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Photography Question 

Sarah cordes
 

How to Take Pictures of Horses


I love horses and photography, and this summer I want to take pictures of horses and people riding. I am about to get my first good camera, and I was wondering if anyone knew about special ways to take pictures of horses in action. I find it extremely difficult to catch the movement. Thanks.


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March 19, 2004

 

Buddy Purugganan
  Sarah, animals are absolutely a joy to photograph. You can simply take photos (with autofocus cameras) by putting the shutter speed on a high number (1/250, 1/500, etc.) or shutter speed priority to FREEZE the action when you see the steed galloping. Or if you feel you want a simple portrait, adjust the mode to its "portrait" mode while in AF setting and take a relaxed shot.

A fast film (ISO 400) with a low aperture on your AF camera - switched to "manual" override - can do wonders to your action pics. Most AF cameras have a "sports" mode that also have multi-exposure functions that can shoot 3 frames or MORE per second when using AF. So ENJOY and have a good time!


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March 19, 2004

 
- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Gregory LaGrange
Gregory LaGrange's Gallery
  If these are jumpers, then if you can, try and shoot in the arena to fill most of the frame with the horse and rider. A simple way is to shoot with the horse coming at you and you on the opposite side of the jump.

You can prefocus or follow-focus and time the picture when the front legs come up and clear the jump. If you prefocus, focus a couple of feet away from the jump (the side the horse lands on), because at the point the horse has its legs up and clears the jump, the horse's face and the rider's face will be a couple of feet ahead of the rails of the jump.

With pictures of people riding, you can try different shutter speeds and practice panning with slow shutter speeds.


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March 19, 2004

 

Cookie Serletic
 
 
  MareFoalNuzzle
MareFoalNuzzle
f-8, 1/500, sigma100-300, Fla.farm, 9;am

Cookie Serletic

 
 
Horses are wonderful and they are the main things I shoot. remeber for portraits of horses, you want to have a long enough focal lenghth. I usually shoot with my 70-200 lens but on the digital can get away with the 80mm . if the position is right. dont shoot face on (you really get "Big head syndrome" unless your really have a good vantage point. for action, the best are usually moments of suspension, but any shot can be a GREAT shot.(my big thing is "ears UP") , all Breeds have slightly different standards. All people enjoy something different , so Play and find your own syle. to get Ideas take a look at some equine photo sites, just do a search, there are TONS to get ideas from. check out equine photogrhahers network. :) yes , I am a member . Good Luck and Happy Snappin'
~ Cookie


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March 23, 2004

 

Sharon J. Wilson
  Type in Equine Photographers into your search engine and look at the fantastic work professional horse photographers do. There are different standard poses for certain breeds as well if you are doing formal shots. Take fly spray.


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March 23, 2004

 

Tami Hornick
  Sarah, I do some equine photography as well. I've shot mainly cutting horses in shows, but I've also just done shots out in pastures and stallion portfolios. Can you tell me what kind of "action" the you're trying to capture? Basically, are the horses just running, or are they showing in a particular show? Maybe I can help?? Tami


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March 24, 2004

 

H K. G
 
 
  Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe
Taken with my old canon manual camera and 300mm lens.

H K. G

 
  Jumper
Jumper
Taken with my canon elanII and 300mm USM lens

H K. G

 
 
With my old manual canon and 300mm lens I would focus on the jump and wait for the horse. It will take you a little while and alot of practice to know when to snap the photo, such as if you want all four feet in the air, etc. With my canon elanII and 300mm lens I usually 'pan' with the horse because the camera is constantly focusing and I can snap the photo when I want. Panning is a good way to be able to wait and catch the action you want. Panning will usually blur the background, though. Most people who buy photos of themselves on their horses just want themselves focused, they don't mind about the background being blurred.


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December 01, 2004

 

Janet L. Skinner
 
 
 
Sarah, All of the above are absolutely correct. However, if you want to be insured of a perfect shot at the absolute right timing you need to motor drive the shot. With digital just make sure you get a camera that has this function. This way you can pick the one where the horse is in the best possible action for the breed. You will need to shoot fast and flash helps a lot. For portraits, shoot up and always have a 3/4 angle to inhance the neck and head.


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December 06, 2004

 

Janet L. Skinner
 
 
 
let me try that upload again!! Whew


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December 06, 2004

 

Janet L. Skinner
 
 
 
..


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December 06, 2004

 

Cookie Serletic
 
 
  Flash JUMP
Flash JUMP
Canon D30 ,70-200 2.8 , single shot

Cookie Serletic

 
 
Actually, Unless you have Unlimited space or are going for just A shot , using motor drive isnt the answer. more times than not , You can still Miss the true moment you were trying to get. and waste alot of media, either digital or film trying to get it. sure you may get lucky, but for the long haul. learning WHEN to shoot is still the best bet. and remember the first rule of photography ...is their are NO rules :)


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December 06, 2004

 

Kristine Salamie
  I'm a hobby horsey photographer, I am looking to purchase a new camera to take photos of my sale horses nad foals and such. I use them for print advertising in magazines so I want a really nice image quiality. They are jumpers. I was looking at the Canon 30d and 5d. Will the 30d give me super clear imges up to an 8X10 size? They claim the 20d is crystal clear to 16X22. I don't really feel like blowing $3K on a camera but I want quality images. Also wondering if the 5 frames shot per second opposed to the 3 per second would make it easier to catch the perfect moment in the air? My timing is getting better without this feature, but I take a lot of wasted shots.


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April 13, 2006

 
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