I Wouldn't Bet On It
Shooting A Horse Race

Regular readers of Jersey Camcorder Club Newsletter know that, at about this time last year their secretary, Annette, was inveigled or cajoled into acting, one Bank holiday afternoon, as chief videographer for the Jersey Race Club. This involved using the race Club's big professional camcorder, while standing on a 30 foot high platform, and trying to film the race horses as they speed round the track, particularly making sure to get the 'photo finishes'. As reported then, Annette did not do too well, so she was determined to practise, so that shecould manage better, should the necessity ever arise again.

Annette takes up the tail - er - tale ...

Well, practise I did, using my own camcorder, while enjoying two or three quite pleasant days out. The organisers viewed my resulting tapes, and decided they were fine, so I agreed to stand in for the regular man, while he was on holiday.

The particular day was Sunday, August 23rd. And you may recall it rained - very, very hard! I did not have a proper waterproof cover for the camcorder - I normally don't take it out in the rain. So I covered it as best I could with a plastic bag - that is what they normally use, as the platform is totally without shelter. But there was so much rain lashing on the lens, you could scarcely see the horses. And then of course, the famous 'dew drop' appeared in the view finder, and the machine shut down.

However, I had brought my old Hi8 camcorder as a reserve - after all this was supposed to be a professional job. So I set that up for a while - having missed the vital presentation of prizes to the best dressed ladies - until the tripod blew over, and toppled down the ladder, with the camcorder attached. At this point neither machine was working, and I was literally soaked to the skin - I rang water out of my undies on my return home.

So I am afraid I have notified the organisers that I feel I am temperamentally unsuited to the task. But honestly, it normally is a pleasant day out, so if anyone is happy using a professional machine, and would like to earn a little extra money occasionally, as well as performing a useful function, I will happily give you the details.

- Annette Lowe

This article first appeared in the Jersey Camcorder Club Newsletter and is reproduces by kind permission.

"For some the glass is half full.
For others the glass is half empty.
For me the glass is twice as big as it needs to be."

Page updated on 21 March 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

Free JavaScripts provided
by The JavaScript Source