Houston Highland Games

After a two year hiatus the Highland games have returned. This is a gathering of the Scottish Clans in the Houston Area. There are athletic games, Bag piping contests, traditional dancing and various vendors of clan paraphernalia. This was a good photo op with what I thought were going to be smallish crowds. There was more than I thought but it was manageable. My stamina is not as great as it was once was, so this is the right size for me. The venue for this event was at the Humble Civic Center and Event Complex in Humble Texas. All covered and with the exception of the event arena it is all concrete so its easy to get around. Enough of my rambling - ONTO THE SHOW. These were all shot hand held with my Sony A7MkIII, with my Sony FE 24-240 mm lens and Auto ISO. Most of the ISO came out over 10,000 so I post processed using Adobe Lightroom and Topaz Denoise.

Stone Put

This event is similar to modern day shot out. BUT instead of a steel shot a large stone is used. there are two differing techniques allowed the "Braemar Stone" using a stone weighing weighing 20-26 lbs. does not allow any run up to the toe board or "trig" to deliver the stone. The 2nd technique, the "Open Stone" using a 16-22 lb. stone is put with one hand and starting with the stone resting cradled in the neck until moment of release. Most athletes in the Open Stone use either the "glide" or "spin" techniques to put the stone.