Overread
Well-Known Member
Yep I said it and its true.
It's a 100% undeniable point that at this present point in time my view is that show-jumping is boring (but not quite as boring as dressage).
Ok so provocative statement aside what does it mean. Well it could mean that like pretty much every single other sport, showjumping is to me something that I cannot watch and enjoy on any level. That any enjoyment is gone within the first 5 moments of the event happening and that the only "ooh" factor is waiting for someone to get injured/do something silly/wrong/stupid (which honestly when it happens right in front of you tends to be tinged with the - are they ok are they ok are they - oh they are both ok ok that was cool).
However I think its more to do with understanding. See those mistakes, corrections, accidents and great triumphs happen all the time and they don't all require falling poles to achieve. However what they do require is an understanding; a greater understanding on the part of the viewer to know what's going on. To see the smaller, more subtle elements.
So why does this bother me? Why worry about it you might say. Well its because put a camera in my hands and showjumping is very entertaining! Indeed it can provide a full days worth of entertainment*. Trying to find the right angle; get the right shot; get the timing right; etc....
However that self same lack of understanding of subtle elements creeps in. Makes it harder to see a moment when it happens or to see which in a series of several shots is "THE" moment rather than just "A" moment.
Dressage shows this up even more so than showjumping; showjumping has a jump which is pretty easy to see and one can generally tell (without much expertise) if the horse made it over or not. Dressage though shows up the lack of understanding of the finer points or even any points (on my part) which makes it near impossible to even approach getting a photo at the right moment.
So all that rambling out of the way - anyone know any good resources (books/website/personal tips) that would help one come to understand the theory side of the events more so. One can say "Just keep shooting and practising" but practice without direction rarely gives the desired result (and if it does its more oft by chance and a LOT slower).
*ignoring the last few hours when muscles are aching a bit more and the camera feels like its gained twice the weight and the light has gotten dull and boring and tricky.
It's a 100% undeniable point that at this present point in time my view is that show-jumping is boring (but not quite as boring as dressage).
Ok so provocative statement aside what does it mean. Well it could mean that like pretty much every single other sport, showjumping is to me something that I cannot watch and enjoy on any level. That any enjoyment is gone within the first 5 moments of the event happening and that the only "ooh" factor is waiting for someone to get injured/do something silly/wrong/stupid (which honestly when it happens right in front of you tends to be tinged with the - are they ok are they ok are they - oh they are both ok ok that was cool).
However I think its more to do with understanding. See those mistakes, corrections, accidents and great triumphs happen all the time and they don't all require falling poles to achieve. However what they do require is an understanding; a greater understanding on the part of the viewer to know what's going on. To see the smaller, more subtle elements.
So why does this bother me? Why worry about it you might say. Well its because put a camera in my hands and showjumping is very entertaining! Indeed it can provide a full days worth of entertainment*. Trying to find the right angle; get the right shot; get the timing right; etc....
However that self same lack of understanding of subtle elements creeps in. Makes it harder to see a moment when it happens or to see which in a series of several shots is "THE" moment rather than just "A" moment.
Dressage shows this up even more so than showjumping; showjumping has a jump which is pretty easy to see and one can generally tell (without much expertise) if the horse made it over or not. Dressage though shows up the lack of understanding of the finer points or even any points (on my part) which makes it near impossible to even approach getting a photo at the right moment.
So all that rambling out of the way - anyone know any good resources (books/website/personal tips) that would help one come to understand the theory side of the events more so. One can say "Just keep shooting and practising" but practice without direction rarely gives the desired result (and if it does its more oft by chance and a LOT slower).
*ignoring the last few hours when muscles are aching a bit more and the camera feels like its gained twice the weight and the light has gotten dull and boring and tricky.
