How To Take a Great Horse Picture Using a Digital Camera
Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
The digital camera is a marvel that gives us the ability to take numerous pictures without additional expense. Best of all, we are able to see results almost instantaneously. Digital cameras – I love them! And why not? I remember waiting for the latest photo session snapshots to come back from the developers, not to mention the expense.
The horse is a magnificent creature. He comes in many colors, breeds and exudes power. He is stunning in motion and beautiful to behold in a natural environment. Yet the most striking horse can look ghastly, like an old nag, if his picture is not planned and taken properly. For example purposes, I am using Patrick’s pictures to illustrate. The reader should also remember that these pictures were originally taken of Patrick at play, at random, and not for horse photo journaling or framing purposes. He’s so much better looking than he appears in any of these shots.
If you want an awesome, unique picture of your horse, then call a professional horse photographer. I emphasize horse because professionals are great but only a knowledgeable horse specialist will get you the shots you really want. If you want to photograph your horse as he really is, then this article is for you. It’s written to present a few picture-taking tips that will make your fun pictures a little better.
Take many pictures and scrutinize them carefully and, at the end of the day, you may get some favorites. These tips do not go into the fancy shots such as
- · shooting over the rear of the horse to get a unique angle and picture
- · zooming in on a particular feature of the horse such as his eyes
- · setting him up for a show stretch
- · emphasizing his musculature as in the Quarter Horse
- · flared nostrils
- · having the horse turn his head to the side
- · special lighting effects
Forward and Pricked Ears
This tops the list in importance. Any picture of the horse, minus attentive ears, is an unflattering picture. This is primary in horse picture taking. Get the picture with the ears up!
When your intent is to evoke emotion or distress as shown by the horse, then pinned ears, or ears back or in downward position may be proper for the shot.But the accepted norm in horse photography is “get the shot with the ears up,” otherwise don’t even take the shot.
left - Patrick has ears relaxed; right - His ears are up.
Fill the Frame with the Horse
If the picture is about the horse, then frame the picture accordingly. Evaluate the background as you are framing the horse in your viewfinder. Move closer to him if necessary. Otherwise use the zoom capability but be certain you are in focus. Ultimately, you may still need to crop your results. Most pictures improve with some cropping anyway.Pick the Background if Possible
Sometimes it is not possible to select the backdrop and the pictures must be taken naturally. If you can, however, choose the background for a hand-posed horse. Remember to eliminate distractions and shadows. Present the horse as the primary subject, and hopefully the only apparent subject in the photo. An open field or no obstacles directly behind the horse are ideal. It is also possible to get an outstanding picture in front of dense, tall greenery, blurring out the background and enhancing the coloration of the horse.
Above - Patrick taken from front angle. His neck is distorted and his breed is not referencing as a Saddlebred. He's relaxed, the picture does not show length of neck and is not crisp and clean.
Pose Front Angles of the Horse with Care
The success of a frontal picture is entirely in the pose and angle of the shot. Take care that the horse does not appear all front with no torso or rear. It is difficult to get definition of body, muscles and shine and, worse, a shot may be taken at an upward angle, further distorting the horse. This particular pose takes many attempts to get it right. It’s all worth it for the special shot that may result.
Know the Breed of HorseEach breed of horse enjoys standards that define it from other breeds. For example, the Saddlebred is regal with long, graceful neck and elegant ears and head. The Quarter Horse accentuates muscles, gaskins and hindquarters. The Miniature Horse desires emphasis on smallish stature showing the refinements of today’s little horses. And so on. It helps to know flattering angles, how to emphasize body parts or play down others. Ask yourself as you prepare to take the shot, what would the professional want in this picture. If the horse is a good model and stands well during his photo op, then work it. Get as many pictures as you can, narrowing them down later. Above - Lighting completely ruins this shot. However, the angle is poor for if the whole horse were visible on this picture, her front would appear much too large for the hindquarters. In that case, close up is perfect - with correct lighting of course.
Set Up the Horse
As previously said, horses by their size, frame and structure can often take rather plain or unflattering pictures. “The camera loves him” might not be the exclamation for many pictures if your thinking cap about the horse is not engaged during the photo sessions. There is much to remember to grab the best shots. Set up the horse, feet square or stretched keeping the feet even. It is also important that the horse has the appearance of four legs. Plan the angle of the picture so you get a full body shot, with the off legs showing and all four legs showing.
Center and Balance the Picture
While superb pictures can result from asymmetrical poses, or off-center shots, best results often occur from centering the horse. This tip is best for posed horses. For action shots, there are “thirds” photography rules for framing good pictures to make them great. I suggest you have the handler pose the horse, frame and center the picture and take your best shots.
Snap Away Without Delay
Some of the best shots result from unexpected shooting. Do not wait to take the picture. You need to anticipate a good shot, but you cannot stand and wait for it. Too many shots are lost this way. By the time you take your “best shot,” the horse has moved or his ears have flicked back. So, snap away. Snap, snap, snap. You’ll discard blurs, and any that do not meet expectations. Some of the frames will be just right.
Dare I say it again? Digital photography has presented the amateur photographer with an amazing tool. It costs nothing to develop the photos and you get instant gratification. Don’t like a picture? Delete. It doesn’t get any better than that. I love digital cameras!
This picture with the Miniature Horse is adorable of the child but dreadful of the little horse - it does not show how small the horse actually is and his rear is distorted in size. (the girl is 7). Dreadful picture that should be best cropped.
There are so many more tips and dos and do nots about horse picture taking. Common sense and knowledge of the horse are your best tools. Take lots of photos, snap away, get different shots and see them get better with practice.
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