Polo Photography at the Army Equestrian Centre – Capturing Elite Army Polo in Delhi

The Army Equestrian Centre in Delhi has been one of the most exclusive and professionally structured venues I have photographed as a sports photographer in India. Unlike public sporting venues, this ground primarily hosts army-related polo tournaments and equestrian activities, making access significantly more restricted compared to other polo venues in Delhi NCR.

My experience at the Army Equestrian Centre gave me deeper exposure to high-level polo photography while also allowing me to engage with a wider range of players—from experienced professionals at the peak of their careers to younger athletes and emerging players beginning their polo journey.

Accessing the Army Equestrian Centre

One of the unique aspects of photographing at the Army Equestrian Centre is that the venue is not openly accessible to the general public.

Access typically requires:

• Permissions from organizers or authorities

• Professional networking within the polo community

• Coordination with players or teams participating in the tournament

Through my growing connections within the polo ecosystem and by offering dedicated photography coverage, I was able to gain access to the grounds and document multiple matches and tournaments.

This experience reinforced how important networking and relationship-building are within professional sports photography.

A Different Polo Environment from Jaipur Polo Grounds

While the Jaipur Polo Grounds are known for their star-studded atmosphere and elite polo culture, the Army Equestrian Centre offered a more diverse competitive environment.

The matches featured:

• Highly accomplished polo players with strong goal rankings

• Army-affiliated teams and tournaments

• Young and developing players building experience

• Lower-goal-count players learning the competitive structure

This mix created a more varied visual and sporting experience, where every match carried a different pace and style of gameplay.

Photographing the Army Polo Championship

One of the major highlights of my experience at the venue was covering the Army Polo Championship.

The tournament atmosphere combined:

• High-speed equestrian action

• Structured army sporting discipline

• Competitive match intensity

• Beautiful open-ground environments

The Army Equestrian Centre also features two major polo grounds, allowing simultaneous matches and increasing the scale of the sporting environment.

For a sports photographer, this setup creates excellent opportunities for:

• Multiple-angle coverage

• Dynamic movement tracking

• Wide environmental storytelling

• Fast transitions between matches

Testing the Nikon Z8 at the Army Equestrian Centre

This venue also became particularly memorable because it was where I had the opportunity to test the Nikon Z8, which was provided to me by Nikon India to explore and evaluate its capabilities in a real-world sports environment.

Using the Nikon Z8 during polo matches allowed me to experiment with:

• High-speed autofocus tracking

• Burst shooting performance

• Advanced video capabilities

• Subject detection during equestrian movement

The fast-paced nature of polo made it an ideal sport to test the camera’s performance under demanding conditions.

I later created a video from this experience, which was shared by Nikon India on their official platform, making it an especially rewarding milestone in my photography journey.

Polo Photography Techniques & Challenges

Photographing polo at the Army Equestrian Centre required similar technical preparation as other equestrian venues, including:

• Long telephoto lens usage

• Continuous autofocus tracking

• Fast shutter speeds for horse movement

• Stable camera support systems

Since polo involves large fields and rapid directional changes, anticipation becomes extremely important. Reading player movement and predicting the ball’s direction are often more important than reacting after the action occurs.

The open environment and relatively peaceful surroundings of the Army Equestrian Centre also made the experience visually enjoyable. Being away from the heavy congestion of the city allowed for a calmer shooting environment while still maintaining competitive sporting intensity.

Networking & Community Building Through Polo

One of the biggest advantages of regularly photographing polo in Delhi has been the opportunity to connect with athletes, organizers, photographers, and equestrian professionals.

The Army Equestrian Centre especially highlighted how sports photography is not only about technical execution but also about:

• Building trust within sports communities

• Delivering reliable coverage

• Understanding sporting culture and etiquette

• Maintaining professionalism in restricted environments

These relationships continue to help expand my understanding of polo and equestrian sports photography.

Final Thoughts

My experience at the Army Equestrian Centre has been one of the most professionally enriching chapters in my polo photography journey.

From photographing the Army Polo Championship to testing the Nikon Z8 for Nikon India, the venue offered a unique combination of:

• Elite sports action

• Technical photography challenges

• Professional networking opportunities

• Peaceful natural surroundings

It remains one of the most important polo venues I have worked at in Delhi NCR and continues to inspire my growth as a sports photographer specializing in equestrian and action sports photography.