Page 45 - NMHBA Spring 2021

A MOMENT IN TIME
The ideal shooting location is a large grassy area, preferably a pasture where the grass is two to three inches tall and includes a spot that is slightly raised.
the best photographers will not be successful
in getting good photographs if the elements
of control are not present. Controlling the immediate environment and properly preparing and handling the horse are always necessary
no matter who is doing the photography. An introduction to what is required to provide the photographer with the best chance of success is the purpose of this article.
Equine photography can be divided into two types; a work of art and a performance. A work of art demands the completion of
a totally planned project where all of the elements are controlled in as much detail
as possible. A performance is an attempt to produce results with a hit or miss approach. The outcome of a performance is usually a great deal of perspiration as a result of poor preparation, and a good photo is a matter of luck rather than planning. In the case of equine photography, the more elements you have working against you the poorer the chances for a good photo become.
Control of the immediate environment means selecting a clean area with the least amount of background clutter and providing
a minimum number of distractions for the animal. Some effort will have to be expended to find a suitable area, and if one cannot be found in the immediate vicinity, it might be necessary to move the animal to a more suitable location. The importance of location can not be stressed too strongly, for the impression one will receive of the animal and the farm where he stands will be reflected in the surroundings in which he is photographed. All too often we see a location full of water tanks, telephone poles, fences in various states of disrepair, manure piles and other indications of the apparent unconcern
on the part of the breeder as to the image the prospective customer receives. With civilization being what it is, it is sometimes impossible to find a location free of all of these elements, but a complete lack of planning will make getting a good photograph just that much more difficult.
The ideal shooting location is a large grassy area, preferably a pasture where the grass is two to three inches tall and includes a spot that is slightly raised. Most horses photograph better when their front quarters are slightly higher than the rear. This allows the withers to rise, shortens the back and accentuates the hip lines. Standing a horse downhill produces just the opposite effect and tends to destroy the balance of the body. Treelines in the background that extend above the horse, especially if the horse is a dark color, can obscure the silhouette and the top-line. In this case it can be difficult to pick out the horse from the background and any evaluation of conformation requires a good deal of effort. It may make a pretty picture,
but the object of the photo is the horse, not the background. When considering locations to photograph your horse a simple rule of thumb applies to backgrounds. “Nothing is better than something.” We in the Southwest are blessed with a lot of open space and even in our largest cities good locations can usually be found within a few minutes hauling distance.
The next step in the control of the elements is the physical preparation of the horse. The job of preparation will be made easier if an appropriate time of the year is picked to take photographs. The early summer is ideal since the hair coat will be at its smoothest, brightest and shortest. Many stallion owners wait until the completion of the breeding season before
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A halter should complement the natural lines of the head and in the bargain, be sturdy and strong.