Fantastic Patch, I like em all.

Thank you guys, thrilled to bits with the responses
I`m waaaay behind getting the rest processed as I had a Training Weekend plus normal training all of Friday then the prep for the weekend then went to a horse show on Monday so even more pics to get done but I`m getting there slowly

I have some firm favourites among some of the as yet un-pp`s shots, I will post them asap

Samwise, the Poodle in the pic you were concerned about was looking toward the handler for the next cue which was for a sharp turn and there was nothing ahead for the dog to crash into, plus obstacles are not allowed to be set to less than a safe minimum distance apart so don`t worry the doglet was absolutely safe

Very good set of images Patch.

Referring to a question I asked in another thread, I see you do use manual exposure setting which I find surprising. I think if the weather conditions are fairly constant and the fact you take up a position for a number of shots this will (and does as your shots prove) work.

And here comes my "but"...but do you use the camera's meter to determine the correct exposure or do you use a separate handheld meter. If the camera's meter and you follow the camera's interpretation of the scene, how would that EV value be different than if you let the camera do some of the work in Tv or Av. Unless you are ignoring the camera's metering suggestion and using the your eye to judge the exposure (and there are some that can do this, sadly not me) you are just setting the exposure setting that the camera would set automatically.

I only ask because you may find days with clouds skidding across the sky that the EV value can change by as much as plus or minus 3 stops which could cause you problems.

Don't get me wrong and think I am having a go, I'm not and I hope it does not come over that way. I do however think you may be making things a little bit harder for yourself than needs be.

Like others have said already, your images have improved beyond belief and you deserve all the credit you are getting for your great images.

Steve

I do it by eye, I have`nt got to grips with metering yet

Definitely the case at agility shows with several rings with differing surroundings and light changes from ring to ring let alone weather related lighting, so I tend to take a few shots around the ring I`m planning on taking pics for friends at so I can try to get it right manually for that ring and to try for a position where I can get a few shots of each dogs run rather than one per run, and take shots between the dogs runs as well in case the light has changed enough for the camera to pick up then adjust if/when necessary before the next dog runs, luckily there is usually time to do this, [ well, several seconds at least, sometimes I make it sometimes I don`t ]

Heck no it does`nt come over negatively at all, you are a terrific help and I appreciate it very much I do tend to make things difficult for myself in most things but I try to turn that into a positive by convincing myself it`s really to challenge myself [ in other words lots of trial and error ]

Thank you so much, that means the world to me, but I can`t take all the credit, it`s you guys giving so much help that has opened up photography to me, if anyone had asked me a few months ago if I could take a reasonable photo I would have needed picking up off the floor from laughing at the idea, I never dreamed of ever getting the kind of photos you lot have helped me achieve so far and to know I will be able to do much better keeps me striving to keep learning

Phew!!

I was thinking I may have upset you when I did not see you on here for a few days and I'm glad you took my comments as I intended. I can be a bit clumsy with comments sometimes and would never want to offend.

Keep up the good work, you really are doing very well.

Steve