Opinions on horse photo

[jme_cay]

.. also what pp should I do, if any?

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My baby!

 

[rexbobcat]

Well...

The composition is awkward. It's not entirely in the center, but it's not far enough to the left or right to follow any kind of thirds guideline.
The colors are rather dark, and I think the photo is underexposed. The hors eyes are black, and have no life.
The back of the horse is cut off, which is a bit distracting.

It's not a bad photo, though.

 

[cgipson1]

lovely horse.. very snapshot'ish on the photo though.

 

[jme_cay]

The eyes bothered me too. Is that just from the photo being underexposed, or what would prevent that?

 

[jme_cay]

cgibson1 - Thanks, she's a sweetheart. What would make it less "snapshotish"

 

[Compaq]

Don't take this the wrong way, but the body seems out of proportion to the head, the head being smaller... Or maybe that's just me. Maybe if you'd gotten lower?

 

[jme_cay]

She is rather "fluffy" (it's not fat, it's fluff lol) maybe that's it.. I was kneeling while taking this.

 

[cgipson1]

cgibson1 - Thanks, she's a sweetheart. What would make it less "snapshotish"

When you shoot a subject of any kind.... for a portrait (and yes, many animal shots are portraits!) you either do head, head and shoulders, upper body or full body. One thing you should not do (unless there is a very specific reason for it) is to cut off part of the head or body or limbs. Get all of at least one of those parts in there! makes it look far better!

It looks like the focus point was actually on the shoulder... as that appears the sharpest. The head and eyes actually look a little soft (out of focus). When doing a animal shot (or human), whenever possible.. focus on the eyes.. and get those sharp! That is what we are engineered to look for.. the eyes!

Flash is sometimes a good idea too.. as it will help fill in dark shadows.. but primarily, it will put a "catchlight" in the eyes.. and make them look alive, and sparkly!

Hope that helps!

You might want to google COMPOSITION, portraiture and animal portraiture for some more detail!

 

[jme_cay]

Thanks for your feedback. I completely agree about the composition, no rule of thirds at play here at all. I see what you mean about the focus. I would have like to have the eyes in focus and not black! So flash would've fixed that? I know about using it, and reflectors, to fill in shadows and add catch lights. ( I didn't know it at the time though, this was taken about a year ago. I posted it to give a general idea of my pictures.) I'm assuming the flash would also help with the eye color, show some of the brown in her eyes?
Animal (horse mostly) portraits are what I'm studying and would like to eventually be my specialty but I know I have a long way to go. Any and all suggestions are more than welcome!

 

[jme_cay]

What about my angle to the horse?

 

[NyGregg]

As a former Paint owner, I appreciate the photo but agree with most of the previous comments. I definitely think it should have had some flash or reflector. As far as angle, I believe that you should be more quartering to her to the left. This would have given more of the body and would show the neck. I think the neck being hidden is one reason it's awkward. It makes the head look disproportionate to the body. I think it seems snapshot-ish because of the graininess and the colors aren't rich. Good luck!

 

[jme_cay]

NyGregg, I've owned a few Paints too. They are beautiful animals. My favorite was a bay/white tobiano gelding... well I could talk all day about the horses lol.
Ok so I'm going to practice more. I had a few more I was going to post, but looking back at them I think they all have the same issues. The composition is better in the others but the exposure really isn't.
Thanks so much for everyones input. I'll post more when I get them.

 

[gsgary]

Turn your camera to portrait