Equine Photography: Taking better pictures of horses - Hobbies - Photography

Professional photographers will tell you, horses are the most difficult (and rewarding) subjects to work with.

Horses in general are dark and have lots of natural shapes which make dark shadows and underexposed areas.

Plus, they do not always stand still or cooperate as expected and you now have quite a challenge on your hands!

To survive as a Lexington KY photographer, you have to either shoot weddings or horses. I definitely prefer horses over bridal affairs and have learned over the years some tips for capturing better pictures.

To get started, the backdrop of the animal is very important.

Do your best to photograph your horse without distracting things in the background such as fencing (unless it is attractive), barns, and other horses. Even textures and patterns on the ground clutter up what should be the focus of the photo - your horse!

Choose a green field in the morning or early evening allowing the clear blue sky to show off the edges of the horse. Taking photos in harsh sunlight will make sharp, black shadows and the heat will cause a horse to be less cooperative anyway. If the horse is wearing tack, make sure the leather is clean and that any brass areas aren't reflecting a bright light back at the lens.

Positioning the horse:Angle the horse to best show off its muscles and anatomical lines. This is usually with one leg a little forward, forming an "M" shape with his legs. The neck and head should be held up high and not dipping looking for something to eat. No matter what angle or position you choose to use for your shot - the single most important rule in equestrian photography is to ENSURE THE EARS ARE FORWARD!This can be easier said than done, especially on a hot day when the animal is nervous or irritable. However, a photograph is completely worthless if you don't get the ears forward!

To relax the animal, introduce yourself to the horse before you start shooting photos. Touch it enough to allow it to become comfortable around you.

If needed, have your assistant cause a small distraction to get the horse's attention (and ears) toward you and the camera. If you are alone, you can scuff your shoe on the ground enough to make a horse center its ears toward you.

Pictures from the side are usually better and are required to register a stallion If you are taking photos of the horse head-on, as in shooting people, the most important feature is the eyes. If you do not capture the eyes, you will not capture the life present and your photograph will be average.

If the horse is galloping, always try to get the lead leg extended forward and a little curved rather than rigid and straight. Once again, getting all four legs spread into an "M" pattern is optimal. You may have to take a lot of shots rapidly and select the best stance.

Some other things to watch for:- Check the corners of the horse's mouth for green froth which will definitely show up on a print.- Fix your aperture wide open (the lowest F number) to soften the background and let in the most light.- Get as near to the animal as you are comfortable, the further your focal point the less light and detail you will capture.

Definitely check with the rider first, but set your flash (yes, even outdoors) to a low setting to provide some fill light for the angular shadows caused by the horse's shape.

Working as a Lexington KY Photographer means taking lots of pictures of horses - but it gets easier with practice so start shooting!

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