Kalispell Rodeo

[Kyle Jones]

I attended my first rodeo last week, and indoor event in Kalispell, Montana. I took it as an opportunity to practice low light, sports photography. Here are a few images. Each shot at ISO 25600 on a Canon R5 and a RF 100-500 lens. As it turned out, I never really zoomed longer that 200mm. Next time I'll try my Panasonic S1R with a 70-200/2.8 for more light.

1) Bull Riding

2) Falling

3) Roping

4) Black Bull

5) Team Roping

6) Bull Riding

 

[Ben Egbert]

Kyle these are exceptional for such high ISO. Nice and sharp. And clean . Great captures too 2&4 are my favorite’s

 

[Kyle Jones]

I ran them all through Topaz Photo AI for noise reduction which helped a lot. I always do that on a separate later and then reduce the opacity to about 85% to bring back a little noise and some of the original detail. Makes them seem more natural to me.

 

[AlanLichty]

Neat action shots.

Very clean for an ISO that high - you could almost shoot handheld in the dark with that.

 

[JimFox]

#2 and 3 are my favorite Kyle. I have sure been wanting to shoot a rodeo lately. Now you have made me more jealous.

I think a faster lens, even if it isn't as long is better. I would rather let more light in and crop a bit, then not have to crop but have the image be soft from noise potentially.

What were you trying to keep your shutter speed at? I think if and when I get to do a Rodeo, that the correct shutter speed might be the toughest choice. You have the movement of dirt from hooves in most of them, that's nice because it then adds that visual reminder of movement in a still photo. I think the tough thing would be how slow could you go. I think in a few of them I might have liked a little blur in a hoof or maybe a hat? Did you do any with a slower shutter speed that you liked?

 

[Brian]

I love rodeos and getting action shots. Well done.

 

[Kyle Jones]

#2 and 3 are my favorite Kyle. I have sure been wanting to shoot a rodeo lately. Now you have made me more jealous.

I think a faster lens, even if it isn't as long is better. I would rather let more light in and crop a bit, then not have to crop but have the image be soft from noise potentially.

What were you trying to keep your shutter speed at? I think if and when I get to do a Rodeo, that the correct shutter speed might be the toughest choice. You have the movement of dirt from hooves in most of them, that's nice because it then adds that visual reminder of movement in a still photo. I think the tough thing would be how slow could you go. I think in a few of them I might have liked a little blur in a hoof or maybe a hat? Did you do any with a slower shutter speed that you liked?

I just tried to find settings that would "work" in the dim light - wide open aperture and a fast enough shutter speed to prevent too much camera shake along with whatever ISO was needed to expose that about right.

 

[procam11]

Awesome images, I’ve shot the rodeo only once and it’s akin to shooting Supercross. Thanks for posting!