Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

Carrying the flags of their houses, the riders race around the circuit.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

It’s always an interesting challenge trying to convey motion in a still image. I used a slow shutter speed and panned the camera with the subject. Get it right and you should get a blurry background while the subject remains relatively sharp.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

One rider was a young girl who galloped around the course with the men. I didn’t manage to get her name, but it was an impressive feat of horsemanship, irrespective of age or gender.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

The winners collected a piece of paper from the trackside umpires and then galloped up a zig-zag path through the crowd to top of the embankment where they collect their prizes.

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan

Soma Nomaoi Samurai Horseman Festival, Fukushima, Japan