Horse Portrait

Charlotte · 01-05-2008, 23:53

My first "horsey" shoot. Spotted a group of horses in a field with a bit of nice scenery in the background, and enjoyed getting a range of different compositions. There's more in my gallery (or will be soon) if you're interested

This was shot @ 300mm, 1/400 sec at f/11, ISO 200, weather conditions were sunny after a heavy shower of rain, hence the naturally high colour saturation + soggy patches on the horses!

PP consisted of a few basic tonal adjustments on the RAW file in Lightroom, then in CS3 a slight sharpening of the horse and smoothing of the BG.

This is a "100% crop", i.e. heavily cropped, to get a head + neck shot out of a wider view of the horse. I did such a close crop in PP because I liked the shapes + tones created by the way he was twisting his neck and holding his head.

All comments, C&C welcome, TFL

**Markulous** · 02-05-2008, 07:09

Nice combination of light/colour. I would've preferred a narrower DOF to "naturally" blur the BG instead of the processed BG (which shows along the neck at the top

) and maybe more horse body on LHS

Larne · 02-05-2008, 08:46

Unfortunately it looks a bit awkward for me, with the head and neck looking detatched from the body behind due to the sharp angle. Perhaps showing more of the body to tie them together, or less to focus on the head (which is great by the way) would improve the shot for me.

**Dabhand16** · 02-05-2008, 10:43

Sorry Charlotte - I also think that the crop makes it look odd.

Think of a landscape with a long curving beach. You would not crop it so that the beach went out of frame then back in again. This shot needs the rest of the neck to allow the viewer to see the whole animal (or at least the whole neck), or, as said before, a crop to the head only.

Charlotte · 02-05-2008, 11:09

Thanks for your advice on this one folks

The crop looks a bit odd to me now, in the daylight - processed at night, which might make a difference.

Will try a different crop which I will re-post later.

Thanks for taking the time

chrisa · 02-05-2008, 17:40

A reasonable shot Charlotte, but what I think it would really benefit from is getting the horse's face completely out of the shadow. If fully sunlit would think it would be a great shot.

fionaB · 02-05-2008, 18:12

i agree with what has already been said, i would prefer to see an uncropped version as this looks awkward and disjointed. the head in full light would definately have improved the shot. and perhaps a little more space on the right?

Fi

spacepacker · 02-05-2008, 19:43

Yep, for me I dont know where the head is coming from; sorry...Kenny

Summerleft · 02-05-2008, 20:00

I do think the shadows need lifting, maybe a little contrast and bring that eye out a bit more,
I don't think the crops that bad in that he doesnt look decapitated but there is always the argument of if your going to crop go in very tight or not at all.

I do think bringing a bit more richness to the coat and as said the shadows would really help it along.

WOODY · 02-05-2008, 20:08

Is This Two Horses Charlotte, As It Looks Like The Head Of One And The Body Of Another. As Said Before Crop To Tight On The Left.

Dutchie · 04-05-2008, 09:28

Doesn't look that bad to me. But the crop is too tight I must agree on that.

Boofers · 04-05-2008, 17:25

My first impression is I am standing close to the horse. I think people who have been around horses would be less put off by composition. This is a lot better then my first one. Do you like horses?

Charlotte · 04-05-2008, 22:51

Thanks for your feedback everyone

Woody - No, this is only one horse.

Boofers - Yes I like horses, although I don't ride or have contact with them much, mainly because I'm allergic

fionaB · 05-05-2008, 00:20

i think i would argue the point there Boofers....... i think people who are used to horses will be even more effected by the composition, purely because they know horses, and enpy seeing them in their full glory.
at least i can only speak for myself, i worked with horses and taught people how to ride horses for years in my younger days and i know i always prefer a full body shot to a head. But then again maybe that is just personal preference.

Fi

Charlotte · 05-05-2008, 01:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by fionaB

01-05-2008, 23:53	#1 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,704	Horse Portrait My first "horsey" shoot. Spotted a group of horses in a field with a bit of nice scenery in the background, and enjoyed getting a range of different compositions. There's more in my gallery (or will be soon) if you're interested This was shot @ 300mm, 1/400 sec at f/11, ISO 200, weather conditions were sunny after a heavy shower of rain, hence the naturally high colour saturation + soggy patches on the horses! PP consisted of a few basic tonal adjustments on the RAW file in Lightroom, then in CS3 a slight sharpening of the horse and smoothing of the BG. This is a "100% crop", i.e. heavily cropped, to get a head + neck shot out of a wider view of the horse. I did such a close crop in PP because I liked the shapes + tones created by the way he was twisting his neck and holding his head. All comments, C&C welcome, TFL __________________ Work Smarter, Not Harder

02-05-2008, 07:09	#2 (permalink)
Markulous Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Peak District Posts: 9,608	Re: Horse Portrait Nice combination of light/colour. I would've preferred a narrower DOF to "naturally" blur the BG instead of the processed BG (which shows along the neck at the top ) and maybe more horse body on LHS

02-05-2008, 08:46	#3 (permalink)
Larne Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK Posts: 430	Re: Horse Portrait Unfortunately it looks a bit awkward for me, with the head and neck looking detatched from the body behind due to the sharp angle. Perhaps showing more of the body to tie them together, or less to focus on the head (which is great by the way) would improve the shot for me.

02-05-2008, 10:43	#4 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,761	Re: Horse Portrait Sorry Charlotte - I also think that the crop makes it look odd. Think of a landscape with a long curving beach. You would not crop it so that the beach went out of frame then back in again. This shot needs the rest of the neck to allow the viewer to see the whole animal (or at least the whole neck), or, as said before, a crop to the head only.

02-05-2008, 11:09	#5 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,704	Re: Horse Portrait Thanks for your advice on this one folks The crop looks a bit odd to me now, in the daylight - processed at night, which might make a difference. Will try a different crop which I will re-post later. Thanks for taking the time

02-05-2008, 17:40	#6 (permalink)
chrisa Been here a while Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 412	Re: Horse Portrait A reasonable shot Charlotte, but what I think it would really benefit from is getting the horse's face completely out of the shadow. If fully sunlit would think it would be a great shot.

02-05-2008, 18:12	#7 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,345	Re: Horse Portrait i agree with what has already been said, i would prefer to see an uncropped version as this looks awkward and disjointed. the head in full light would definately have improved the shot. and perhaps a little more space on the right? Fi

02-05-2008, 19:43	#8 (permalink)
spacepacker Been here a while Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 313	Re: Horse Portrait Yep, for me I dont know where the head is coming from; sorry...Kenny

02-05-2008, 20:00	#9 (permalink)
Summerleft Feet under the table Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Warwickshire, UK Posts: 1,537	Re: Horse Portrait I do think the shadows need lifting, maybe a little contrast and bring that eye out a bit more, I don't think the crops that bad in that he doesnt look decapitated but there is always the argument of if your going to crop go in very tight or not at all. I do think bringing a bit more richness to the coat and as said the shadows would really help it along.

02-05-2008, 20:08	#10 (permalink)
WOODY PLEASE NOTE I TYPE USING CAPITALS DUE TO A DISABILTY THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ORPINGTON KENT Posts: 1,086	Re: Horse Portrait Is This Two Horses Charlotte, As It Looks Like The Head Of One And The Body Of Another. As Said Before Crop To Tight On The Left.

04-05-2008, 09:28	#11 (permalink)
Dutchie Been here a while Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lancashire Posts: 449	Re: Horse Portrait Doesn't look that bad to me. But the crop is too tight I must agree on that.

04-05-2008, 17:25	#12 (permalink)
Boofers Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: 40 miles south of St. Louis Posts: 2,281	Re: Horse Portrait My first impression is I am standing close to the horse. I think people who have been around horses would be less put off by composition. This is a lot better then my first one. Do you like horses?

04-05-2008, 22:51	#13 (permalink)
Charlotte Loves the place Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romsey, Hampshire Posts: 5,704	Re: Horse Portrait Thanks for your feedback everyone Woody - No, this is only one horse. Boofers - Yes I like horses, although I don't ride or have contact with them much, mainly because I'm allergic

05-05-2008, 00:20	#14 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,345	Re: Horse Portrait i think i would argue the point there Boofers....... i think people who are used to horses will be even more effected by the composition, purely because they know horses, and enpy seeing them in their full glory. at least i can only speak for myself, i worked with horses and taught people how to ride horses for years in my younger days and i know i always prefer a full body shot to a head. But then again maybe that is just personal preference. Fi