A friend has just asked me if i would be willing to take some photos of her horse, so I am wondering if anyone here has any tips, do's and dont's for me. I haven't really done much photographing of animals, and have never been around horses in my life, so don't really know what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have :)
I don't know if I can offer any useful photographic advice but a few things to keep in mind at least.
1. ALWAYS maintain a safe distance from the horse and NEVER stand directly in front of or behind the horse. They have a wide field of vision but can't see directly in front or behind themselves.
2. Any horse, no matter how calm, can be startled by sudden movement or loud noises. Work quietly, calmly and slowly around them
3. Do not use a flash when photographing them- again, you may startle them.
4. Horses have beautiful eyes- take advantage of that and make sure the eyes are nice and sharp in the photos.
Others probably have more tips. But remember that you are working around a big animal- you need to maintain awareness of what's going on around you and be prepared to get out of the way if need be.
@munchkin84 Get to know the horse and ask the owner what they love about their animal. If you have a macro lens use it to get the details in eyes and nose and mouth etc and look for distinguishing features too as every horse is an individual. I have a few examples if you would like to see.
I take around 10,000 photos of horses every year, it is kind of s staple for me. :)
99.99% do not care about the camera of the flash.
Take a plastic bag. When taking their photo you want their ears toward you and if they are not give the bag a rattle.
3/4 angle shots are the best.
You can do either close up or distance.
If they are dark horses have them in full sun with the sun hitting the side you are shooting, if they are white then do it the other way around and have them back lit.
My biggest mistake was focal length, I think. My horses always looked wonky compared with my favorite photos. I switched to using my long lens and it made a huge difference!
@agima Thanks a lot for your experienced advice. I still need to speak to her more, she only asked me quickly yesterday, but I think she may want some of her riding as well as just the horse.
The most important things have already been said and I can only agree with them. Especially the 'danger' part . If in any way possible it would be good to keep a fence or a wire between you and the horses. Not only for your safety but some of them will attempt to eat the camera.
It's also fun to experiment with different angles: small horses and ponies are better captured from a low point of view. Long bodied horses are best caught from a more frontal position otherwise they will look like they are endless. A saddle or harness will 'break' that as well.
Having said that, for more artistic work it can be fun to ignore all the rules and just experiment.
As for riding pictures, if the rider trots her or his horse ask them to keep sitting, that will avoid awkward pictures of grumpy looking people in strange positions.
I was lucky enough to find myself surrounded by a mob of wild horses recently, and one or two were very inquisitive and were keen to eat my camera and lick the salt off my car... But I got some lovely shots and kinda through a few of the suggestions here out the window. I found myself in a ridiculously stupid position with wild horses, no "owners" and was surrounded, so I agree with the others now... Try not to do what I did. These animals way 10times what I do. I think I managed to avoid injury by remaining calm and keeping my voice as soft as possible, but maintaining noise. Nothing startling. I did notice that even the camera click can attract their attention and spook them a little...
However I totes agree with @terryvet92 and I use this with 99% of my portraiture and that is, the eyes have it! If you focus on the eyes and get a lovely sharp dof then the personality of the horse will shine through.
I have to disagree some with keeping a wire or fence in between you and the horse. That being said there is a caveat. Make sure the owner is with you/near you and keeps an eye on you while you meet the horse. They snuff and smell to greet so if it puts his nose to your face, snuff a little quiet breath out and it will probably do the same, if it hasn't already. That's just a hello.
If you meet the horse and begin to bond with it, you will have better photos than if you seperate yourself. You will also be able to get better angles. They will probably want to smell your camera...as long as you feel comfortable doing so, let them. They will be curious about it for a bit and then leave it alone.
Horses are big, yes, and some people are scared of them on that basis alone. As long as the ears are forward or turned towards you and not pinned (believe me, you will know the difference after 2 minutes) you are fine. Horses are 99% gentle by nature unless they feel threatened. They almost always give a warning before they do something like bite or kick....sometimes its a hoof stomp or an energetic tail swish (not a "shoo fly" swish) or sometimes it's just pinned ears and a head movement in your direction....that is why it is good to have the owner near. They know their horse better than anyone and can tell the difference in body language.
I agree with all of the above advice. I am still working on getting a good horse shot so I can't be as much of a help there.
I'd say the most important thing with horses is the gain their trust. Always stand in a non threatening position (usually side on and not facing the horse) and let them suss you out, they are instinctive and if you show that you mean no harm they will warm to you much more quickly. Have your camera on you, with lens etc set up and let the horse know that its just a part of you, let them investigate it pulling it away if they get too fond of it! If the opportunity is presented where you can pet the horse gently then do so, it all helps with the bonding and trust process. If you are able to meet the horse(s) a couple of times before actually doing the shoot then even better. Some horses are flighty and others are very docile but its all part of their character and you should be able to get a good idea of how they respond to you within a few minutes. Other advice above is great, common sense stuff, don't make sudden movements or loud noises but in general, just relax and don't be fearful of them, be confident, let them know you are relaxed by almost ignoring them a few times.
The horses I shoot are owned by a riding school but are out to graze in paddocks near my house and where we walk our dog. I usually sit in the field and wait for them to come to me. If you haven't really been around horses before or are nervous of them because of their size then its always best to be with the owner or visit stables where you can gain experience of them. Although they are gentle in nature, accidents happen and a horse that is spooked can be unpredictable. If you get down low to take shots it will spark the horses interest so don't be surprised if you pull the camera away to find a big pair of nostrils looking down at you! Don't be scared, don't panic, and move gently.
I'll post a couple of my shots below.....I'm still learning when it comes to taking photos of them but the best thing about that is that I get to spend time with them only photographing about 20% of the time.....just enjoy it :)
@wormentude Those shots are amazing! @pum71@bobfoto@shadesofgrey@sarajeal Thank you all for taking the time to reply. All your advice has been really helpful. My friend wants some photos done at our local Agricultural Show, so we have decided because of my lack of experience with horses I will go to the stables to meet her at least once (hopefully more!), so then hopefully I will feel more confindent, and can get some decent shots on the big day.
Now to convince myself not to be scared of the giant creature...
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1. ALWAYS maintain a safe distance from the horse and NEVER stand directly in front of or behind the horse. They have a wide field of vision but can't see directly in front or behind themselves.
2. Any horse, no matter how calm, can be startled by sudden movement or loud noises. Work quietly, calmly and slowly around them
3. Do not use a flash when photographing them- again, you may startle them.
4. Horses have beautiful eyes- take advantage of that and make sure the eyes are nice and sharp in the photos.
Others probably have more tips. But remember that you are working around a big animal- you need to maintain awareness of what's going on around you and be prepared to get out of the way if need be.
99.99% do not care about the camera of the flash.
Take a plastic bag. When taking their photo you want their ears toward you and if they are not give the bag a rattle.
3/4 angle shots are the best.
You can do either close up or distance.
If they are dark horses have them in full sun with the sun hitting the side you are shooting, if they are white then do it the other way around and have them back lit.
Is your friend expecting to be in the shots?
http://www.nickertown.com/page/Equine-Photography-Tips.aspx
http://forums.zenfolio.com/blogs/blog/archive/2011/11/10/five-steps-to-better-horse-photos-by-shelley-paulson.aspx
My biggest mistake was focal length, I think. My horses always looked wonky compared with my favorite photos. I switched to using my long lens and it made a huge difference!
@terryvet92 Thank you, your advice is very helpful.
@andysg Thanks for your tips, Andy.
@agima Thanks a lot for your experienced advice. I still need to speak to her more, she only asked me quickly yesterday, but I think she may want some of her riding as well as just the horse.
@polarvrtx Thanks so much for the links :)
It's also fun to experiment with different angles: small horses and ponies are better captured from a low point of view. Long bodied horses are best caught from a more frontal position otherwise they will look like they are endless. A saddle or harness will 'break' that as well.
Having said that, for more artistic work it can be fun to ignore all the rules and just experiment.
As for riding pictures, if the rider trots her or his horse ask them to keep sitting, that will avoid awkward pictures of grumpy looking people in strange positions.
Well, I'm joking, (obviously!) but they're lovely images. :-)
However I totes agree with @terryvet92 and I use this with 99% of my portraiture and that is, the eyes have it! If you focus on the eyes and get a lovely sharp dof then the personality of the horse will shine through.
If you meet the horse and begin to bond with it, you will have better photos than if you seperate yourself. You will also be able to get better angles. They will probably want to smell your camera...as long as you feel comfortable doing so, let them. They will be curious about it for a bit and then leave it alone.
Horses are big, yes, and some people are scared of them on that basis alone. As long as the ears are forward or turned towards you and not pinned (believe me, you will know the difference after 2 minutes) you are fine. Horses are 99% gentle by nature unless they feel threatened. They almost always give a warning before they do something like bite or kick....sometimes its a hoof stomp or an energetic tail swish (not a "shoo fly" swish) or sometimes it's just pinned ears and a head movement in your direction....that is why it is good to have the owner near. They know their horse better than anyone and can tell the difference in body language.
I agree with all of the above advice. I am still working on getting a good horse shot so I can't be as much of a help there.
The horses I shoot are owned by a riding school but are out to graze in paddocks near my house and where we walk our dog. I usually sit in the field and wait for them to come to me. If you haven't really been around horses before or are nervous of them because of their size then its always best to be with the owner or visit stables where you can gain experience of them. Although they are gentle in nature, accidents happen and a horse that is spooked can be unpredictable. If you get down low to take shots it will spark the horses interest so don't be surprised if you pull the camera away to find a big pair of nostrils looking down at you! Don't be scared, don't panic, and move gently.
I'll post a couple of my shots below.....I'm still learning when it comes to taking photos of them but the best thing about that is that I get to spend time with them only photographing about 20% of the time.....just enjoy it :)
@pum71 @bobfoto @shadesofgrey @sarajeal Thank you all for taking the time to reply. All your advice has been really helpful. My friend wants some photos done at our local Agricultural Show, so we have decided because of my lack of experience with horses I will go to the stables to meet her at least once (hopefully more!), so then hopefully I will feel more confindent, and can get some decent shots on the big day.
Now to convince myself not to be scared of the giant creature...