Münster international *pics*

[FrodoBeutlin]

First international photo report of the year

I have over 1,000 pics so bear with me! (and don't worry, am not going to publish them all!). Some big names, some fab horses, and LOTS of shopping opportunities.

Ok, I will start with some from today's Kür.

Peter Borggreve (head rider at the Westphalian State Stud) and Laureus, a stallion standing at the stud. They put the canter half-passes in the most interesting place -- a zig-zag on the diagonal (ridden diagonally, rather than crossing the centreline, if it makes sense?)

Nicole Glaser-Käppeler & Linas

Patrik Kittel and Toy Story (eventual winners with over 74%) warming up. The whole weekend I only saw 2 big-tour riders warm-up or school with helmets on, Patrik and Kirsten Sieber. A huge well done to both of them (there might have been others whom I missed, of course...)

And this is Kirsten on Charly

During the ten-minute break in the middle of the freestyle, Kirsten even went into the main arena with her helmet on. Go girl

And during the test

Patrik and Toy Story during their test

Ozzy (Patrik Kittel's dog, and a very famous dog in his own right: he's even got his own facebook page!) watching Toy Story's test.

(more pics to come)

 

[sea_view]

Great piccies!

 

[icestationzebra]

Lovely photos!

Love Ozzy - he looks as though he is casting a critical eye

 

[Burnttoast]

You always take such great photos, and these are no exceptions. Looking forward to seeing more! Can I ask what camera/settings you use?

 

[Lolo]

Those photos are so cool- and the hat the lady is wearing looks really cool. It's not a silk making it black and white, is it?

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Thank you! I will definitely post more (but maybe not all tonight!), I have loads, from lots of different classes and even Wednesday's stallion show which was super interesting.

Camera is a Nikon D5000 and it really is an amazing camera, even though I am still learning to use it indoors, this is the first show where some pictures are decent! The photos from outdoor shows are always a billion times better, but I am sure it's entirely my fault, not the camera's.

(Incidentally, the D5000 also takes very good videos. All of the videos of my own horses I have posted on here were taken with that, not with a videocamera!)

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Those photos are so cool- and the hat the lady is wearing looks really cool. It's not a silk making it black and white, is it?

No, it actually looks like leather?? You can see it more clearly on page 4 of my Cappeln report:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=394330&highlight=vespa

Not sure of the brand, but somebody on the Cappeln thread suggested it could be Casco...

 

[only_me]

I love toy story! And really interesting that I can actually see his rider Patrik being very loose and relaxed in his body - and how open his body language is!

 

[MissTyc]

nice to see some fasionable dressage helmets!

Overall, absolutely stunning photos! Making me drool with envy, at the photgraphy, the horses, the riding, the tack! Everything!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Yes only_me, I loved Patrik this weekend. He also took part in the Stallion Show on Wed night which I thought was very, very nice (I have very limited experience of stallion shows, so I might be wrong of course, but I did not expect such a big name to ride in it!)

 

[Burnttoast]

Camera is a Nikon D5000 and it really is an amazing camera,

Thanks! I will start saving (again ) so I can move on from my current bridge camera.

even though I am still learning to use it indoors, this is the first show where some pictures are decent! The photos from outdoor shows are always a billion times better, but I am sure it's entirely my fault, not the camera's.

Exactly how I feel about me and mine, but more justifiably
Thanks for posting these - I do so enjoy them.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Patrik pirouetting

Katharina Birkenholz and Don Androsso, who came 2nd with 73%

So cute, scratching him behind his ears - his eyes say it all!!

 

[angelish]

oh really lovely pics
thanks for sharing , yes it really is good to see nice helmets being used setting a good example

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

ooh lovely, thanks for posting, cant wait for next lot

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Sonja Bolz & Aramis... notice her tailcoat!

Yes, purple - really purple!

 

[LMR]

I have to say I love Patriks riding! great pics look forward to seeing more!

 

[Shrimp]

Lovely pictures, stunning horses and I really like the purple tailcoat, still looks smart but with a little twist
May I ask what sort of settings you have your camera on for these indoor shots? I've been struggling (im very much a beginner but get frustrated easily when it doesnt work! )and cant seem to get the right settings no matter how much I fiddle the buttons!

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Err, I am ashamed to say I just let the camera get on with its job and I do not interfere... just as you would do with a dressage schoolmaster

Seriously, I know nothing about stuff like shutter speed, etc -- all I do is have the setting permanently on Sport (obviously!) and the camera does the rest.

But I fear that this is also why my indoor photos are so rubbish compared to the outdoor ones -- maybe I *should* be doing something if I had time and money I would love to take a proper photography course, but for now I will have to leave it up to Nikon

One last photo before I go to sleep ...

HEAVEN!!! HEAVEN!!!

 

[Shrimp]

Thats what I usually do too! I think the last time I tried my pictures were so awful because the light was really bad and my camera just couldnt cope. Id love to do a course too but finding time is a big problem!

p.s. I like the plum and silver pad in the middle far left

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

True, these pictures here are much better than the ones I take in our indoor arena which is not so lit up. So abundance of light definitely makes a huge difference

 

[teapot]

Great pics - I like the purple tailcoat What's the story behind the cute dog?

And re: Nikons, I've found that sometimes you can get better shots using the standard rather than sport setting with horses. Not always though and I've never used one inside, only outside but I was surprised at the differences.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Not sure what all the buzz about Ozzy is, I think he is just a dog with a huge personality! I guess he is one of those people who are beautiful yet don't know it

No Concept even sell "I love Ozzy" polo shirts

I can't take photos of dressage horses without using the sport setting, because the sport setting is the only thing that allows me to take enough photos of a movement so that I can then select the moment where the horse is at his most expressive... but maybe it would work with other disciplines!

 

[photo_jo]

What you need is a second mortgage and then buy a D3x (or if mortgage not big enough a D3) -serious piece of kit!

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

Lovely pics, thanks for posting!

 

[Jackpotsstud]

Fantastic photos - we also have to have our camera permanently on sport then out of all tthe continuous photos we take some will have caught the horse in the right moment of his stride pattern!

 

[measles]

Fantastic photos; inspirational on a Monday morning. A very safe little doggy, too. Wonder if he would be facebook friends with my JRT who has his own page..?

 

[HBII]

Brilliant photos thanks for sharing

And YUM to that shopping!!

 

[Tempi]

OMG at the numnahs!!

Super pictures, have been looking through them on FB aswell, going to finish studying them in my lunch break!

 

[Bounced]

What beautiful photos! It's lovely to see you taking full advantage of the amazing shows where you are, am v.v jealous, but it's just a teeeeny bit too far for us
Thanks for the pics and report - inspirational stuff.

 

[TheoryX1]

Lovely photos and certainly brightened up my Monday morning when I should have been doing work things. I do love that photo where the rider is scratching her horse behind his years, its lovely. It also nice to see some riders wearing proper helments - as you know I am a bit fanatical about that subject.