Tag Archives: bernadette mckeever
Galway Downs || Temecula, CA
A rider enjoying some down time before her event begins : Lumix LX5
Last weekend I tagged along with a friend to Galway Downs to experience cross country eventing.
Go fast. Jump stuff. (really high stuff) Oh, and don’t forget the chest airbag, yep, they wear airbags! I saw one crash, let me just say, her airbag did inflate, Ouch.
Photo moments were everywhere. My favorites to capture were not the hurdles, racing or event actions shots, but moments like these, the ones that tell the behind-the-scenes story. Bottom line, a five minute race takes hours, days, weeks, months, and a village to prepare for.
I’m hooked.
walking the course before the race
Michelle sharing a moment with the duck, one the many jumps on the course
You can’t see it, but his legs are wrapped in ice.
Table is Turned
Always behind [the lens] is how I’m the most comfortable, and I think most other photographers would agree.
My friend and fellow photographer, Jennifer Choi, volunteered to be the first photographer to photograph me in a “formal” sitting.
In addition to the tighter and bit more corporate style shots (which is what I requested) Jen surprised me with a change of location. Off we went… out of the office and into “Sammy” – My 1981 VW Vanagon. {sigh of relief} I was finally comfortable in my element… relaxed and cozy in on the back seat of the wagon! I spend a lot of time in Sammy, parked at the beach… reading, picnicking, conceptualizing my next photo related project, napping and listening to the waves crash. The photo wagon is my home away from home.
It’s hard for the tables to be turned on us photographers. Here’s what I learned…
Although I feel I’m not a naturally-cozy and collected subject in front of the camera, I am still a professional behind it. Once the nerves settled, I started listening to my internal dialog photo-coaching, and also started taking queues from Jen. Suddenly I knew how I wanted to naturally pose… staying relaxed, breathing and smiling [with my eyes of course]
Weird truth… showing these photos is not an easy task, but naturally there should be visuals {smile}
Jennifer Choi is the owner and operator of Alfresco Photo. She is a gifted designer and photographer