Watched Shooting Jacket workout…

Watched Shooting Jacket workout…

I went to Hastings Racecourse early Wednesday morning to watch one of my two horses, Shooting Jacket, workout. Trackside, the smell of coffee and hay were in the air along with the occasional whiff of horse poop. When you are this close to the action you get all the sights and smells. There were more owners horses trainers and agents of different horses at this workout session compared to the last session I attended a few weeks back. Everyone seems to know everyone and is very friendly. I am still getting to know people but it’s all good.

Shooting Jacket ran a few slow laps or parts of laps around the track, then did at least one flying lap at a good clip. Then it was back into the paddock and barns and the word is he is in good shape. I think Shooting Jacket and Merlot are both running on Canada Day but need to confirm that.

Below are a few photos of Shooting Jacket working out Wednesday morning. This was the first time using the new Sony A77ii at the track. It was a good real world test to help me get used to the new equipment and I am fairly happy with these early images..

For more on how I got involved with horse racing check my previous post here:

https://creativescans.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/so-i-bought-a-race-horse/

For more information about Hastings Racecourse visit their website:

http://www.hastingsracecourse.com

Sony A77ii camera HDR test

The Sony A77ii has a HDR setting so tried that feature out just to see the results. I rarely shoot HDR but wanted to see what the new camera could do. Below are a few images testing the HDR feature of the camera. The images are straight from the camera unedited except for being resized. Most of the menus are in the same places as the A77 but some have been redesigned so I am still getting used to the menus on board the camera.

My new camera arrived today…

The camera I ordered to replace my old malfunctioning camera arrived today. Here are my first very impressions.

The A77 and the A77ii are almost identical in design with a few differences that I have noticed so far. They have added a button you have to press to the center of the dial that changes shooting modes. If you do not push the button the dial will not move. Some of the menu layouts have changed. There is no more IF remote control. There is Wi-Fi. Oh and the flash hot shoe is now the traditional ISO type.

That’s all for now. Stay tuned for more information on the Sony A77ii and photos from out in the field using the new camera. Below are some photos of the new rig.