It's still an amazing photo... how those wings are stilled at that speed is something I've never seen before. I'll have to play with that more next spring.

Truly a beautiful shot... well done... That's greeting card, puzzle, and magazine worthy without any problem. Very nice shot.

ROTFLMAO - that's funny... though I'm not sure how impressed the clients would be.

Great point...

I was thinking that maybe large orange cones would be less intrusive, but other than some sporting events & concerts, I've never had any trouble... with fellow photographers.

It's been the videographer (usually TV News) that have been so rude and knowingly step into the frame. Most all photographers - be they amateur or pros - are usually respectful, and I've only experienced a few video guys that seemed oblivious and ONLY care for & about themselves...

I gauge how often I'll be shooting at that school (high school or college) or event... if it's a once or twice a year deal in that area, I let it slide... if it's going to be a lot (the school or athletics association hired me, or a paper hired me for specific athletes... then 1 nice polite discussion (understanding, awareness, and subtle warning), they don't get a second one. I position myself to where they can't get in front of me... and I'm not a good window.

I get along well with all the local news people, but when I first showed up here 3 years ago, there were a couple that had no respect (for ANY still photographer) so they didn't think about anyone or anything else. It also helped when their media outlets started picking up some of my stills... and when they figured out that I'd respect (and be aware of) their positioning so long as they were aware of mine. It also helped jerking one of the guys out of the way of a crashing athlete, and them figuring out that I usually shoot sports with two eyes open when I'm close to the action.

For me... three-day eventing shoots were the most fun in the equine world. Because you could usually position youfself where there either was or wasn't a crowd and extra fences & vehicles in the back ground. Some of the jumps are OMG amazing... 3 to 6 feet HIGH, and 2 to 6 feet DEEP... with some having upto a 6 foot drop INTO WATER. If you ever get the opportunity, and you like equine action, eventing is interesting & challenging.

The eventers (riders) and newspapers want close crops, usually... the advertising (magazines) very loose crops (to no crops) for ad copy space.

This is a set I did way back in 2002... with a crappy Canon Digital Rebel (that's what they supplied me to shoot with... all my stuff was left at home, because I wasn't planning to shoot THAT event)... the timing was the toughest part, but many of the shots were used in a variety of media (oh, also important... NONE have any post processing work done to them, and are 'as shot' if I remember correctly): http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/sets/72157606625826131/

Regarding the hunter/jumper stuff... try to find 2 or 3 locations that will allow you to capture good to great angles on at least 2 to 3 jumps PER HORSE. Make sure your shutter speed & lighting is right... consider AI SERVO for the AF, and center spot metering... and either center spot or ALL focus points (I prefer center spot - lock hold, and move my framing where I want it).

Media usually want portrait orientation, but unless you are real close with that 70-200 I'd probably shoot landscape and crop down to portrait. Being about 5 to 8 feet above the ground usually puts you about 'eye level' with the horse as they jump. I've been at a few events that I was able to set up a ladder chair (or a ladder with a stadium chair attached)... and that helped a whole lot, and allowed me to not only get a better angle, but capture 3 or 4... or sometimes even 5 jumps per run.

Anyhow... best of luck... where will you be shooting at? What level of riders & horses??

All of these were done in LR3 - in a fraction of the time it would have taken in Photoshop: http://mercer.smugmug.com/OtherSportsVolleyballetc/2011-10-28Phoenix-vs-Henley/TOP-SHOTS-Phoenix-vs-Henley/19815000_GWp7tb/1557521412_BCg8mx3

Flashes, tripods, and monopods aren't allowed 'on field' - for a variety of reasons, safety just being one. So everything is shot freehand, ambient light... and it's AT night, and action... a tough gig, but you have to sort through which will work for your goals. On most night football games (below pro fields) the lighting is usually the best between the 40 yard lines - center of the field. The end zones are almost total shadows (with the light at their back). So position is vital... and getting to know THAT field is really important. Best of luck... and don't get ran over!

One of the reasons I won't shoot weddings... unless I'm the ONLY photographer (with MY second shooters or assistants). There are many wedding photographers that are just really rude, and it's too tempting to drag them outside and beat some common sense & respect into them. But hey, I shoot divorces... and might even toss in a funeral. LOL

BTW - Canon usually charges $100 to 300 for servicing their 'L' series lens... full internal tune up, cleaning, adjustment, & minor repairs as necessary.

LOL - The lens on my camera 75% of the time is a 35-350mm L push-pull (slider)... there is a 'tighten' (or lock) ring right behind the focusing ring... that will allow you to lock it in a particular position.

Most women don't like it, because to use it properly & quickly it does take large hands.

What type of camera is your lens for? What are the specs on it?

^much should have been must

Public venues are 'first come, first serve' in my opinion. If you want it the next time, be there first... otherwise, stay the heck out of my framing until I'm done.

It has less to do with bullies, than it does respect & common sense in my opinion.

Granted, I don't shoot many portraits... but sometimes respect much be demanded. That's not bullying, that's called being assertive.

I don't agree with the 'taping off' of any area... ever. You'd spend more time putting up & taking down the tape than most people would spend shooting.

I have a portable camping shower I have set up for clothing changes 'in the field' - and do have a sign that says 'Photo shot in session' that I hang from it... and for the portrait stuff, I've never YET had a problem with other photographers. Only in the sporting stuff... like basket ball or foot ball games... never yet at Track Meets (most of those photographers work together, around each other, and share some competitive pride showing off some amazing shot they just captured... because the timing was perfect).

I've been using it for a couple years now... pushing over 500,000 views, and a few hundred INDIRECT sales & interest... but fewer than 100 directly processed sales from it. There are a few things I love about it... a few things that annoy the hell out of me.

www.terrymercer.com will lead you to mine.

All my model, portrait, and product shots are 'hidden'

I love the 'events' - and 'ability to have end-users have personal favorites... but detest the hierarchical structure is lost, and that it tosses all the sets out there in the events section as it does.

I like how you've personalized yours... looks nice.

I spent much of 2002 - 2006 shooting equine events... for my company, and a bunch of magazines & websites... I don't have most of the shots up, but there were a few that I posted from a couple of the events (Wellington's Winter Equestrian Challenge, Rolex's Three-day Eventing, and HITS):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/3085353883/

Shutter Speed 320
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 46.8 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV

Most were shot with a fixed lens (large pocket) camera back then... a Fuji FinePix 4900 or 7000Pro... but I would say that shutter speed is dependent on the lighting and other settings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/sets/72157606622201174/with/3085353883/

It's all about positioning... distance from the action... the lighting, and timing.

With equine events, the position of the horse, its feet, the riders body position (and their feet) will be closely evaluated. Knowing what they expect & want is key.

Perfect positioning: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/2746157132/in/set-72157606622201174

Not so perfect: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/2746170506/in/set-72157606622201174 (notice the horses front legs aren't 'even' and don't match?!?!

Unless it's a big name rider, if you are wanting to sell for stock, or generic advertising use... try to catch angles that don't specifically 'identify' the rider: http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry_mercer/2753152297/in/set-72157606622201174

Anyhow, depending on the type & style of events you are shooting... it's AWESOME! If you are shooting 3-day eventing, by yourself a golf cart, segway, or really quiet scooter... because the average course is about 10 acres... carry extra batteries & memory cards with you, and leave the rest of the stuff locked up in your rig (or get a shooting vest to carry some basics with you). I loved shooting those type of events. If you have a 'team mate' (business partner or employee) that shuttles the memory cards, does the post processing while you continue shooting, and can display the finished shots, and take orders right there... there is a pile of money to be made shooting equine events. A mobile processing/printing studio with laptopS and printers, and a few large screen displays of processed photos really drives up sales.

A normal day in the hunter/jumper world was worth about $500 to $5000 in direct sales, and if you had good enough stuff, and the contacts with the magazines... you could more than double those numbers after the fact. There is MORE competition now days, and for most events press passes are each to get... and the really cool thing, is in most places setting up a mobile 'shop' is either free or just the parking fees.

Best of luck...

Out of curiosity, how do you like smugmug?? And are you getting many direct sales from it??