| A good photograph portrays your horse in his | | | | is bound to be in the background. You want |
| best possible light. A bad photograph, by | | | | the viewer to be wowed by your horse, not |
| contrast, draws attention to every fault, no | | | | your new Cadillac Escalade. Look at the |
| matter how insignificant, and sometimes even | | | | details before you click! Sounds crazy, but |
| exaggerates those faults! | | | | how many amateur photographs have you seen |
| | | | that depict horses with pitchforks growing |
| Whether you are advertising your horse | | | | out of their heads? As improbably as it |
| because he is for sale or advertising his | | | | sounds, I bet at least one, right? It bears |
| recent show ring accomplishments, knowing how | | | | repeating-check the background! |
| to photograph your horse correctly is a skill | | | | |
| you must develop. If you derive income from | | | | * Make sure tack is clean. If you photograph |
| your horses getting good photographs of them | | | | your horse in his bridle or saddle, make sure |
| to put in front of the public is absolutely | | | | that both have been recently scrubbed. For |
| integral! | | | | that matter, anything your horse wears in a |
| | | | photo should be squeaky clean. That goes for |
| So, how do you take good photographs of your | | | | the rider and handler, too! |
| horse? Well, the first thing you should know | | | | |
| is that it takes a little bit of practice. | | | | * Enlist the help of a knowledgeable horse |
| You shouldn't expect to load your camera, | | | | person. You can't take pictures and position |
| take a few rolls, and be Robert Vavra over | | | | the horse too, so you'll need some help. It's |
| night! However, if you follow the following | | | | best if the person who helps you knows how to |
| tips you'll be shooting great pics of your | | | | pose a horse to his best advantage. |
| horse in no time. | | | | |
| | | | * The angle and position of the horse are |
| * Film matters! That's right, use | | | | key. For a full body shot, stand the horse |
| good-quality film such as Kodak or Fuji, and | | | | with both front legs together and one hind |
| you'll see it really does make a difference. | | | | leg slightly behind the other. To minimize |
| If you are using a 35 mm format opt for 200 | | | | parts looking too large or too small, focus |
| ASA. Going digital? The higher the pixels the | | | | on the middle of the horse, and do not shoot |
| better. | | | | from too high or too low. Make sure the horse |
| | | | looks alert with bright eyes and both ears |
| * Pick the right day. A bright day is good, | | | | forward. Horse not cooperating? Have a friend |
| but pick a day that isn't too sunny. Too much | | | | make some noise (outside the frame, of |
| sun will create dark shadows, and can be | | | | course!) to get your horse's attention. |
| particularly problematic if you are shooting | | | | |
| a dark horse. If you have no choice but to | | | | * Get the right action. If you are taking |
| shoot on a sunny day, use a flash to | | | | shots of your horse in action, you'll want to |
| eliminate shadows. It sounds | | | | capture his power and impulsion. If your |
| counterintuitive, but it really does work! | | | | horse is trotting or cantering, try to |
| | | | capture him with his leading leg extended. |
| * Prepare your horse. Now I know you are not | | | | |
| going to stand him up hairy and dirty, but in | | | | * Stay away from the front and rear. Photos |
| addition to good grooming you might want to | | | | from the side come out much nicer than photos |
| take some extra steps to ensure your horse | | | | taken head on or from the rear, which almost |
| looks his best. If appropriate to the | | | | always accentuate unwanted things and make |
| discipline in which he participates, braid | | | | them look, well, HUGE! |
| his mane and oil his hooves. Make sure his | | | | |
| coat and his tail are shiny and well-brushed. | | | | * Keep clicking! While skill is most |
| | | | certainly involved, some of the best horse |
| * Pick a uncluttered background. A natural | | | | photographs are lucky. That's right. Don't |
| background such as a field, woodland, or | | | | wait for the perfect moment. Just keep |
| pasture is a good choice. The barnyard or | | | | clicking and you are sure to get a shot that |
| driveway, no matter how neat and clean, is | | | | shows your horse at his best! |
| not a great choice because of the stuff that | | | | |