46/ JUNE/JULY 2011 THE RIDER Summer Is Prime Time For Shooting Stallion Photos By Kelly Bowers


Six to eight months from now, when winter has returned, stallion advertising will begin. However, many stallion owners don’t have a good photo of their stallion to use in The Rider’s Stallion Showcase advertising. One option is, of course, to hire a photographer to take profes- sional photos at their farm or a show. We are fortunate in Ontario to have some very tal- ented equine photographers and that may be exactly what you need. But if you enjoy taking photos and have a pretty good digital camera, you might want to first attempt to take them yourself. With a few hints and a little practise, you may be sur- prised by the results.


First, Prepare The Horse. Getting your horse ready for a photo session is like preparing for a horse show. A bad photo can make him look like a bad horse, which can cost you financially. Remember, dirt seems to show up more on pic- tures than what you see on the horse. He needs to be clean, brushed and trimmed. His mane and tail should be washed and combed. His hooves can also be picked and oiled for a polished look. Lastly, if you want him to be in tack, dress him in his best attire, so he looks like the cham- pion you know he is. A naked horse can also work really well, but he still needs to be clean and brushed. For variety, you can take some of both.


When?


Stallion photos are often needed for advertising in the winter or early spring but at that time, many appear furrier and fatter than in the summer, not as studly as you’d like. So, your photos should be done the sum- mer before, when your horse is in peak condition and has shed out or been clipped. He appears sleek and muscular. Bathing and grooming will ensure he looks like the winner you know he is. In the summer, your background will also be more colourful with green grass and leaves. The time of day is important because the sun can create glare or shadows that can ruin your otherwise per- fect photo. If you groom him the night before, you can take your photos in the morning and be done before the harsh noon sun arrives. The time invested in planning and preparing is worth it when you are rewarded with great photos for your ad that may in turn result in bookings.


Where?


I have always thought that outdoor photos are nearly always better than indoor pho- tos. Arenas never have as good lighting and the background is often distracting compared to the great outdoors. The chosen locale should be uncluttered and natural, nice trees, green grass, sky. In print, contrast is every- thing, especially on newsprint. A light coloured horse looks best against a dark background,


dark evergreens for instance. A dark coloured horse looks best against a light background such as a light blue sky. If your back- ground leans over (old building) or runs down hill (fence) or the horse is standing at a huge angle (side of a hill), your horse may end up looking crooked, like he has bad conformation. Try sev- eral backgrounds including ones that are flat and see the differ- ence. Check that he looks level and balanced.


What do you need?


First, you need a digital camera capable of taking decent photos. A film camera will work but the negatives must be devel- oped before you can decide if there are any worth printing. You don’t get to see the photos right away and it is an expensive way to learn.


appears alert with his ears for- ward. They can also open and close gates, move debris from the back ground, etc.


A lense with a length of 50 to 100 mm should be sufficient to get a good photo. You can zoom in a bit for a more natural look or for subjects who are less nervous when you are further away. A longer lens can take more distant shots. Using a flash will prevent shadows and help bring out details and highlights in the eyes of all horses. How- ever, it is especially important when you have the challenging task of photographing black horses. A flash on an overcast day may be your best bet. Oth- erwise, they can end up looking like a big black blob.


How?


Make sure your camera it is set on the highest resolution for the best quality pictures and that you have lots of room on your card before you head out. A tri- pod or monopod can help hold your camera steady and will free your hands a bit but you can lean on a fence post as well if needed.


You will also have a much easier time of it with a helpful assistant or two, especially for taking posed portraits. You can take posed photos up against a fence or in a round pen for example. One (the handler) will help position the horse, arrang- ing his legs, tail, mane etc. The other helper will try to direct the horse’s attention, rattling a feed pail or such so he


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It may help to have an idea of what you like or don’t like before you attempt to compose your photo. If you collect pic- tures you like from magazines of breed stallion photos, you will have something to emulate when you are composing your photo. For example, lighting, angle, backgrounds, focus etc. When choosing the type of picture you want to take, consid- er the horse’s characteristics. A stallion who performs a particu- lar discipline, like reining, driv- ing or dressage might be best promoted with a photo showing him in action (for real or staged for the camera). Take lots of these so you have plenty to choose from.


The shape of a horse natu- rally fits into a horizontal for-


In this conformation photo, Royal Dashing Prince (owned by Royal Run Ranch) is impeccably groomed and dressed in his best silver and leather. He is level and balanced. You can see all four legs and feet and his entire tail. His head is turned slightly showing forehead and both ears. The handler gains his attention by snapping fingers so his ears are nicely pointing forward. Lots of room is left around the edges of photo for cropping in the shape required. This photo, taken by Riverbend Design manages to make Prince look, well prince-like. The only problems I see, are caused by the location, which was beyond the photographer's control. The clut- tered backdrop was setup to promote the event and glare comes from ceil- ing lights and from the flash bounc-


mat, measuring wider than they are high but be sure to shoot some in a vertical format as well. This will give you both types to fit various ad require- ments. Just turn your camera 90 degrees and make sure you are still level. This is especially effective when the horse is fac- ing you so you see mostly his front end. A nice headshot can be realized this way too. A cou- ple rules - when you are taking a photo of the entire horse, make sure you don’t cut off his feet, ears or tail. Don’t zoom in too tight. Later, you can always crop the photo - but you can’t add on what was accidentally cut off.


Conformation photos, which are often used in stallion advertising, are taken from the side of the horse. Ideally, the sun should be behind you and slightly to the side, closer to the rear end of the horse. This way, when he turns his head to look at you, his neck is not be hidden by shadow. If his head is at the perfect angle, you should be able to see his forehead nicely, both nostrils and eyebrows but not both eyes. Your second assistant can insure his ears are forward. The handler needs to be far enough away that you can avoid them and their shadow or at least crop them out of the photo without their hand right under his chin.


The stallion should be posi- tioned so that hopefully all four legs can be seen (refer to your collected horse photos). The camera should be level with the centre of the horse’s barrel, at a


distance that you can see the whole horse. Check to make sure four feet and his tail are in the photo! If you are too high, looking down at him, he will appear small and maybe even top heavy. So, you may need to crouch or kneel down to be level. Pointing slightly upward may make the horse appear a bit larger which is ok, but too much and he can appear dispropor- tional again. Take several pho- tos before changing positions for lots to choose from. Each will look slightly different, noticeably more so when enlarged.


The most important thing to remember is that it takes practice. You may want to do this by taking photos on show days during the summer, since he will already be bathed and ready to go. Again, take lots of photos.


Digital images are free. When you sort and analyse the results on your computer, you’ll learn what worked and what didn’t. Extras can be erased and the better ones will be keepers. In a future article, I will give some ideas about what can be done on a computer in the edit- ing process.


By the end of the season, you should have at least a few good quality stallion photos of your champion for those impor- tant stallion ads needed in the years to come. Good luck! I look forward to seeing your photos in next year’s stallion ads.


Photo example below:


ing off the plastic signage. These are two of the hazards of doing indoor event photos but when cropped well, the photo is attractive and still very useful.


CTHS (Ontario Division) News CTHS Honours Its Champions


Rexdale, ON – June 6, 2011 – It was a night filled with fun, friendship and cele- bration as the CTHS honoured its 2010 Ontario-Bred champions at its 29th Annu- al Awards held at Copper Creek Golf Club on June 4th.


The event recognized Dom Romeo’s Terra Farms Ltd. as 2010 Breeder of the Year and Macdonald Benson, noted Cana- dian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer, as this year’s recipient of the Blood-Horse Mint Julep Cup. Other highlights included the presentation of 100 awards to the breeders of Ontario-Bred Black Type Stakes winners of 2010.


Four stallions received awards based on their 2010 earnings of eligible progeny, with 1st place presented to Bold Execu-


tive, 2nd place to Where’s The Ring, and 3rd place to Trajectory. The award for 2010 Top 1st Crop Ontario Sire was pre- sented to Old Forester.


Arosa Farms and Fieldstone Farms Inc. were both recognized for their 25- year contribution to the Thoroughbred breeding industry, while Sam-Son Farms received The Jockey Club of Canada Award for 2010 as Leading Owner in Ontario. Vet med student Amanda Marsel- la was recognized as the 2010 Gillian Luxton M.D Scholarship Recipient. A silent auction also took place during the evening, the proceeds from which were donated by members of the industry going to the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.


The staff and directors of the CTHS would like to congratulate the outstanding breeders of 2010 and extend a special thank you to the sponsors and silent auc- tion donors for their kind generosity, as well as everyone who came out to support this exciting event.


For a complete listing of the CTHS Awards, please visit our website at www.cthsont.com/awards.php.


The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) is a non-profit organization representing breeders within Ontario by promoting Ontario-Bred Thor- oughbreds, both nationally and around the world.


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