Polo

[Anthony]

On Sunday I shot some polo at the Guards' Polo Club in Windsor Great Park.

It is not an easy sport to photograph.  The playing area (called the "Ground") is the size of five football (soccer) pitches.  The action is very fast and unpredictable.  One moment they are at the far end, almost out of view, and suddenly they are close.  The right focal length can become the wrong focal length in a couple of seconds.

It was a lot of fun.

[Anthony]

How to take the ball.

[Anthony]

Catch me if you can.

[Anthony]

Power shot.

[Anthony]

A real pony tail.  It is important to have your hair up before the action starts.

Shin protection is vital.

[Akira]

Anthony, thank you for sharing not-so-familiar behind-the-scenes of polo!

I also like the images of the game which are very well framed: from the tips of the mallets to the toes of the horses.

[MFloyd]

Excellent. Not an easy catch.

[Anthony]

Thank you, Akira and MFloyd.

[armando_m]

Anthony, Outstanding! Thanks for sharing these images

[Bent Hjarbo]

Antony you seem to succeed in this game, very nice and interesting photos.

[Anthony]

Armando, Bent, thank you for your comments.

[Thomas Stellwag]

great pictures
good to see how they tune up their horses
in the first one, is he hitting the ball or striking against the other horse?

[Anthony]

great pictures
good to see how they tune up their horses
in the first one, is he hitting the ball or striking against the other horse?

Thank you, Thomas.

The player on the right of the frame is using his mallet to block the mallet of the other player, preventing him from hitting the ball.  This is a legal manoeuvre in polo.