
Traveling to Remington Park a few times over the last few years has proven to be both a challenge and a Godsend for my photography as the track has night races every time I’m there with mostly night cards. Some of my best photos have come from Remington and this photo of Cowgirls Like Us (My Golden Song) may be my favorite from the track.
The then-2-year-old filly won the 2018 Trapeze Stakes, her third straight win, and her groom couldn’t have been more excited. The steam coming off of her in a fairly dark winner’s circle led to a photo that isn’t my traditional post-win shot but it’s better than any of the traditional ones I’ve gotten from Remington’s races. I don’t have a lot of chances to get steam photos in general, so the steam coming off the filly and semi-capturing her breath in the cold air made this a perfect end-of-2018 photo for me.
The con with this photo is the noise from a high ISO. Cowgirls Like Us was still full of energy when she was in the fairly dark (for a camera) winner’s circle and for me, it wasn’t going to work to lower my shutter speed or aperture to let in more light but sacrifice a clear photo if there was movement. Making a split-second decision, I decided that I could live with the noise and turned the dial.
Note that it doesn’t always turn out the right way and I’ve ruined a few photos by making the decision to turn my ISO up. I wish there wasn’t as much noise in the photo as there is but overall I’m thrilled with it. With an upgrade in photography equipment and more practice over the last year, I’ve learned how to take better nighttime/indoor arena photos though this is still my favorite taken in the dark … and trust me, I’ve tried to repeat it a few times!
Beyond The Lens is a monthly blog looking at some of Melissa’s favorite photos and what motivated her to take them. Interested in scheduling a photoshoot with Pyrois Media or just want some photography advice on photos or even just choosing a camera for your needs? Email Melissa@PyroisMedia.com for more information.
