Basil Loc: New Mexico

We went to the State Fair rodeo yesterday. I was using my R5 with the EF 135 f/2 at f/2.0. For these two images, the ISO = 400, f/2.0 and shutter speed 1/200. NOTE: I was using Evaluative metering. Setting aside that the shutter speed was too low (I upped the ISO & shutter speed later), but just looking at these two images, any idea why the second image looks blown out?

The histogram is shifted well to the right and there its a spike up against the highlights. This was the sixth in about a 30 shot set using servo and High Speed (mechanical) shutter. Exposure on all the other images looked normal. I don’t think there was any change in the lighting nor anyone near with flash.

Just wondering if anyone has any idea what happened here? (The settings were exactly the same for all the shots in this series).

Normal Exposure

(Download)

Same settings but way over exposed.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What metering?
If it's spot, did the first shot meter the wall and the second meter the horse?

Basil Loc: New Mexico

That's an excellent question. I was using Evaluative metering (I'e updated my original post to reflect same).

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There's no EXIF in the file. There's no way to say. At f/2, it's not like the aperture was 'left open' between frames. So, it would seem the shutter was left open longer. That exposure duration might show in the EXIF, if there was any EXIF in these examples to review ....

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Situations like this, with lots of action and lots of background contrast, are ripe for disaster, no matter which metering mode you choose. I find that a good strategy is to find a good exposure combination before or at the beginning of the event, then lock it in and switch to manual.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

If this was an indoor event you could have had flickering stadium lighting just like in high school gyms.

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I didn't export the EXIF, but the settings were the same as I mentioned in my OP. Nothing changed in my settings.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Was this an indoor Rodeo? Outdoors that exposure, ISO 400, f/2, 1/200 s is impossible. Did you mean 1/2000 second? Outdoors you could have say ISO 400, f/16, 1/400 s or ISO 800, f/16, 1/200 s. Not sure what happened that one frame was different other than that the averaging meter picked darker set of points to average than the other frames or it was just a processor error from too many frames at too high a rate in the burst out running your buffer. Not sure that is the best way to explain that last thing.

To avoid this, could be easy. Shoot totally manual exposures. Preset a manual exposure metering off a mid tone like the dirt, then the light and dark areas will fall in place as long as a cloud does not move and change the lighting. When I am under controlled light for the close-ups I often do I am switching to all Manual Exposure and Manual Focus. I'll set an ISO, 200, 400, 800, and then take a manual meter reading and set the camera to that. For action shots AF is needed. Remember that what your meter reads it tries the record as middle grey or a mid color tone. So you have to out smart it.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Similar to what I suggested.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I believe only EXIF, not memories, not guesses, not assurances.

BebuLamar

And you shoot in manual mode and with auto ISO off?

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Basil, on your R5 do you have anti-flicker engaged?

BebuLamar

The scene is artificially lighted and the light may flicker.

MJPerini

If this is an Indoor rodeo, it is probably lit by HID lamps which flicker like crazy.
Many cameras can actually adjust for this with anti flicker settings