When you first took up the mantle to become an equestrian, you probably had visions of you horse riding and perhaps even dreamt of competing in dressage events. But did you ever see yourself as a photographer? There are times when you want to take pictures of your horses, and not just any pictures, but photos that show their strength, speed and beauty. Whether they\’re for purposes of advertising or promotion or to show off recent achievements in competitions, as a rider, you\’ll find yourself taking photos of your horses.
And it\’s not like you take pictures to save the memory—most of the time pictures are utilised when you wish to sell a particular stud of mare. Of course , pictures of an athletic horse performing dressage maneuvers certainly would leave a sound impression on potential buyers. But you do not need to just take any picture of your horses, you would like to take good footage of them. And photography takes a bit of practise. Professionals even have degrees or certificates that swear to their photographic capacities, so don\’t think you can do it the way that they do easily. There are a few tips you can follow to improve your horse photography.
For one thing, the film you use matters. Top quality film renders top of the range shots. 200 ASA is great film for the 35 mm format. And if you\’re going digital, you\’d want higher pixel (or as it stands today, megapixel) counts. But do not waste the top quality , high price film (or megapixel battery consumption) on a bad day. Pick good days when it\’s not too dark and not too bright. Your horse would look best if the lighting isn\’t too bright or otherwise. Excessive sun causes darker shadows, and this will not make for a pleasant picture ambience, particularly for dark horses.
A note on preparing the pony you intend to take a picture of: apart from ensuring she\’s healthy and clean, make her look her best. Use appropriate props, such as braided manes and oiled hooves if that\’s proper for her equestrian activity. Also, everything she is going to wear should likewise be clean and well-maintained. The pony isn\’t the only factor in the picture that requires preparation though, the background wants some preparation and thought too. It is smart to set her up against a uncluttered background. And any handler or rider appearing in the shot should look their absolute best also.
You may need an additional set of knowledgeable hands to handle the horse since you\’ll be doing the shooting. And when you start shooting, ensure you get the finest angle of the pony. Stay clear of going too much to the front or rear, as these angles tend to enlarge certain parts of the horse. Try and catch the better part of whatever action you need your horse to be doing—capture a shot with her extending her leading leg while in a trot or canter, for example. And lastly, just keep at it: most picture perfect moments are accidental, so just click away and you will get the right one.
Horses are Heather Toms’ passion and she
enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100’s of articles with other horse lovers… like all things about horse rugs.