washy
Nov, 2014Views
829
Likes
Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
People's Choice in The soul of a horse Photo Challenge
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Peer Award
All Star
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Genius
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank
Top 30 rankTop 30 rank week 2Top 30 rank week 1
Top 30 rank week 1
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken in Wellington, Florida, USA which is one of the equestrian capitals of the world, at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.Time
I'm usually at the horse shows in the mid morning when it's cooler and the afternoon thunderstorms have not gathered. This was in August, so both of those things were definitely at play.Lighting
If you look, you can see the harsh shadows cast by shooting in full sun. By adding in the black background, however, the shadows make the image more dramatic by bringing out the horse's musculature and defining his features.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D200 with a Nikon AF-S 55-200mm lens. It was handheld, which is usually a no-no for me, but with higher shutter speeds, I can sometimes get away with it.Inspiration
Just look at him! He looks every bit the son of a legend and the champion that he is. He's just beautiful. Who wouldn't be inspired?Editing
Of course! I love putting the black background around a horse. I usually just paint it in with a very soft brush to enhance the shadows around the edges. That takes all the distracting clutter of the barn out of the background and really lets the beauty and soul of these magnificent animals shine through.In my camera bag
I pretty much pack everything I have because even when you've got a plan, you never know what might come across your path that you weren't expecting. I have the D200 and a Nikon D7000 with the zoom lens I used here plus two prime lenses (a 35mm and a 50mm). I even still carry my old point and shoot Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20. It's what I started out with in digital photography. It's almost like a good luck charm for me, I guess.Feedback
If you're shooting horses, remember to be respectful of the fact that they can be nervous, as can their owners. However, you don't need to feel intimidated by them, because they will sense that. It's also handy to have something crinkly in your pocket so you can get those ears up. A peppermint never hurts, either.
