Now, lets take a look
There is quite a queue for the dentist. Horses waiting in their stalls, waiting their turn. I walk into the yard, I hear the rasp grinding as I walk through. Th...
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There is quite a queue for the dentist. Horses waiting in their stalls, waiting their turn. I walk into the yard, I hear the rasp grinding as I walk through. The equine dentist, Jamie Martin seen before on this journal is a regular to horses in this area. It might look a little uncomfortable to us humans who gag at the thought of the dentist chair and a mouth full of metal work. I guess this isn't dissimilar for a horse.
The pain of a sharp tooth grating on the soft tissue in the mouth is worth putting up with the dentist for, as is a sore tooth. There isn't many horses who protest, but I guess this is down to a good equine dentist with a direct and no fuss approach. Ash is an excellent patient, and no doubt relieved that its over and done with for another year..
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The pain of a sharp tooth grating on the soft tissue in the mouth is worth putting up with the dentist for, as is a sore tooth. There isn't many horses who protest, but I guess this is down to a good equine dentist with a direct and no fuss approach. Ash is an excellent patient, and no doubt relieved that its over and done with for another year..
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Feb, 2015Views
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photograph as I wandered into the livery yard at a local farm in Ross on Wye, England. I heard a grinding sound and followed my ears to action. I know this equine dentist well. His name is Jamie Martin. He is a dynamic person and works incredibly well with his horse patients. I carry my camera kit with me at all times and this is perfectly the reason why. You never know what you may find on your travels.Time
The success of this shot is a lot to do with the time of day it was taken. Its taken very early morning. I think a lot of farm work should be taken in the magical early light or late evening. The animals also seem much better placed in this warmer light too.Lighting
The bonus of early morning natural light is that it really is a gift from nature. In this case the work on the horse just married perfectly with the morning light beaming through the wall slats of the barn and stable wall. The horse contained in a smallish space, meant that I could simply move myself and/or direct the equine dentist to lift the horses head a little more or less, to get the beams of light to hit steam in the horses mouth perfectly. All steam needs back light to lift it. This was literally a gift. Horse, light, steam dentist, all in the right place at the right time.Equipment
I used a Panasonic Lumix GX7 with a 7-14mm lens. I love this kit simply because in tight spaces its the kit of choice. I know that not everyone can get the concept of crop sensor cameras, but for me this camera is like a brush in an artist hand. It just works for me. I have used DSLR's in the past, but this shot is very typical of how well suited these cameras are to react to an immediate situation in a tight space.Inspiration
A lot of my work has a documentary edge to it. I was trained in documentary photography years ago. We were sent to do a year in France with our SLR cameras loaded with black and white film and fixed lenses. We were ordered to shoot and print everything with the film edges on as evidence that our feet were the zoom. not the lens. This I think is great training for my work today. I like being in the mix of a photo. There is every possibility that this horse could rear and flatten us all, but then thats the loveliness of documentary. You invite the viewer into the action by shooting wide and up close.Editing
Yes. This picture was originally shot in colour. It was a no brainer to change this to black and white. The colours, as lovely as they are as warm morning light, were too distracting from the action and the metal work in the horses mouth and the steam. Perhaps its the documentary in me, that makes this decision very quickly. I hate to see other elements, including colour, distract from the real intention of the picture.In my camera bag
I used to work with DSLR cameras, but have changed to the Panasonic Lumix GX7 cameras and their Leica lenses. I have two bodies and a whole range of lenses. The prime lenses are a little bit of genius. I love the 25mm and the 42.5mm. I use a Hasselblad with a digital Leaf back for larger commercial jobs. I find that the GX7's shooting on RAW can match any DSLR camera. The benefit is that you can climb a 4 floor scaffolding, or shoot in a tiny foodie kitchen and have a camera that wants to come with you. The Manfrotto tripod with the new geared heads are a godsend too. Coloured tags on your lens caps are also a great idea, for picking a lens in a hurry in a Lowepro backpack. Little helpful ideas save time when you walk into a 'happening' situation.Feedback
Be ready for a picture. Always carry your camera. If your kit isn't something that you want to carry with you all the time, then change your attitude to what your kit means to you. Camera and sensor technology has evolved so much to give the photographer so much more freedom. Its not what about what your kit can do. Its about what you can do. Never let anyone tell you what is and isn't possible. Be the person and photographer that makes every shot possible. or at least try to.
