Help with Horse Photography

[TheFilter]

Hello, I was not sure where to put this but figured General photography is a good place to start.

I was hoping to get some advice on horse photography.
I have a chance to do a shoot for an Amish man and want to lay down a good impression. Could turn into a profit turning job if so. He mentioned that he might use some of my work at the shows he attends.

I have the following equipment to work with:

Canon 50D, a 28-135mm IS and a Sigma 150-500mm OS. I belive I can borrow a fixed wide angle lens of 18mm ( I think ) but of course with the 1.6X factor even that is not so wide.

I have been looking around on the web at different places trying to understand what I need to do but wanted the advice from some of the users here.

Thanks for your help

[DutchOven]

So the main subject will be just horses? Ideally, you'd want a few pan shots of the horses running.

[TheFilter]

So the main subject will be just horses? Ideally, you'd want a few pan shots of the horses running.

Yes, just the horses to the best I understand so far.
Thanks for responding.:)

[shomat]

Being a city dweller I know zero about horses, but I was recently in Saratoga Springs and noticed some trends among the photographs being sold in gift shops. The Saratoga was a huge tourist destination in the Victorian era through the beginning of the twentieth century, with its race track as one of the focal points.

Anyway, I was looking at horse photos in a gift shop and noticed all of the "portrait" photos had the horses in the exact same pose: body facing one way, neck turned around so that the head faces the other way, eyes looking into the lens. Here are two images that illustrate this pose:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13615570@N08/2569401905/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/2911283255/

Again I don't know anything about horses, but there were so many "horse portraits" done in this style that it seemed like something desireable.

Beyond that pose, I'd say just go for a shot that isn't typical. I'm sure people in horse country have seen hundreds, maybe thousands of pictures with horses in the usual poses - standing there silently, or maybe a profile shot of the horse running/trotting. Perhaps nail of few of these standard shots to get them out of the way, and then focus on coming up with some new and different angles and compositions in order to show them something they haven't seen before.

[matonanjin]

Hello, I was not sure where to put this but figured General photography is a good place to start.

I was hoping to get some advice on horse photography.
I have a chance to do a shoot for an Amish man and want to lay down a good impression. Could turn into a profit turning job if so. He mentioned that he might use some of my work at the shows he attends.

I have the following equipment to work with:

Canon 50D, a 28-135mm IS and a Sigma 150-500mm OS. I belive I can borrow a fixed wide angle lens of 18mm ( I think ) but of course with the 1.6X factor even that is not so wide.

I have been looking around on the web at different places trying to understand what I need to do but wanted the advice from some of the users here.

Thanks for your help

Have you considered asking him what he wants? :rolleyes:

Does he want an action shot? If he takes the horse to shows, surprising to me for an amish man, what does he do at the shows? Capture that?

Being Amish he may want is horse attached to a cart or using for work.
Does he want a photo of his horse in the pasture?
Does he want a photo of his horse standing?
Head shot?

Maybe some combination of above?

If standing, are you going to use lights and diffusers? What do you have for lighting equipment? How familiar are you with OCF?

The problem with equine photography (just like all the GWC's doing weddings) is there are a lot of people trying to do it without knowledge of the industry, i.e, horses. I'm not saying that is you, but....

A couple things, whatever you do, don't use a wide angle, except in special circumstances. It will make the horse look too long which is an undesirable conformational characteristic.

There are only two ways to photograph a standing horse if he wants a confirmation type photo: straight from the side or a diagonal front picture.

Here is an example of a side shot. This would have been better with fill flash but for reasons I won't go into I couldn't use it. You want the legs on the far side of the camera slightly closer together than the close legs. Then the horse's head slightly bent towards the camera.

http://www.fourwindsphotography.com/pam/IMG_3149-Edit.jpg


Here is a great example of a head shot, and down the post aways you can see his lighting setup:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=730121

Lastly, go to my website below and you can see horse photography but it is mostly western and action.

I will keep my subscription to this and if you find out what he wants I and others will get you through this:lol:

[HammerCope]

One more small thing you will want someway to get the horses attention. This will get the head turn and get the ears up. You may need an assistant with a bowl of feed corn or something that clangs lightly. Montnajin could give better tips most likly.

[matonanjin]

One more small thing you will want someway to get the horses attention. This will get the head turn and get the ears up. You may need an assistant with a bowl of feed corn or something that clangs lightly. Montnajin could give better tips most likly.

Pete,

Great point that I forgot. For any type of standing shot, anything other than action, you have to have ears forward to give the impression of alert and attentive!

[TheFilter]

Matonanjin,

Thank you for such detailed imput.
1 sorry but I do not know what OCF is.

2 I do not have any battery powered strobes but do have a desent 3 light kit that perhaps I could use in a barn ( if they have power that is).
I do have a 2.5 x 4.0 ft reflecter (five way).

3 This may be odd but I have not yet spoke with the man. My brother works with him and he mentioned the need for photos so my brother put in a plug for me. I just found out yesterday that the horses in question are "hackney" horses.

4 I have no problem admiting that I have no experince or knowledge of horses.

5 As I responded to Pete I was thinking of using a small horn or dog clicker to get the horse to look at me if allowed. Don't want to spook the horse, just want it to look at me.

Again my thanks.

[PhotosGuy]

Some ideas in these: 50mm & Horse Shows
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=444862

I need Equestrian Horse shooting TIPs from you pros :)
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353004

Beginning Equine Photography
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=444901

Horsies" - A CMHA Equestrian Event (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=343472)

1st attempt at horse panning (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=512151)

Lighting for horse barrel racing outside at night (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=521428)

Bob Langrish - equine photographer. (http://www.boblangrish.com/bob%20langrish%20galleries.php)

Matthew Seed (http://www.horse-photographer.co.uk/)

[TheFilter]

Some ideas in these: 50mm & Horse Shows
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=444862

I need Equestrian Horse shooting TIPs from you pros :)
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=353004

Beginning Equine Photography
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=444901

Horsies" - A CMHA Equestrian Event (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=343472)

1st attempt at horse panning (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=512151)

Lighting for horse barrel racing outside at night (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=521428)

Bob Langrish - equine photographer. (http://www.boblangrish.com/bob%20langrish%20galleries.php)

Matthew Seed (http://www.horse-photographer.co.uk/)

Thanks for the links, although a lot of info contained with in, I scanned over and I marked a few so I can read over them as I have time.
I look forward to what I learn from them.

[matonanjin]

Matonanjin,

Thank you for such detailed imput.
1 sorry but I do not know what OCF is.

2 I do not have any battery powered strobes but do have a desent 3 light kit that perhaps I could use in a barn ( if they have power that is).
I do have a 2.5 x 4.0 ft reflecter (five way).

3 This may be odd but I have not yet spoke with the man. My brother works with him and he mentioned the need for photos so my brother put in a plug for me. I just found out yesterday that the horses in question are "hackney" horses.

4 I have no problem admiting that I have no experince or knowledge of horses.

5 As I responded to Pete I was thinking of using a small horn or dog clicker to get the horse to look at me if allowed. Don't want to spook the horse, just want it to look at me.

Again my thanks.


1) OCF is "off camera flash". Pretty basic photography term.

I will respond to 2-5 tomorrow.

[TheFilter]

1) OCF is "off camera flash". Pretty basic photography term.

I will respond to 2-5 tomorrow.

Yeah now that is see it this way I feel really short LOL. Just had not seen the shorthand before sorry.:oops:

[matonanjin]

Sorry for the delayed response. And sorry to bump this thread after several days.

2) That will work. Most barns have electrical outlets.
3) Isn't finding out what the client wants somewhat basic to any assignment? If he has a hackney there is a very good chance he will want the horse attached to a cart but not neccesarily.
4) OK
5) Never thought of a dog clicker. Good idea. I wouldn't use a horn. I usually a 25 foot metal tape measurer. My assistant, who also happens to be my wife;), will extend it out about 10 or 15 feet towards the horse, then shake it when I'm ready. In the head shot I referred you to the guy was photographing a stallion. When he was set up someone lead a mare by. Assuming you are a guy you know what we do when a hot babe walks by:lol:

HTH

[Pommekitty]

I don't know if the OP still needs advice but just in case.....

You got some great advice there already.

I mostly photograph horses but not in any professional capacity; I'm just an amateur. My go to lens for equine photography is my 70-210. The focal range is perfect both for portraits and action shots. I shot with my 28-135 today and found myself wanting more range. But the pictures turned out okay and a big part of that feeling was probably due to the fact that I use the 70-210 all the time and was a bit thrown with the different range. In any case, you really get to appreciate a fast and reliable USM when shooting horses.

Great advice above to get the horse attention if you need to. But I've found the best shots are usally the ones where the horse is already invested in what's going on and putting his ears forward on his own. They get that little spark in their eyes, their nostrils quiver and they've just got a presence that makes the picture come alive. Horses are wonderful to photograph. You never get bored.

About asking the client what he wants...like others said above, that would be great. It will give you some directions. But don't pin all your hopes on that. Some people know exactly what they want but many of them will just say that they trust you and that they want "good pictures". But maybe that's just my experience as an amateur. I do some shootings for friends and acquaintances, not paying clients. We both get something out of it: I get to experiment and I try to improve and they get free shots of their beloved companions.

If the client wants some action shots, it's also good to understand how the different gaits work. Take the canter. It's a bit tricky to photograph. You usually don't want the horse in a downhill position when he puts his last front leg on the ground with the other three in the air. I personally love shots of horses "flying" with none of their hooves on the ground. Shots with only the first hind leg on the ground can also be good. A horse's canter is like very rythmic: 1 (hind leg), 2 (other hind leg + opposite front leg), 3 (remaining front leg), hop (in the air). You can try to time your shots that way. And that's also why continous shooting is not always a good idea with horses. If your first click was badly timed, most of the other shots will be in the same pose. Spray and pray can work but I personally wouldn't rely on it.

And then, you can get to photograpah a horse that doesn't look very good while cantering. It's often the case with young horses that have a long back and not enough muscles to collect themselves yet. They put their head in the air, neck and back curving downward and hindquarters dragging behind. Not good. Those horses are usually shown to advantage going a bit uphill and from a three quarters angles. Frontal shots will also look good, especially ones with the hindquarters on the ground and the front legs in the air (it's also a popular pose for dogs I believe).

Regarding shutter speed, I try not to go slower than 1/640 for a canter. Ideally I like 1/800, 1/1000 or even 1/2000 if i can get away with it. A trot will give you more latitude.

If you want to get something out of the ordinary. You really have to take the horse's unique characteristics and his relatonship with his owner into account. That's what will allow you to get emotional shots.

Some exemple of shots with different attitudes:

All feet off the ground:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/missnymeria/Test/sabiogalmay309.jpg

Close-up. Equine photography is great for people who like to focus on little things (a decorated bit, an eye, a tongue that peeps out, water dribbling from the chin after a drink, a nicely braided mane, the owner's hand petting the horse etc....)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/missnymeria/Test/IMG_1599.jpg

Intimate pose:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/missnymeria/IMG_1407.jpg

For the last two types of shots, it's best if the person is going about her/his routine and isn't aware of the camera clicking away. It gives a feeling of authenticity and people really recognize themselves in the photographs you've taken. They know that you were photographing *them* and not just going through your usual routine. As a horse owner, I know that I really appreciate those shots when a friend comes and takes pictures. It's just me and my horse. Sometimes the photographer sees things the owner didn't even know about and that's a wonderful surprise. Us horse owners are usually very emotional when it comes to our little stomachs on legs.

A portrait that doubles as an action shot:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/missnymeria/Test/Sonhadormay309.jpg

Another portrait/action shot but with different angle and framing
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y209/missnymeria/Summer%202009/IMG_2672smll.jpg

Ah, so many possibilities....photographing horses is just the best:D