7 minute read
Horses Seen Differently for Unique Keepsakes
HORSES SEEN DIFFERENTLY
FOR UNIQUE KEEPSAKES!
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By Josée Talbot, MPA
I HAVE BEEN AROUND HORSES FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I’VE BEEN RIDING HORSES FROM THE AGE OF 12, HOWEVER, PHOTOGRAPHY CAME MUCH LATER, WHEN I WAS STUDYING PRESENTATION DESIGN AT CÉGEP DE SAINTE-FOY. IT WAS THEN WITH COMPLETELY MANUAL FILM CAMERAS AND WE WERE DOING OUR DEVELOPMENT IN A DARKROOM. THEN CAME DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN 2007. IT IS OF COURSE HORSES THAT WERE MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS AT THAT TIME.
On the other hand, there are a lot of equine photographers and it is sometimes a challenge to stand out. For my part, I like to photograph horses from different angles, so as to obtain unique and appreciated portraits. First of all, I work in natural light. I am not very comfortable with flashes, and so far I get the desired effect using reflectors. Surely one day, I will get started and work with lighting. I am particularly fond of working indoors, which allows dramatic lighting, chiaroscuro, that highlight certain parts of the body or the head and neck of the horse. I always take the time to familiarize myself with the animal I have to photograph. The more he trusts me, the better the session will go. It must be remembered that the horse is basically prey and that it can sometimes have strong reactions to things that may seem very trivial to us. Some horses are quite jaded and do not easily put their ears pointed forward, or have their eyes half closed. Each horse involves certain challenges. Knowing them well is a plus in my humble opinion. Know their reactions, their behavior, the best angles, etc.
TIPS TO GET THEIR ATTENTION
For a portrait, you want to ideally have their ears pointed forward. To get the horse’s attention, the ideal is to have someone behind us, with a carrot that they will crack. Otherwise, a small aluminum plate with which to make noise or reflect sunlight. The assistant can also have an umbrella in hand and gently open it a few times. There are also smartphone apps that make neighing sounds. Some horses react strongly so you have to go sparingly, especially with stallions. Regardless of the trick used, avoid repeated use because in the long run, the horse will no longer care. The important thing is to be calm so as not to irritate them. In an ideal world, you will need 2 to 3 people to hold the horse, get its attention and make sure it does not step on the photographer! A 600 kilo beast that is afraid can hurt a lot!
INDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A DRAMATIC EFFECT
For indoor images, I place myself in the indoor arena if there is one available. We open one of the doors to let in the light. The midday sun is ideal because it does not enter inside and therefore the light is more diffused and ideal for the desired effect. I position the horse near the door, enough so that it is lit but without creating unwanted shadows or overly lit areas. I also sit inside and try different angles. The ideal is not to force a pose. We let the horse move a little, the poses obtained will be all the more natural and it will be less stressful for the animal. I can also place myself outside and thus obtain a black background when shooting, but these kind of photos is used are lot. I prefer different and more artistic angles. Horse lovers really appreciate these kinds of images, even if it is not their own horse that is photographed.
THE TECHNICAL PART
I work with a full frame camera which allows me to have less noise at high ISO. I am using a Canon EOS 6D and also a Canon 1Dx. As the horse moves very little, I can afford fairly slow shutter speed. For the aperture, I play between f / 2.8 and f / 5.6. I adjust the ISO accordingly to the available light. I always have someone holding a large reflector, usually on the gold side. I love warm tones!
“Véronique and her horse, Benny”
“Gabriella CR ”
“Marquesa Do Luar” Of course, in an indoor arena there are windows that create visual pollution. I try as much as possible to position myself in order to have as few alterations as possible. These are often inevitable. Darken the background, remove a fly or two or three, brighten the eyes, etc. I start everything in Adobe Lightroom by creating a virtual copy that I underexpose and use for the background. I then continue in Photoshop to finalize my image. Of course, I take my photos in RAW in order to have as much latitude as possible.
Since I am quite short, I am using a foldable bench so I am more level with the horses I photograph. But, even if you are taller, it can give you some nice angles, try that! The results are truly magnificent, in my humble opinion! I got an Excellence at the 2021 National Image Competition with “Wesley”. This image was a finalist in the Animals Class and also selected to be part of the PPOC Loan Collection.
SALES TOOLS
To show off my images and boost sales, I present them in fictional sets and post them on my Facebook page and Instagram account. My sales have increased considerably since doing this. I believe that seeing the images in a setting makes potential customers realize that it would be beautiful on their walls!
CONCLUSION
Breaking standards, doing different things, defying the rules. All of these things make for original images that sell! To be honest, I never have the competitions in mind when I shoot. The important thing for me is to create reactions, emotions and, of course, to sell my images.
“Wesley”
Photo credit: Vanessa Dubé-Caron
Josée Talbot, MPA
I live in a small village in Lotbinière County, on the south shore of Quebec City. My passion for horses naturally led me to photograph them when I returned to photography in 2007. I have specialized in equine photography since then, having first been a horse show photographer for several years. I’ve been riding and showing horses since I was 12 y.o. Guess you could say I’ve been around them most of my life! I have been a member of the PPOC since 2014 and accredited in Equine, Fine Art and Botanical. I got my CPA in 2020 and my MPA in 2021. talbotphotoart.ca facebook.com/TalbotPhotoArt josee@talbotphotoart.ca 418-881-3998