David F-I's photostream  

The bulk of my Flickr photography follows my wife Leslie's interest in Competitive Trail Riding, a training discipline related to Endurance Riding. While she rides, I walk parts of the trail, sometimes following the trail with riders overtaking me, sometimes working back from the finish with riders meeting me, and sometimes taking shortcuts to get to another part of the trail where I can snap people again.

My primary interest in Flickr is as a distribution channel to deliver photos to a specific audience, but the photos are in the public domain and can be viewed by anyone. I'm strictly an amateur. The pro account simply allows me to make full sized hi-res images available without having to email them to folk. Instructions on the Wellington Area Trail Riding Club's website explain the download process and my terms and conditions of use for folk who are not so familiar with Flickr.

My photos from WATRC events are essentially documentary, and primarily of interest to the riders, their family and friends. I take a lot more photos than get to the website, as you will see simply by following the file sequence numbers. I edit heavily, trying to select photos that do justice to horse and rider, although sometimes the range of shots available of an individual combination is limited - I try to select the best from what I have.

It's rare for me to do any kind of post-processing of the images. Out of curiosity I've dabbled with HDR and textures, but I don't really have the time or motivation to get into serious photo-art. If an image has been modified there'll be some indication by way of an obscure suffix to the filename - generally its a use of Unsharp mask for a fuzzy shot or an HDR of an under-exposed shot, and only when it was my only option to rescue an image or two where there'd otherwise be none of that horse and rider.

I enjoy getting out on the trail both for the exercise and for the different opportunities and locations that gives. Generally I'm working to a timetable, getting out a few minutes ahead of Leslie, and arriving back at base before the final vetting of her horse. Sometimes I'll be able to go out again after this is finished and while other riders are still on the trail. However, these constraints mean I don't always get shots of all the competitors - sorry - maybe next time.

Occasionally, Leslie and I have gotten to a few of the Wairarapa Endurance and CTR Club's events. The sets from their rides can conveniently be found in this collection.