The Eclipse for photography

[PatCummings]

The measuring stick for Eclipse media awards is a complete farce.

This year's photo was a VERY good shot. The typical shot of a horse with rider or two simply isn't that engaging - they are taken every day with very little variety, big race or not. A photographer really needs to have their proverbial ducks in a row to get a shot like the one that won this year, same for the Leparoux incident a few years back.

I still think my favorite Eclipse pic was of Stephen's Angel acting up on the Preakness undercard when she hovered above the track, off all four legs. Cindy Dulay took that shot spur of the moment. http://horseracing.about.com/od/late.../aa010304a.htm

There was one several years back of an incredible close-up of a horse head mid-race with dirt flying. That picture took incredible skill, and of course, some luck.

Consider that last year's picture was a MESS. Dettori dismount from Donativum, with the name of the race incorrectly spelled in the background, and practically the SAME picture having won an Eclipse a decade before. Now THAT was a travesty. The act of the dismount was completely expected, everyone took it, everyone knew it was coming, was completely UNSPONTANEOUS, and how you could judge that particular shot as better than any of the 50 other photogs who took is beyond me. Oh yeah, and the whole "we've done this before" thing wasn't considered, cause the committee probably never knew it.

The unusual almost HAS to reign in the photography category.

As for Drape's jury selecting his piece, according to the release from Bloodhorse, the panel of judges for the "Features/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Rob Longley of the Toronto Star, Fred Klein, former columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and Neil Milbert, former horse racing writer for the Chicago Tribune."

But after all, considering some of the people who have Eclipse ballots, and their general inability to even comprehend past performances, is ANY of this surprising?

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

The measuring stick for Eclipse media awards is a complete farce.

This year's photo was a VERY good shot. The typical shot of a horse with rider or two simply isn't that engaging - they are taken every day with very little variety, big race or not. A photographer really needs to have their proverbial ducks in a row to get a shot like the one that won this year, same for the Leparoux incident a few years back.

I still think my favorite Eclipse pic was of Stephen's Angel acting up on the Preakness undercard when she hovered above the track, off all four legs. Cindy Dulay took that shot spur of the moment. http://horseracing.about.com/od/late.../aa010304a.htm

There was one several years back of an incredible close-up of a horse head mid-race with dirt flying. That picture took incredible skill, and of course, some luck.

Consider that last year's picture was a MESS. Dettori dismount from Donativum, with the name of the race incorrectly spelled in the background, and practically the SAME picture having won an Eclipse a decade before. Now THAT was a travesty. The act of the dismount was completely expected, everyone took it, everyone knew it was coming, was completely UNSPONTANEOUS, and how you could judge that particular shot as better than any of the 50 other photogs who took is beyond me. Oh yeah, and the whole "we've done this before" thing wasn't considered, cause the committee probably never knew it.

The unusual almost HAS to reign in the photography category.

As for Drape's jury selecting his piece, according to the release from Bloodhorse, the panel of judges for the "Features/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Rob Longley of the Toronto Star, Fred Klein, former columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and Neil Milbert, former horse racing writer for the Chicago Tribune."

But after all, considering some of the people who have Eclipse ballots, and their general inability to even comprehend past performances, is ANY of this surprising?

OK, that is it. Milbert may know something about racing, but the Tribune only let him rewrite what the AP posted on Yahoo.

[gamblin4ever]

QUOTE=PatCummings]The measuring stick for Eclipse media awards is a complete farce.

This year's photo was a VERY good shot. The typical shot of a horse with rider or two simply isn't that engaging - they are taken every day with very little variety, big race or not. A photographer really needs to have their proverbial ducks in a row to get a shot like the one that won this year, same for the Leparoux incident a few years back.

I still think my favorite Eclipse pic was of Stephen's Angel acting up on the Preakness undercard when she hovered above the track, off all four legs. Cindy Dulay took that shot spur of the moment. http://horseracing.about.com/od/late.../aa010304a.htm

There was one several years back of an incredible close-up of a horse head mid-race with dirt flying. That picture took incredible skill, and of course, some luck.

Consider that last year's picture was a MESS. Dettori dismount from Donativum, with the name of the race incorrectly spelled in the background, and practically the SAME picture having won an Eclipse a decade before. Now THAT was a travesty. The act of the dismount was completely expected, everyone took it, everyone knew it was coming, was completely UNSPONTANEOUS, and how you could judge that particular shot as better than any of the 50 other photogs who took is beyond me. Oh yeah, and the whole "we've done this before" thing wasn't considered, cause the committee probably never knew it.

The unusual almost HAS to reign in the photography category.

As for Drape's jury selecting his piece, according to the release from Bloodhorse, the panel of judges for the "Features/Enterprise Writing category was comprised of Rob Longley of the Toronto Star, Fred Klein, former columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and Neil Milbert, former horse racing writer for the Chicago Tribune."

But after all, considering some of the people who have Eclipse ballots, and their general inability to even comprehend past performances, is ANY of this surprising?[/quote]


I agree with you on the picture, it takes a keen eye and quick reflex to get a picture like this one. The pic itself represents something bad, but not many photographers are ready for a shot when this happens. He deserves the award IMO.

[chucklestheclown]

The picture doesn't represent anything bad. The article says "the horse" misjudged the jump and was fine afterwords.

[gamblin4ever]

Originally Posted by chucklestheclown

The picture doesn't represent anything bad. The article says "the horse" misjudged the jump and was fine afterwords.

I was meaning "bad" as jockey falling off of the horse. sorry for not explaing better.

[chucklestheclown]

It's a sports photo. My problem with it is it's not a triple crown race. I would have rather seen a picture of Quality Road bucking with a blindfold on. But that might have been somewhat bad publicity.

[gamblin4ever]

Originally Posted by chucklestheclown

It's a sports photo. My problem with it is it's not a triple crown race. I would have rather seen a picture of Quality Road bucking with a blindfold on. But that might have been somewhat bad publicity.

True

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Consider that last year's picture was a MESS. Dettori dismount from Donativum, with the name of the race incorrectly spelled in the background, and practically the SAME picture having won an Eclipse a decade before.

Pop on over to www.equidaily.com [frontpage] for a comparison of this year's winner and the winner of -- not a decade ago, but -- just two years back...

[Danzig]

i think they could have found something better. expecting a horse to misjudge a jump isn't really something out of the ordinary considering how often it happens in those races.

[SOREHOOF]

It's pretty easy to take a video and pull 1 frame out of it for a photo. I'm not saying that was what was done, I'm just saying it's easy to do. I actually liked the photo of Leparoux almost going over the handlebars.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

It's pretty easy to take a video and pull 1 frame out of it for a photo. I'm not saying that was what was done, I'm just saying it's easy to do. I actually liked the photo of Leparoux almost going over the handlebars.

True, but the resolution isn't usually anywhere near still photography. That said, any professional sports photographer is going to use a camera that takes shots at an extremely high rate. I have no doubt the photographer took a dozen or more shots almost identical to this one, but this was the best one from that moment. Part of his or her job is knowing which shot is the best from the hundreds taken.

[richard]

I'm not an expert but this photo tells a story. By Mathea Kelley.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/con...sic09MK298.jpg

[AeWingnut]

and the guy works for the NY Slimes

gawd awful all the way around

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by richard

I'm not an expert but this photo tells a story. By Mathea Kelley.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/con...sic09MK298.jpg

Considering some of the Eclipses that go out there, that man (Junior Hungerford) should get one himself because he single-handedly saved what was a likely tragedy live on TV.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i think they could have found something better. expecting a horse to misjudge a jump isn't really something out of the ordinary considering how often it happens in those races.

If a photog sets up at a given jump on a 'chase course and waits long enough, he'll get a "wipe out" shot. It's like the hundred photogs in the BC winners circle waiting for Dettori to leap. My blind aunt could get that shot!

I agree with Pat about Cindy's shot from a few years ago. Maggie Kimmitt is also great at getting cool action shots and of course Barbara Livingston is always in the right spot for an action shot or great paddock shot.

Sarah Andrew does alot of cool shots, often with neat lighting effects etc and I have seen some shots taken by NYer Deb Kral that are spectacular. Some of Tod Marks' stuff in the Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times are fabulous.

I'd much prefer any of that to the standard fare, especially is the "standard" stuff is a crash.

[my miss storm cat]

Revidere... those are breathtaking.

[Pedigree Ann]

Love the smirk on Calvin's face.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Linny

If a photog sets up at a given jump on a 'chase course and waits long enough, he'll get a "wipe out" shot. It's like the hundred photogs in the BC winners circle waiting for Dettori to leap. My blind aunt could get that shot!

I agree with Pat about Cindy's shot from a few years ago. Maggie Kimmitt is also great at getting cool action shots and of course Barbara Livingston is always in the right spot for an action shot or great paddock shot.

Sarah Andrew does alot of cool shots, often with neat lighting effects etc and I have seen some shots taken by NYer Deb Kral that are spectacular. Some of Tod Marks' stuff in the Saratoga Special and Steeplechase Times are fabulous.

I'd much prefer any of that to the standard fare, especially is the "standard" stuff is a crash.

Tod Marks' work is really spectacular!

http://www.photoshelter.com/c/todmarks/gallery-list

My favorite photo I saw this year is probably this one that Barbara took of Rachel Alexandra in the rising sun and is on the cover of the Saratoga Special calendar.

[philcski]

This would have been my choice (published in the Baltimore Sun.)

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

Pop on over to www.equidaily.com [frontpage] for a comparison of this year's winner and the winner of -- not a decade ago, but -- just two years back...

Didn't even realize that...go freakin figure.

At the same time, I still don't think it is as bad as the Dettori flyer dismount.