50 mono portraits at 50mm : No. 29 : Police Horse Rider

It's a month since my last mono portrait, so it's about time I got my little project moving again.

This is a Policeman sat on his horse at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. I asked him if I could take a shot of him and his horse and he nodded and his horse neighed :)

I could have done with using my pop up fill in flash on my 450D, as the bland white sky has made it difficult to get much detail in his face. However, I didn't want to startle the horse (although it has probably been trained to be used to flashes and bangs)

Anyway the shot isn't too bad and I think it passes as a portrait. The Policeman wouldn't make eye contact with me, perhaps he was concentrating on his job of ensuring crowd safety.

Four police horses were on duty yesterday as Leeds brought quite a big following for the journey over the Pennines

As for the match, it finished 1-1, with the Wanderers getting drawn into more of a physical match rather than the beautiful game as Leeds tried to hustle and bustle the Wanderers out of their stride

It was a cold afternoon in Bolton, the match being played in strong winds, hail, rain , sleet and snow.

A blustery drive home to Nottingham in the same conditions !

[Pat Knowles]

This is a fab portrait Phil...I like the whiteness of the sky, it shows of every detail here. You were a brave man asking .....why are we always a bit in awe of a policeman?

[Kerri]

Great portrait

[Lee]

Its a good portrait shot, I agree with @happypat about the white background.

[Gena Pegg]

Its a great portrait and I really like the tones, Hedoes look very involved with his charge. Hopefully that helmet helped keep him warm. I think the light works well for this portrait.

[Dione Giorgio]

I wonder what he would say if he had to see this, Phil. Great portrait capture. You make me take some interest in UK football with your narratives.

[Maggiemae]

The only way you could photograph a man on a horse - from underneath and its good. They do a good job!

[elkehochban]

It's a great shot!

[Sue Wilde]

This is a terrific shot

[Sue]

He looks like he means business Phil

[Phil Howcroft]

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/+PhilHowcroft/albums/6103217609176831089/6103217615945420002?sqi=101005506593204514607&sqsi=ae1d391a-bb31-4a8f-9570-6eaad21d9721&pid=6103217615945420002&oid=105953186854364509588

@redpants @swilde @timandelke @maggiemae @sangwann @eyesmile @gamelee @kerristephens @happypat

Thanks everyone , i feel his face is too dark. I've done another version of this shot and did a bit of dodging to lighten the face....see link above :-)

[Sue]

It did enhance the shot Phil, nice work.

[Megan]

Yes, lightening the face really brings out the character. Nice job under tricky photo conditions.

[Allison Williams]

You are such a fan, watching under difficult weather conditions to cheer your team to a tie! Great portrait with wonderful display of light and shadows. I also like the raised face plate of the helmet just showing an outline against the white background. Well captured, Phil and worth standing in the wind and rain!

[Juliette Packham]

great Mono Phil, and good POV / lighting - very nice indeed!

[Judith Greenwood]

Now you're talking Phil - men in uniform! Probably would be bad form if he's smiled at you and trampled on a spectator!

[Frances Chaloner]

I quite like the darker version - tonally overall it seems better balanced to me. Both are excellent portraits. I never get up the gumption to ask can I take a portrait this shot makes me think I ought to start!