And they did! We were all happy to be back on track today again. And everybody enjoyed the good weather. Not only horses and jockeys but photographers and audience too. Horse racing might be an all year sport but bläh! for long underwear, gloves and heavy shoes. Colors are also back in the sport. I enjoyed this very much, I hope you do too.
🌞 Pelle
It´s been some time since I visited a horse race. However, yesterday I went back to Täby Galopp. The track is old and it will soon be closed down and replaced by a new one. At Bro. A place also just outside Stockholm, but in another direction from Täby. It will be interesting to see how the races will develop there. Täby is like Venedig. Beautiful in its decline. Lots of patina that attract us photographers.
A rest for eyes and mind was healthy. Time to refocus and find new details and ways to capture my images. But of course I recognize all the events. I get good exercise since I am not always standing at the goal waiting for a winner. That is what many of my friends and colleagues have to do. It is their job to catch the winner. And after that the winning horse, jockey and owner. Instead I can concentrate on investigating other parts of the race with all preparations and other post race activities.
Here is a selection from yesterday, enjoy! 😊 Pelle
This new year, 2016, what are we going to do with it? Are you among those who makes promises? Are you good at it? I don´t do promises for a new year any more. If I decide to do something I do it as quick as possible. ( That doesn´t always mean immediately. 😉 ) No need to wait for a special year. That might just take too long to get it done. A man has got to do what a man has got to do… So, what do I wish for the new year? Same as you I guess. Without trying to win a Mr. World competition, peace on earth. Wouldn´t that be nice? Don´t ask what the world can do for you. Ask what you can do to/for the world. I think that if we all do the small things to us and our friends, and the people we meet, that will make a big difference. Small and big goes well together here.
OK, promise!?
A good day for me starts on my short walk to my studio. ( Breakfast reading today´s news is also fine ). If I meet a friend to say hello to, or If I can smile to a parent whose child is jumping in a puddle. That is a good omen for the new day.
Of course I will challenge myself with some now projects and images again this year. Can I arrange an exhibition with a selection from my horse racing images, or my working gloves? That would be great. And I am open to surprises. Things that I didn´t expect. This year will include an extra day at the end of February. Be sure to use it well!
The first blog of the year will include some images from the archipelago. And some new horse racing images from last Sunday. It is suddenly a white winter up here in the north.
By the way, have you seen and read some of all the articles about the best of 2015? Amazing images and engaging stories.
😊 Pelle
Yesterday I went to a race again. I have missed a few, but that is good for me. To rest my eye. It is difficult to get variation, not always doing the same thing.
There are so many things around a race that gets my eye, and my attraction. The friendship among the jockeys is nice to see, before they saddle up for a tough race. And they also stretch, though you don´t see that so often.
It was a grey and windy day and there are less spectators now compared to summer. Of course. But there are always enthusiasts. Some of them are photographers…
The day I started blogging I had NO idea where it would take me. Now I know better and I am surprised. One thing I had no idea of was my interest in horse racing, or galopp in Swedish. It started this summer at Jägersro in Malmö. Now I take every opportunity to photograph. On the track or in a stable. It sharpens my sense and my eye for a new world. I discover details that I have lived most of my life not thinking about. It is good exercise for a photographer.
The competition is hard and everybody would like to win. However I experience there is a great friendship among the jockeys. Except for the finish of a race. Then the shouting and screaming is intense. The images should be accompanied by sound to get more into the racing atmosphere. I´ll see what I can do about that.
The weather is changing towards winter and yesterdays first races were held in fog. It is cold and damp. This selection of images includes more humor and smiles than usually. Enjoy!
😊 Pelle
In my growing interest for horses and horse racing I visited a stable today. Stall Malmborg with owner Caroline. Since I don´t know horses I don´t know what angle the ears should be for a horse in harmony. So I am taking myself a lot of liberties here, and I will continue to do so. I am my own employer, and I set my own standard. So this is my personal selection for today.
Tomorrow there will be races again and a a new challenge to do something different.
😊 Pelle
It is getting colder and darker, yes. And up here in Sweden we are slowly going into winter. However, the brave jockeys are still working hard. Yesterdays race was in the evening. Although just at 6 it is dark outside. Very dark.
The racetrack where I go is close to Stockholm, and it is called Täby Galopp. Täby is the name of the place. But it is soon no more. The field will be turned into apartments and there will be a new racetrack with another address. The place has a lot of history and it is a bit sad, but the new track looks very promising with stables etc. I think that the jockeys and the horse owners will be pleased. But it is further away from the city. And for a photographer who likes patina, well. Not yet.
I have learned that horse racing is also a winter sport. I am looking forward to that challenge and I will dress warm. I hope to visit a stable during next week and see what they are up to with some new and promising horses. Stall Malmborg.
Yesterday was a challenge for photographers. The light at the trace comes in various colors and the darkness put the ISO at the top. Here is my selection.
😊 Pelle
I gave it a second chance. The images from last race, and I found a few more that could be worth saving. i think. Images change when you do a different crop. Now I am waiting for some more dirt.
😊 Pelle
I went to the track today again. I am having trouble staying away. I meet so many talented and nice photographers every time, and I learn so much that I never knew before. Or even thought about. It is exciting, never the same. But it is getting colder. For horses, jockeys and the audience. This morning it was 0 degrees and there were frost also in the city. Brrrr! I wonder how the jockeys keep warm during the races? Some were not even using gloves. I have heard that this is also a winter sport. Brrr, again! The jockeys are so short and small but oh SO strong. You see them more standing than sitting during a race, and often almost without rest they change clothes/colors and horse and they are off again. Supermen AND women!
If I remember right the next race is an evening race. Colder and darker, much darker. It will be all lights around the track. A real challange for photographers at maximum ISO. Today I have also recorded sound. Hope to use it with some images soon.
😊 Pelle
Perhaps these pictures should be called “dressed for success”? Some horses has to be “dressed” so they can keep concentrated on running and nothing else on the side. Some are not especially fond of going into the start box. I have missed some races lately but happily I could go to the track yesterday. Horse racing is a sport for betting and for that you need computers. When they fail there is interruption. That happened yesterday. The horses were waiting and so were jockeys and audience. During that period I managed to get some portraits of owners and horses. I get more and more interested in the contact between jockeys and horses. The jockeys riding on several horses during a day has to know all the different personalities and know how to get the best from them. It is getting darker and colder. Next time I will put my heavy boots on.
When they are not running on grass it is called dirt track. You see why. 😊 Pelle
On a photographers mind 