HoofClix Venue Notes & Blog

2010 Land Rover American Eventing Championships at Chattahoochee Hills

2010-08-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

PLEASE READ, BUT CLICK HERE TO GO TO GALLERIES

Hey again everyone! I'm back from the show, and what a show it were!

DISC: $100 / DOWNLOAD: $95

Either call me at 864-420-6526 or

click on the orange

"ORDER BY FAX OR MAIL"

over there to the right, and send it to me!

Back to the uploading y'all!

Horse Show Ventures Summer Fun at Chatt Hills June 12-13, 2010

2010-06-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hey, wasn't that something to be at the first ever HJ show at Chatt Hills.. Thanks to Morgan and crew for putting on the party!

Read on, but click HERE to see all galleries..

So, if this is the first time you have been to a show where I have been shooting, don't forget that you can order manually from me as well as from the shopping cart inside the galleries. If you want the Show Disc of the entire gallery, you need to use the form. Just click on "FAX-ORDER" in the blue navbar below my banner..

Great to meet you all, and keep cool this summer!

FACEBOOK FIENDISHNESS

2010-03-16T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks, I gotta get down off my nice guy toolbox for a minute and discuss something that is really hurting me these days.. If you see any sort of watermark composed of diagonal lines across an image, in my galleries or elsewhere, it means that I did NOT sell the pictures to that or any person:

That image will look like this when someone screen captures the image an posts it in Facebook:

Please don't do this to me. I know you all have braved the cold and snow this season, but so have I, for all of the rides! No photographer you see at any show this year deserves to have their pictures stolen, and yes, screen capturing photos is not legal.

What I do when I run across this behavior is to:
1. Report each image to Facebook, and I have a direct phone relationship on the subject (sad, eh!)
2. Take a screen capture of the Facebook gallery of each captured image in the gallery, as proof, as Facebook will take them down.
3. Send a bill to the person who stole them for $120, which is the price of a single-rider show disc, for each gallery I see represented. (After all, that's what they would have paid purchase what they took. Any eventual legal action would be filed for five times that, which is what copyright law provides for.)
4. Showcase the person who stole them in the very top line of the show that was stolen. I leave it up there until payment is received..

I ask that if you see this type of watermark in any Facebook gallery, please report it to the photographer who took the pictures!

C'mon folks!!

Here is what it may look like if the images are purchased fairly and squarely:

A Snowy Pine Top

2010-03-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

Well, on the eve of Feb 12 at Pine Top, there weren't the usual cast of characters on the grounds as one expects at a horse trial, but those who were there were running around throwing snowballs and have a good time with what was coming down. We knew before turning in that it was to be a delayed start the next day. I did all I could to get to be so that I could rise and have coffee early enough to go out on the landscape photographer's trek. Half the battle on landscape photography is to just show up! The other half is mostly something about narrow apertures and tripods... That was muscle memory...

It was an interesting enough trapse, but what was the weirdest of all is that it was the only time I can ever remember walking the Pine Top xc course and not seeing anyone! Really quiet and peaceful, and the air was spectacular.

I knew that it would be a chance of a lifetime and that it would mostly be gone by 3PM that same day. Glad I was there. Look at more of it HERE.

Pine Top 2010 Winter I Horse Trial

2010-02-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you all who are used to seeing my trailer there by the office were wondering if I made it! I did, but my truck was misbehaving on the way down, so I had to just get in a car and come to Thomson! I was out there ringside for stadium until the light was just too dark. Odd thing as well at 5:30 was that it was fogging up a bit, so everything was getting even more wet than if it were just spitting out there.

All pics are now on line, so go on over to take a look.. There's a note in the show there about a deal for the show disc. See you all at the Winter II and III, and certainly at the next show in Aiken!

Fall Horse Trials at The Ark 2009

2009-10-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, I've got the show posted now, so go take a look!

When you do view your galleries, do remember that the photodisc for the entire gallery is not available via the online shopping cart, but is available via the printable order form, which you can find linked on the lower left of the nav bars.

The photodisc for this show is priced at a discounted $75, $65 (regular $120/$100) for the gallery download. Just use the order form to purchase it.

GALLERIES WILL BE HERE

Pine Top October 2009

2009-10-10T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hey folks, All posted, so go take a look!

GALLERIES HERE

Don't forget that the show disc is available, only not via the shopping cart. Use the order form, linked in my nav bars, to order that via mail or fax or phone.

HAPPY DAUGHTER JUST BACK FROM AN 18
MONTH VISIT TO "BOW."

Tryon Riding & Hunt Club at FENCE

2009-10-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! Great weekend, wasn't it!

Loading is all done... Don't forget the photo disc, not available via my on-line shopping cart. Click on "Order Form" from my site to get to it.

I also video'd each stadium round, so if you want it, just use the order form as well. DVD is $25 for each ride, but is $20 if bought with the disc or download. CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE.

VIEW ALL TRHC GALLERIES HERE.

VIEW NON-TRHC FENCE GALLERIES HERE

CCC Pleasure Driving & Dressage at Harmon Field

2009-09-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! It was a "pleasure..." I'm finished uploading, so if you don't see any images in your gallery, let me know and I'll see if I made a mistake.

For those of you who did dressage on Friday, I video'd your tests. If you would like a dvd of it, it is just $30, $25 for any followups. Use the order form to get it directly from me.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL GALLERIES

Order form is on the site on the left side of the Nav Bar..

See you next time.. Mark

September '09 Paradise Horse Trial

2009-09-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

Hey, we lucked out! While the rest of the state was under water, we had to remind ourselves that we were, indeed, in Paradise. Or on the edge of it anyway.. That nasty system moved up I-85 and went right above us, leaving us with a nice comfortable day, albeit 95% humidity. Most important of all, my cameras stayed dry!

As of now I've finished the uploading, so if you rode and still see empty gallery, send me a message!

ORDER SHOW DISCS & DOWNLOADS HERE

GALLERIES HERE

Full Gallop Horse Trials August 29&30, 2009

2009-08-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

I'm getting close to finishing the uploading. Take time to read below, but click the following to view your photos: http://hoofclix.smugmug.com/Full-Gallop-Farm

Don't forget the SHOW DISC and DOWNLOAD, $120/$100, available only via the pdf order form, found in the navbars. The "Download" includes all the same great images, only download from the site..

Click to see a sample of the video of Sarah Hansel atop Charlie Brown right in the show gallery. The dimension issue you may have seen earlier is solved.

In the meantime, in between video signups I did get some extras of these riders, which you can still purchase for $25 per disc, or $20 if bought in conjunction with a photo CD or download:

Andrews, Allison & Inquisition 149
Andrews, Caroline & Apology Accepted 99
Armstrong, Rohena & The Money Runner 95
Boyle, Amy & Rowdy But Nice 105
Briggs, Kelsey & The Gentleman Pirate 36
Caras, Jenny & Raku 61
Cooper, Asa & Walk on Water 88
Culbertson, Eliza & Time To Tango 67
Davis, Stephanie & Out For Blood 163
Doolittle, Jamie & Sportsfield Supersonic 48
Douglas, Morgan & Above The West 62
Ezekiel, Emmi & Tinkerbell 176
Ezekiel, Kennedy & Stepping Stone 90
Graulich, Lindsey & Adanac 152
Hawkins, Caroline & Silent Faith 94
Imes, Megill & Saturday Afternoon 114
Kart, Brittany & Llewellyn 13
Kennedy, Allison & Formal Attire 162
Khoury, Jeanine & Jones 174
Lambros, Peri & Jumping Zach Flash 101
Miller, Donna & ArdCeltic Art 34
Montgomery, Clark & Up Spirit 12
Murphy, Kathryn & The Tart 160
Murphy, Sarah C. & Zula 150
Muscarella, Sara & Solomon 159
Neely, Kelsey & Pharaoh 147
Nelson, Miranda & Lily's Testamony 91
Pahl, Taylor & Tuck Everlasting 148
Parrish, Frances & Grace 153
Puricz, Shelby & Stalking Man 14
Riley, Morgan & Elite Sterntaler 156
Schriver, Elizabeth & Harmony 93
Schroeder, Helga & Sage 177
Smith, Hayley & Willow Bend 60
Snow, Lizzie & Sloopy 37
Speth, Anna & Impress a Gremlin 63
Summer, Ansley & Tiki 96
Terry, Miriam & Monserrat 68
Wallace, Elisa & Good For Me 16
Warden, Mellisa & Cantilator 11
Woollen, Stephanie & Mystique 172
Wooten, Katie & EM Aquataine 35

If any of you want the video, just use the order form on the site and send it in! I'll put an example in here soon....

Click here to view your photos: http://hoofclix.smugmug.com/Full-Gallop-Farm

Enjoy, Mark

VIDEO COMING SOON!!

2009-07-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hey, I'm trying hard to get the work flow down so that HoofClix can offer at least some video at the horse trials coming up this fall. Below is an example of my capture and how I have edited and added text to the movie shown.

Here is the video also inserted into the rider gallery:

http://hoofclix.smugmug.com/gallery/8316666_Wv5Vp/1/584644690_8ygho#584644690_8ygho

From that rider gallery you may either download a small web-movie (shown above) or a file designed to be burned to DVD or transfered to your i-Pod or other movie player.

The idea would be to offer limited video on dressage day at my horse trials, on an FCFS basis, and I would deliver a range of products from it, above being one, and an actual DVD another.

What do you think??!!

Full Gallop Horse Trial, May 30, 2009

2009-05-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

For me it was my last horse trial until returning to this same venue for August 28-30.

This added June 3rd.. I've finished the uploading as far as I can see, so if you can't see your pictures, do let me know...

Looking forward to introducing video for dressage and/or stadium at the August Full Gallop.. It will be f-c-f-s for the show, but I'm excited about it..

Mark

Carolina Carriage Club HDT @ FENCE

2009-05-27T04:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I had a blast for the weekend, and I think the rain on Sunday actually made it all a little more fun! I was up the creek again on Marathon day, and I did get some good stuff for all, but especially for the Prelim and Int drivers who drove the creek..

At this point all the pictures are posted up, but I'm still finding a few errors in galleries. We should have all phases for each of you, so If you don't see a phase, let me know and I'll search again.

A reminder to you that I video'd the dressage phase on Saturday. I still have all of the files, so it's just $30 for a DVD, and $5 discount if purchased in combo with the photo CD, or a minimum of $100 print order. Use this: ORDER FORM

Mark!

Chattahoochee Hills Mudfest, May 15-17

2009-05-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

Regardless of the mud at the end, it was a great weekend! I was the second to last out, Joanna's Blue Box the last one I believe, and I just got a running start and ski'd up the hill as best I could..

Pics are loading now, and as many of you might not know, I put string them from low to high. If you are itching to see yours, just send me an e-mail, and I can cut into the line with yours...

Called in on this just a few weeks ago, so I did my best to gather my A team for three days of all phases. We did pretty well I think, especially considering the rain. There were a few dressage rides at the end of BN on Saturday that did not get phowtoed, as a camera was shorting in the rain, so please forgive on that. As alway, there will be a few mixed up galleries.. Just tell me and I'll move them...

Very much looking forward to next time.

Mark

Facebook Ready Buying Option Now Available!!!

2009-04-15T13:24:00.000-07:00

So, let me go ahead and start the next internet photography revolution! Starting right now a Web-Ready gallery is available for $50 for any gallery I have on line. Max width or height will be 350 pixels, and I'll put a little logo in there where it won't interfere with the crux of the image. I'll give this a trial until after my May horse trial, the last before the Fall season in the south kicks in, then make a decision as to whether to continue this.....

Save the two pics I have put into a sample gallery, unprotected, is here:
SAMPLE GALLERY

I'll eventually amend my order form to include the option, but for now jst use my on-line order form and write Web-Ready Gallery Download and $50 in the appropriate space. I'll then set up your gallery to allow you to save them from there, and that does it.

UPDATED ORDER FORM HERE!

My fax machine is standing by!

FENCE April 4, 2009

2009-04-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day it was! A bit breezy, but we got just about the best succession of weather, with th rain a few days earlier and the wind the day before to take off the mush...

Let's all thank the FENCE staff for sticking to the show so this long-running event could keep on going.

At this point all the galleries have been uploaded, but don't hesitate to contact me if you have an questions.

Pine Top March 21 & 22

2009-03-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Well it was about time to have some non-rainy shirtsleeve weather for a whole weekend!

All pics from the show are posted. There are a few problems in that I had pics for #97 and #86, but I didn't have a name on the roster for those pinney numbers. If anyone knows who those are, please email me so I can correct the gallery names.

Also there will undoubtedly be a few mixed up pics. If you see some in your galleries, do let me know so I can figure them out.

See you at Pine Top again in the fall....

What A Six Weeks..

2009-03-13T17:44:00.001-07:00

It seems like the past six weeks have gone by in a blur.. What could I have been thinking? Eight horse trials in six weeks and the snowbirds will be packing up their horses and migrating northward via Southern Pines, The Fork, you name it.. I've had a blast so far. Everything is posted and delivered at this point but don't hesitate to call me or e-mail if you have any questions or issues....

Pine Top Jan 31/Feb 1, 2009

2009-02-01T16:55:00.000-08:00

Brrrrr... Well, it may have been cold, but the cold is really yet to come. It was a sight to see Janet driving throught the Frogpond to break up the ice.

I'll be without a fast connection over the next few days, but I'll do my best to get your images up and all photos ordered at the show delivered as soon as possible. Be patient please, and if you're coming to Full Gallop and Sporting Days, you can certainly still drop by my trailer to see your pics.

Mark

Full Gallop Jumping Derby January 17, 2009

2009-01-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Yes, I was in Aiken on Saturday. I had a few trainees there taking shots. You used it as a schooling show, and so did I.........

Sorry that keeping up with numbers proved to be extremely difficult, so I'v just posted by division...

Pics are posting now, so enjoy. Mark

Go In Peace, Peter

2009-01-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

The eyes always told us all we needed to know. The handshake always affirmed it. While I didn't know you well, we'll all miss you, man....

Ark Frostbite, January 10, 2009

2009-01-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Yes folks, HoofClix was there! As the XC was pulled back, and as I had personally something come up, trusty Eileen covered it solo. She has sent me all the images so I can sort them out and post them on the site. Please be patient as I get them up. It should be by Wednesday, I'll guess.

Mark

Watermarks and Copyrights!

2008-12-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

I hate terribly that I have to spend even a minute on this subject, but I thought I'd get it out of the way as a way to close out 2008 rather than to start out 2009! I'm basically having to start using a watermark on all of my galleries.

Folks, most of you know by now that I don't spend a single minute on the showgrounds trying to sell a photo to you. I spend my time making sure that I and my team take great pictures that you will want to buy, then I let you decide if and when you want to purchase any of them. I take the same quality and quantity of everyone regardless of buying history. My prices are below the average when compared against my competition pretty much throughout the southeast. Up to this point my sales have been just fine, so I've figured that my method has been correct.

What I have found in the last quarter, however, is that my images have been stolen rather regularly from my site via the "print-screen" method. I've known about this loophole pretty much all along, but I didn't realize until very recently how often and by how many people this has been done. Basically, I've been the putz!

It's mostly being done on the social networking sites. Most of those taking these I feel just really don't know that they are stealing because so many are doing it. Others know exactly what they're doing and just figure they won't get caught. Regardless, they are being stolen. Parents take note: If you see my watermark on your kids' Facebook or MySpace pages, the image was stolen from me! If there isn't a watermark, then I'll know the image was on a disc that was purchase from me.

I don't plan to do much at all going backwards to find all the people who've done this. The watermark will do. Other colleagues have installed ip address and keystroke reporting as a way to get right to the culprits. For now I don't plan to spend any time doing this. I'll just see how the new year progresses!

In the meantime, enjoy your pictures, and let's get 2009 off to a great start!

Thanks For a Great 2008!

2008-12-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Folks, while I still have a few very exciting portrait jobs left, all of my 2008 horse shows are basically on-line and in the can. While I'm looking forward to a few weeks of not-so-down-time, I have to extend to all of you my thanks for making 2008 a great year for me and my little band of photographers. We'll be back to our usual venues in 2009, but in the meantime, we wish you all a very nice holiday and a great start to 2009 for you and your mounts!

See you all soon!

Mark