Holey Plain - MHC

Melbourne Hunt Club organised a large fox hunt at Holey Plain early in June which was a great day and there were riders representing several hunting clubs and a lot of newbies, out for a ride on a truly beautiful property.

Holey Plain still operates as a beef farm, but is just a stunning property on the edge of Rosedale in Gippsland and the old homestead is the centrepiece of this gorgeous property.

Whilst I was very appreciative of being driven around the property in a real 4WD as my SUV just won't cut it when the mud gets real, unfortunately the one horse jump (panel), that we were all organised to get some great images at, the hunting pack didn't quite get to, as they are at the mercy of the hounds.

The highlights for me of the day were:-

- Hearing someone say "Release the hounds"
- Seeing so ,many people riding horses and enjoying the outdoors
- Being with a group of friendly and inviting (and patient) people.

Just watching the hounds who run like crazy, but as soon as the huntsman blows a particular tone on his whistle, they come back and wait for the next whistle command. The hounds are probably the highlight for me.....Great group of animals.

The whole day can be seen at actionpactpix, but here is a sample:-

Hounds ready for action

Lined up at the start of the hunt

Next order please

Photo bombed by a horse

Horses having a chat

Now where is the pack?

Having fun on the property

Dance Moves

This red ribbon means the horse has been known to kick

A leisurely stroll back to the homestead

For a huge spread of food and a warm fire

Saw these hoppers on the property

Anzac Day 2013 - The Sale To Bairnsdale

I had to drive home from Melbourne today and it was too much of an opportunity to miss being part of the dawn service at the Shrine. If you are ever planning on getting there, the media tell you to get there at 5:30 (I got there at 5:20 as I got up at 4:00am), but I would recommend earlier, and take a torch. I took my camera, but the service is not about photos, I could not believe the size of the crowd, as I was driving down St Kilda Road at 5am, there were people swarming to the Shrine. What stood out the most was the silence once the service began:-

"for 30 minutes you would have heard a pin drop.....it was so still and quiet......"

"Lest we Forget"

In the daylight you began to appreciate the size of the crowd

Just an amazing experience.

Those serving at the moment were not forgotten either

At the conclusion of the service people swarmed around the shrine.

Then in the afternoon the annual Anzac Day Sale to Bairnsdale bike race

A local cycling tradition is the Sale to Bairnsdale bike race. This year it was well represented by riders from Melbounre, and big groups from both Warragul and the Latrobe Valley. The race was very hilly today and the four bunches were together as they passed me, but the race was going to get much tougher before the end.

Pics will be up on Facebook

A sneak peak of photos:-

The Poster Boys of the Defence Force, racing on Anzac Day

A Grade could even smile - The hills were still a long way ahead

A Grade - some werent smiling

B Grade also not looking so happy

B Grade catching a breath

C Grade just cruising

D Grade also had time to smile

Bikes at the ready at the start

The Organisers, also looking relaxed as the hard work was done

Learning from the Dogs

Well I have been making the trip to Sale Greyhounds regularly now to learn about the art of taking pics of very fast moving dogs as they go past the finish line.

On initially being asked if I was interested I thought "How hard can it be???"

I have leaned a huge amount including:-

- Using high ISO (expose correctly is the key here, as underexposed images will be loaded with unwanted NOISE!)
- Panning (and how an object moving across your line of view is actually moving faster than an object coming toward you.....check your Physics books).
- Panning (it has taken a lot of practice and so deserves two mentions)

Just talking photography for three hours is a bonus and I can practice a lot of things. The interesting thing is I basically shoot 8 frames per second as they cross the line and the difference between a "winning shot" and a "dog that looks like it has stepped in something bad" is a split second.

Here is a sample from Sunday night:-

Looking like he can fly

But this is a better position

This was a close call on which dog won on the night

Again the popular pose as they cross the line

An example of being too slow in panning - BAD PANNING!

Another strange angle - remember this is all at 8 fps!!

Happy at the finish

It is only a brief moment between the classic sprint shot

and the "Whoops I stepped in something" shot

Happy at the finish

This greyhound is flying home (well his back legs are anyways!)

Another happy dog

Synchronised racing

Seriously synchronised

Break after the TDU and Bob Whitford Track

After being in Adelaide, shooting at Monarto Zoo and the Gorge Wildlife Park and Port Adelaide, and a few pics at the TDU, I have actually let the camera have a week off (translation means holy shit, I have got to focus on a few other things........)...

Riding my bike on Saturday I learned exactly why you should always have a camera on you. As we passed Chins bridge, there were about 60 or more pelicans all sitting in the wetlands and the water was dead calm....reflections and just great (oh and no camera), then we saw a deer and then we saw a huge eagle.....damm....great ride though...

Yesterday I went to the track racing at the Newborough Track. Latrobe City Cycling Club had organised the Energy Australia track carnival and it was great:-

Two words to describe the carnival "Wayne Tunks" - Well done to LCCC and to Tunksy for having a slick track carnival in the local area. 

Excellent to see great fields in all grades and in the women

Full results are HERE

Some pics are HERE

There will be a full group of pics up soon at www.actionpactpix.com 

Here is a sample:-