Horse photography is an art and sometimes it takes a little practice to master it. That’s why today we’re going to give you some tips that will be useful if you ever have the chance to photograph one of these beautiful animals.
How to make a successful photograph of a horse?
- Use treats
If you are going to be working closely with a horse or taking pictures of him, a handful of treats will come in handy.
The horse will be more comfortable with us and more intrigued by the tasty smell in our pocket. They will look at us more, which is great for portraits, and follow us even if we start to walk away. We should give them a few treats from time to time to reward them for being a good model.
Horses love carrots, apples, oats and mint. Some even eat cookies.
- No flash
Never use a flash in the presence of horses. It can spook most horses, which can be dangerous for us, the horse or the rider if involved.
- Keep in mind the characteristics of the face
When the ears are upright, it means the horse is interested, while if the ears are back against his head, it indicates anger or frustration.
The eyes are the most emotional part of the photograph. They are a good focal point from which to start creating an interesting composition.
- Choose the best angle
Whether we are shooting from the front or the back, it is advisable to do so from an angle of about 45 degrees, and to position yourself so that all 4 legs are the same distance apart, rather than the back legs together, a wide gap, then the front legs. This looks much more balanced.
In all shots, try to place the camera at the same level as the horse or slightly lower than the horse (you may have to kneel down.)
Never take pictures where the animal is on lower ground. This makes its legs look shorter, which is not a good look.
- The right setting
Let’s use a high shutter speed and low ISO when shooting, especially if you are shooting outdoors.
If you need to shoot indoors, we may have to sacrifice the low ISO to maintain the shutter speed. 1/500 sec is generally the preferred shutter speed for action shots, with an aperture of about 2.8.
On a bright, sunny day, an example of a possible set of values might be: ISO 100, shutter speed of 1/840, aperture f/4.5.
- Be patient
If you have ever dealt with children, working with horses is much the same.
You have to refrain from getting angry with them, or you won’t get the picture you want, because you won’t get a happy horse if you scare it. They have feelings, and we have to respect them.
