WANTED: Tips on how to shoot horses...

Oh, i really didn't even check it. I thought that i couldn't have upsetted the one who's asking questions, i am just usually happy if my threads are alive and people post. My bad totally. But "get a life and go ruin some other message board", please.

I hope you get some good tips. Shooting horses shouldn't differ from shooting any moving subjects, there's lot of info on that. Key is in the motion, stick with slower shutter speeds when you want to get motion in the image, you can use the tricks of panning.
Also when metering with spot or center weighted remember to compensate the horse color, if the horse is white +2/3, if the horse is black -2/3. Camera metering always tries to make everything grey ( sort of ), so that's the way to get more accurate exposure, but you have to take into consideration that even the canon spot meter isn't really a spot meter, so this is not exact science.

Snow Goose, johnz: Thanks for the tips, they're both great...my mom used to have a daycare...I'll see if she had any rattles lying around

The one item that will do you the most good is a coffee can or a plastic cup partially filled with grain. Horses know this sound immediately. If the person your shooting does a specific activity, you will want to get some of that. Speeds should be around 1/1000 for action shots and even then you could get a little motion blur. Placing yourself on the ground can get you some interesting angles. I have a few favorite types of shots. One is full horse and rider quartering. You are in front of them at an angle and you shoot the entire horse and rider. A very nice version of this is to get the rider from the boots up. If you want to catch the horses at the apex of a jump, you will have your best fortune just trying to time it rather than trying to use fast shutter repetition built into your camera. Another great shot is with the person and the horse's heads side by side. Make sure you get the horse's ears up. Horse feet are interesting.
People will yell at me for this but I have had very good fortune using fill flash with horses. I have the owner hold the horse loosely early in the session and fire just my flash several random times. This tells me if the horse has a problem with it. So far, none have. My theory is that they see lightning all the time and therefore don't think it is a big deal. Some of my best shots are the horse and owner in the shade under a tree with fill flash. Use AI Servo and an f stop of f7 or f8 if you can get it without lower your speed too much.
Here is a shot....

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I can't help on the tips and techniques, but for some good examples check out the work of Bob Langrish, possibly the most well-known equine photographer. He does most of the calendars, posters, books...

http://www.boblangrish​.com …0langrish%20gal​leries.php

hth

sorry im new to this side of the forum. I didnt know that joke has been played for over a thousand times here. But honestly I was watching a violent TV show when I saw this thread. It surprised me for a second.

rpearce12 wrote in post #6050196
Vin, you know exactly what he meant. This is a photography forum, not a hunting one. When someone says they want to shoot something, the blatant implication is that they want to shoot it with their camera, not a gun. There's no need to be immature. The title may sound somewhat inappropriate, but there's no need to give him (i'm assuming) grief for it.

Sorry, but I don't think horses are my forte. Also Lowrider, you might want to add your name to your sig.

no worries vin

dixie..thanks for the excellent link

Beginning Equine Photography

thank you, sir! helpful as always

Get a gun put it to the horses head and pull the trigger that's how to shoot a horse. LOL just kidding.

Vin, don't worry about it. It just gets old when people purposefully say things like that.

Snow Goose wrote in post #6051780
I am not a horse photographer but I have horses and have watched pro horse photoraphers work (on Arabians). It is not a one person activity - you need help. The goal is to make the horse look alive a alert not bored and tired as I have seen in many for sale ads. You can use a rattle can (some small rocks in a bleach bottle works) or a short whip with an empty plastic bag attached to it ( not to whip the horse but to get its attention). I have also seen them use a person with a bear skin draped over them to get the horse's attention. These techniques are use for the "halter pose". For action shots a rattle can works great to get the horse to trot, snort and be frisky. Basically, you want the horse to look alert, alive and somewhat spirited ( my experience is only with Arabians so other breeds may require a different approach).
Like I said, I am not a horse photographer. These are just my observations. Get a copy of Arabian Horse World and look at some of the photos there.
Bob

Just be reaaaaaaaaally careful not to spook the horse, or you'll get some REALLY interesting shots. Shake GENTLY....lol

On the other hand, being nervous is the very worst thing you can do. Relaxed, no fast movement. Take your time. A horse will give you what you expect him too. If you expect a rodeo, you will certainly get one.

If your doing horses in motion, you need to learn the gaits. Normally you don't want to take pictures of horses walking. It never makes a pretty picture. If your doing trot pictures, you want the inside leg (closest to you) coming down as you take the shot. For the canter, you want the horse to be launching off their hind end. If you get pictures of them on the forehand, it won't look pretty.

For conformation shots, make sure you stand diagonal to their shoulder. This makes their conformation really appeal in the pics. Head shot, always make sure there ears are forward. Shots head on are a no no.. stand digonal to their eye. If you can get them to turn their neck, thats even better.

Check out my website.. you'll see all kinds of shots..

www.mysticalphotograph​y.com

This is why I told Jon that I don't shoot 1 horsepower!

My first & last attempt:
Horsies" - A CMHA Equestrian Event

I am a wedding shooter but have shot many horses for couples and the area I live everyone seems to have horses and wants photos of them.

Here is what I have learned shooting horses. First I like to shoot them in the late afternoon/evening, many times they are more calm before bed time. They are not running around scaring the daylights out of me because they are winding down. I always approach shooting them slowly--- letting the horse get comfortable with me then ease into shooting (photographing them). I never use a flash for horses--- or do anything that is quick-- just show soft shooting.

Let the horse get comfortable and then shoot them as they move around naturally---- and don't ever approach them for the back (no filter will work if they kick).

I have found horses a bit more predictable than kids. Most of the time you can get great shots and they tolerate you. I typically make my horse shoots quick and do not spend more than an hour with them.