Photographing Horses The Short Way (Or At Least How I Do It)
Several years ago I wrote a series of articles on how to photograph horses. I thought I'd share.
Does it matter what equipment you use?
Unless I'm shooting for a client, I find that I'm not getting out the big camera very much. I always have my phone on me, so that's what I use. So, does it matter? Well, yes and no.
There's Always a Choice
We waded through the flowers in the dusky cool of the coming dark. We spoke no words as we cautiously made our way, and my mind wandered, lost in the songs of the evening birds and the swishing of our movement through the waist-deep flora on the edge of the woods.
The inception
Siri and I, tacking up at liberty. Special guest appearance by Carmen the Surrogate Dog. Maybe not the grandest of accomplishments in the scale of such things, but six months ago this wasn't really an option - she would emphatically decline to be saddled loose. This was also the unintentional official start of our year-long quest for non-lethal bridleless work outside the arena at all gaits (I accidentally said it publicly, so now it has to be a thing).
SOLOSHOT fail
So, a little over two years ago, in September, I pre-ordered a SOLOSHOT 3 robot camera. They were supposed to be ready the following March, but the hopes and dreams of the creators were met with stodgy ol' reality, and no one got their camera until this past November. While there are still some bugs to be worked out on both the creator and user ends, my little robot camera friend is amusing as well as educational.
Start before you're ready
"This is never going to work." I waited. "See? Nothing. I have no idea how to do this and I'm not even ready to try."
Act II begins: within every problem lies the solution
Everyone has moments of transformation. Part of the magic of those moments is their seeming spontaneity. Though the groundwork for them is often laid well ahead of time, the path is not always obvious in the moment.
Act I
In the middle of every story, after the first act, the stage has to go dark. The audience is usually left with a dilemma or problem of some sort, and this interstitial moment between the first and second acts gives them time to speculate on how, or if, it might be solved. They may walk away for refreshment wondering if they even want to know. However, if the story, and the problem, are enough of a compulsion, the audience finds their seats after the intermission to soak in the rest of the story and be rewarded with a resolution.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #6
The second part of the trip, when we went to Limbe to see Rosedanie, the rugby team, and to learn about Helping Hands Noramise.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #5
Following are some of the challenges and solutions facing the citadel horses and people.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #4
Here we play the role of tourists and you get to see some of the historical places we saw, including the citadel itself, which is what provides the horses and their humans with a livelihood.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #3
This preview shows you some of the cast of characters in the first part of this story, as well as where we stayed in Milot.
Showing Up With An Idea
I've been discouraged with riding for a few weeks following one really spectacular ride, after which I've had less-than-ideal rides. The last two days, I haven't really wanted to try to push my way through another ride. However, I also know that if I don't change things, things won't change. So, I decided to just show up, even if I ended up half-assing the ride.
A Warmblood, a Thoroughbred and a Baroque Horse Walk Into a Bar...
Well, okay, the punchline's not really funny. I'm looking for three models, one of each basic type of sport horse, for a series of videos abut photographing horses. There are several parts to the videos, and I expect each session will take 3-4 hours. The plan is to create a how-to video clinic that expands on my "Creating Representational Images" workshop, and will show you the basic of how to create images of horses for sale or stallions at stud.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #2
Here in the second preview, we've made it up to the horses on the mountain, and the vets and I have begun the day's work.
Haiti Images: Sneak Peek #1
As promised, here are the first of several sneak peeks of some of my favorite images. To be fair, one of these images was posted on my Facebook page, but it's since been lovingly artworked to reveal more of the beautiful details.
Getting There!
Well, it looks like I'm well on my way to Haiti! Yesterday I got my various immunizations and prescriptions (bring it on, Malaria!), and a sucker from the travel nurse's assistant for being a good girl. :) I also applied for an expedited passport (holy cows, those things are expensive!).
Help for Haitian Horses and People
My vet, Dr. Judy Batker of Country View Veterinary Service, makes a semi-annual trip to Haiti to work with the horses who provide transport to tourists up and down the Bonnet a L'Eveque mountain in Milot, near Cap Haitian in the Northern territory. Through her work with Equitarian Initiative, and with the help of Christian Veterinary Mission, Dr. Batker has helped educate a number of people in Haiti.
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