Advice on shooting Horses... I tend to shoot people not animals

[Opher]

Hey guys it has been a while.

My mother has recently moved to a farm and wants me to photograph her horses for her. I dont shoot animals so im looking for some help. My mother will be renting me a lens for the weekend and i was thinking a 50mm or maybe an 85mm (im shooting full frame).

Here is a photo from my test shoot. Any recommendations are welcome

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Pic looks unlevel unless that tower is installed crooked? Looks flat or like it was shot in jpeg? Underexposed horses?

 

[dxqcanada5]

Ok, first what are these shots for ?
... and why are you renting a lens ?

 

[Lilyinthefield]

Go with your longer lenses. The longest you can go handheld with and still get a good focus you need the distance. I use a 40-150mm zoom and can get this kind of shot:

Then turn around and get this kind of shot

My focus is a little off on that eye shot and I'd have really liked it if all three horses would've been in focus. Granted the mare in the back was going at a much different speed than the other two. I was tracking the gelding in the front when she came out of nowhere These were both from a year ago when I first bought my DSLR (had been limited to my p&s digital since my film SLR broke a few years ago) I am STILL learning the camera. I don't get the opportunity to shoot nearly as much as I'd like.

Shorter lenses closer up distort horses pretty badly. The farther back you can get then zoom in on them the better off you'll be. Plus if they're anything like mine. The moment they see you'll the only shot you WILL be able to get is the second one, lol... They've very nosey and curious critters, to get them at liberty you need the length and a good hiding spot

 

[gsgary]

I will be back later when you have lot of bad advice i will come back and sort you out

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

Oh I have horses and love love love photographing horses!!! I find a longer lens def does a better trick and if u want some action shots take the lunge whip out with ya!

 

[Opher]

The shots are "for a large print for my house" (direct quote from my mother)
Thank you for your advice guys. More is always welcome.

I am renting a lens as the lenses i have now do not have the desired sharpness at any resealable aperture(F11 as your widest "sharp" aperture sucks when shooting fast moving things at long focal lengths).

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/members/36391.html i may get one of my brothers out with the lunge whip as i said im not the biggest fan of horses lol

 

[Derrel]

Aim for the chest...envision a basketball inside the chest with the center of the ball located right in line with the legs...aim for the center of the imaginary basketball...oh, WAIT a minute, that's for deer hunting... ;-)

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

Aim for the chest...envision a basketball inside the chest with the center of the ball located right in line with the legs...aim for the center of the imaginary basketball...oh, WAIT a minute, that's for deer hunting... ;-)

I reacted the same way to the wording of the title.

 

[TCD photography]

What kind of shots does she want? Running around in the pasture, or posed/conformation type photos?

If you need some ideas, check out this website, she has some great photos: Equine Photography by Darlene Wohlart

 

[Overread36]

I will be back later when you have lot of bad advice i will come back and sort you out

Show-off
But yes Gary does know what he's on about when he's talking about horses so it will be worth while advice to listen to.


A few points consider (some already made).

1) Eyes - with animals of any kind the general rule is to get the eyes in focus, like all photographic rules you can "break" it but this is one of the very hard rules to actually break. Generally speaking we look to the eye of people/animals as one of our first points of reference in a photograph and we often directly engage with that point; having it out of focus or soft is less desirable as it means that point of contact and engagement is lost.

2) Focal lengths - as said above if you shoot with shorter focal length lenses at closer distances you'll end up with more distortion on the body; that is because a horse has a pretty wide/long body/face and thus at closer distances for a body shot the difference in distances is quite large (comparatively speaking); which means, for example, a side on shot would have more chance of making the horse look much fatter than it actually is. A good long focal length reduces the relative distances and thus presents a more normal looking view.

3) Keep an eye on the ears; this is a more specific point for equine photos, esp when they are taken in a more posed environment. The direction of the ears shows the attention of the horse as much (if not more so for horsey people) as the eyes and face direction. Ideally that means you want the ears pointing forward and you can talk to the trainer/rider for help in having them draw the horses attention in the required direction.

As for lenses, from what you say and the subject I'd say a 70-200mm lens would be an ideal option - f4 or f2.8 (if you are ending up working indoors the f2.8 for certain).

 

[kundalini]

Go with your longer lenses. The longest you can go handheld with and still get a good focus you need the distance. I use a 40-150mm zoom and can get this kind of shot:

I have a 40-150mm lens also and would not consider posting the images you did as examples to emulate.



OP, a long lens stopped down to isolate the horse is a good choice, as is a wide angle to show the environment. It really depends on your intent. The lighting and exposure on your first post..... hate to say it, but it sucks. Find the right time of day to do the animals justice and please the owners. This may require several visits to the farm.

 

[Opher]

I will be back later when you have lot of bad advice i will come back and sort you out

I will be back later when you have lot of bad advice i will come back and sort you out

Show-off
But yes Gary does know what he's on about when he's talking about horses so it will be worth while advice to listen to.

I look forward to hearing from Gary.

The lighting and exposure on your first post..... hate to say it, but it sucks. Find the right time of day to do the animals justice and please the owners. This may require several visits to the farm.

I know its really bad.
i was not really going for anything awesome for that photo just seeing how the horses would react to me(by trying to eat my camera it seems) and what lenses i would prefer and so that i was not coming here without doing some leg work of my own lol.

EDIT: I forgot to let you know what my lens selection was.
http://www.lensrentalscanada.com/index.php?cPath=1_57
anything $85/4day insured or less

 

[Lilyinthefield]

Go with your longer lenses. The longest you can go handheld with and still get a good focus you need the distance. I use a 40-150mm zoom and can get this kind of shot:

I have a 40-150mm lens also and would not consider posting the images you did as examples to emulate.


OP, a long lens stopped down to isolate the horse is a good choice, as is a wide angle to show the environment. It really depends on your intent. The lighting and exposure on your first post..... hate to say it, but it sucks. Find the right time of day to do the animals justice and please the owners. This may require several visits to the farm.

FYI, I didn't say to emulate it, I said this is the 'kind' of shots I can get with THAT lens. I also mentioned that I'm still learning and working on it. But whatever, read into it what you will, critisize me all you want when I ask for it but leave me alone when I don't. I know those shots aren't perfect, I didn't put them up for C&C, or comments from the peanut gallery. I already mentioned some of the things I found wrong with them but they were what I had available at the moment since I was on my laptop and I don't generally keep stuff on my laptop, they're what I had available to put up. So go fly a kite or something equally time consuming and leave me alone.

 

[gsgary]

I would go with a 70-200F2.8L and get some TicTac's (give them a shake) to get the horses attentionbecause horse owners like to see the ears forward, i like to shoot heads shot @ 200mm this one was shot at F4

I also use studio flash for horse potraits like this one

300mm on film

gallop

What sort of shot are you after so i can help with settings ?
You could shoot it running with a slow shutter