Southern Pines Pictures???

[Live2drive]

Hi All,
I know I am probably getting ahead of myself here, but where and when will their be pictures up from southern Pines??? So Jealous of everyone who got to go... :no: lol
Thanks in advance,
Jessica

[nrthwds]

I was wondering about the pictures, too.

[Ashemont]

Many of us have been unhappy with the show photographer. I know I'd encourage any organizer to NOT use him! He only took photos from one spot at ONE hazard! And today he only took shots from one spot in cones. Dressage photos were disappointing too.

I really wanted to get pictures of my ponies at their first CDE as a pair.... but no way will I do so. After seeing this thread I asked him where the online photos were as I thought I'd post the link and he snapped at me: "They'll be online when I get back to Greensboro.... maybe late tonight! No big deal!" :no:

[piaffequeen]

Who was the photographer? Why don't they use the same ones that the Three Day eventers use? Like Pics for you or Brant Gamma?

[Outyougo]

Where can I find pix? My sister had a great weekend!!!

Go Frannie

[Ashemont]

The photographer was Tony Dantonio of My Star Photography. I don't know where the photos will be, sorry. It's just sad that my husband, who is recovering from surgery and not getting around too well, got better photos of TWO hazards!

pq - with so many fine photographers available - and local ones at that - I can't figure out why they picked someone so mediocre. But then, with one of the best announcers around in our local club, I can't fathom why they imported a guy from Canada who most of us couldn't even understand - and who also did a mediocre job!

While I heard nothing but praises for the venue I also heard tons of complaints. Many who came for the Preliminary thought they would be judged by one of the big names in the Omnibus. Instead we had two entirely different judges. There was only one food concession with food that was greasy even by horse show standards, and extremely over-priced at that! I mean $5 for a lemonade? C'mon!

Communication was another issue, but then that's often the case. Scores were not posted in a timely manner. Oh, and then someone added crush-and-run - with rather large chunks of gravel - to the hazards :uhoh: Had we not gotten a good rain Friday night to soften the ground I'm certain many horses would've come up sore.

I thought I was going to get eliminated by one judge because my Prelim Pony Pair did the walk in 9:45. She said that couldn't be right and started grilling me. Thank goodness one of our club members was nearby and confirmed that my ponies were quick and routinely did the walk in Advanced time ;) This same judge also told me I had to slow down in cones warmup :confused: There was only ONE other pair warming up and we certainly weren't having any problems. She also told them to slow down (?) We still ended up with the fastest time of anyone in cones :D Of course we had already eliminated for missing the infamous Gate 20 before Obstacle #7 so it didn't matter.

We had great weather, a beautiful venue, friendly competitiors and organizers. I had a blast as did my 'gator, friends, and ponies. We flew through the vet checks (the vet at the end of E asked if I had really run the marathon :lol:) and had no accidents. Well, none if you don't count getting the wrong wheels for my carriage delivered Thursday night and having to switch to my husband's carriage Friday morning right before dressage!

All in all it was a great time. The negative issues are all readily fixable and so we're hoping it will only get better next time. And we'll be sure to learn how to count better, too.... :lol: ;)

[Bob Branam]

Everyone can blame me for Tony being your photographer....He was a basketball photographer and I brought him down to Southern Pines to help me cover that show. So, after that he called himself a equine carriage photogapher and somehow convenced the management to use him after me doing the show for the previous three years. I also blame myself for not having that show anymore. Along with many other CDE shows.. that photographers I have trained Now do. I keep hoping that someday that I can again do the beautiful Southern Pines show. I also called a show manager up north....and was told that they had Tony contracted for the next three years...amazing how helping at one show...can raise you to the standard of booking three year contracts. One problem I see with the influx of new photographers is the offering of purchasing a show....Management, short on funds....will book with a photographer that offers to pay to be there...it is then a money thing.. not a quality thing.. the show makes out and the competitors lose.

[Live2drive]

Thats Horrible.... I am so sorry, you are a very talented photographer... I bet if a bunch of people got together and wrote in and complained that they may do something about it?? Just a thought.

[Ashemont]

Bob,

I was wondering why you weren't there. You really did a fabulous job last year and I was so looking forward to getting some great shots of my new pair. I hope that there are enough complaints to get you back next year!

[mares tails]

My Star Photography has a website here (http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/store.aspx?p=4737)

2009 Southern Pines CDE pix are not up yet.

[piaffequeen]

Ashemont-know the feeling about the officials-I ended going and watching Sara go with Batman and they did something with her score like added 20 seconds to it. Fortunately she has 4 timers on her carriage and every official she saw she told them about it! Of course she also said that she was going to go slow! :lol: The 2 hazards I saw her do-the trees and the big water hazard she was flying!

As for the photographer-I think everyone should complain and refuse to buy the pictures and demand that Bob? come back-maybe if there is enough pressure..... but here's wishful thinking!;)

[Ashemont]

Ashemont-know the feeling about the officials-

Oh, I forgot to mention how the two Preliminary judges scored. They were 34 points apart for me!!! Way too far apart for it to simply be a matter of different views. One gave my ponies an 8 for gaits; the other gave them a 5! And I understand this happened in the Advanced/Intermediate arena too :( We did FEI ridden dressage for plenty long enough to understand that GOOD judges are usually only a few points apart.

As for the photographer-I think everyone should complain and refuse to buy the pictures and demand that Bob? come back-

Good idea! I know I put it on my evaluation sheet. Hope others do too :yes:

[mares tails]

One gave my ponies an 8 for gaits; the other gave them a 5!
Maybe one judge was scoring in Canadian dollars? :lol:

[piaffequeen]

Oh, I forgot to mention how the two Preliminary judges scored. They were 34 points apart for me!!! Way too far apart for it to simply be a matter of different views. One gave my ponies an 8 for gaits; the other gave them a 5! And I understand this happened in the Advanced/Intermediate arena too :( We did FEI ridden dressage for plenty long enough to understand that GOOD judges are usually only a few points apart.



Good idea! I know I put it on my evaluation sheet. Hope others do too :yes:
Can you also make a complaint against the judges? I think that riders and drivers should be allowed to challenge a score-but of course that would mean videotaping all the rides-what a headache!

I went to your website and love it-turns out you are probably not far from my dressage trainer who is on the other side of Hassingers.

[Ashemont]

The USEF evaluation sheet covers the judges, officials, organizers, TD, etc. Plus you can write anything you want on the reverse side. I always try to send one in as it's only though feedback that things can improve.... or good things can be recognized :yes:

So who is your trainer? Lynn Doki? She has one of our 'babies' :D

[Blue Bandit]

some scenes from Southern Pines http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLfyiqwXhyc&feature=channel_page

[yellowpony]

I posted a few photos here: SP 09 (http://www.meghanbenge.com/sp09/index.html)

yes, go frannie!

[Ashemont]

The pictures are finally up!

[piaffequeen]

The USEF evaluation sheet covers the judges, officials, organizers, TD, etc. Plus you can write anything you want on the reverse side. I always try to send one in as it's only though feedback that things can improve.... or good things can be recognized :yes:

So who is your trainer? Lynn Doki? She has one of our 'babies' :D

Yes she is! Who is the baby?

[Live2drive]

I posted a few photos here: SP 09 (http://www.meghanbenge.com/sp09/index.html)

yes, go frannie!

I love your Pictures!!! They are great! I also Adore your ponies, they are beautiful!