Lucie's huge horse Joris was an absolute gentle giant - towering over me but so sweet and compliant with what we asked him during the shoot. Ellen's pony was a little more interested in the soft box light set up and seemed convinced that the one ear backwards look was a good one! But we eventually got lucky after he spotted some birds in the field outside!
I used the door to the stable as the point to control the light for the shoot and combined natural light with a softbox.
All the photos from the shoot can be viewed here.
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I've been following Romy and Snuitje on her vlog Snuitable for a number of years after meeting at a cross country training event on my own pony a number of years ago. Her training methods are calm and quiet and i just love how relaxed her pony is when doing very complicated moves. So i joined her for the day and learnt lots about this relatively new sport to the Netherlands.
I photographed all day at the event from the getting ready through to the prize giving. Not just Romy but also the other competitors during the obstacles stage.
I have to say that i fell in love with Snuitje's and Romy's brown outfit - everything complimented each other and the cow skin on the top of the riding boots is just so fun.
After warming up, the 1st stage of working equitation is a dressage test. With specific moves that must be included the emphasis is on flow and balance and making it all look effortless! Movements must be completed between specific markers or in areas of the arena rather than at specific marker points, which encourages softer transitions.
It was a very friendly event and after each dressage test the judge spoke to each rider to offer advice and feedback on their test.
After the dressage test everyone got to walk the course with the designer who explained the route and the technical specifics to each obstacle.
Then it was the style test across the obstacles. Each obstacle tested the balance, and communication between horse and rider. With changes of leg, crossing a bridge, cantering a tight circle around a huge fibreglass bison, lateral movements, collecting a pole and spearing a metal loop amongst the obstacles I was in awe of how all the horses and riders remained in harmony. It was so much fun to watch.
After the initial style round, a speed round followed where each obstacle had to once more be completed but the speed was more important than style - Snuitje and all the other horses seemed to enjoy this!
At the end all the points were added together for the final scores. With 3 classes being run on Sunday the prize giving was a really nice end to the day for all.
I had a lovely day photographing this great combination. If you would like your very own photographer for the day at an event to are attending please do not hesitate to contact me. You will be provided with an album of your special day - creating images of so much more than just one jump or one movement in your dressage test. Please contact me for the cost.
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You can view the full album of images here to see the type of photos I create during a horse photo shoot.
]]>My aim this year was to try and shoot from a lower level below the jumps to accentuate the power and athletic ability of the horses but also the capture the balance of rider on board.
The rider is Uwe Schmitz from Germany on board Corento - i've got a bit of a soft spot for grey horses and always think they look very dramatic for photos.
I also was awarded a bronze bar for the photo below from the same event.
It was without any hesitation, but with much sadness that I joined Katja for this photo shoot - after many years of reoccurring lameness - she felt it was time to say goodbye to him, and so these would be her lasting memories of a horse she loved so much.
We were so lucky with the weather - the snow on the ground made for beautiful outside light when the sun came out. We then took some photos inside the barn.
You can view the full album of images here.
]]>I regularly enter the Image of The Month (IOM) competition with the Guild of Photographers in the UK to judge how my photographic journey is developing, but also so that my clients can see that I work hard with my photography and that the images I create during my photo sessions are of a really high standard. Images are judged not only on their technical merits, but on storytelling, emotion and creativity.
I am always pleased to receive one award from a photo session - but to win 4 from one session is a huge achievement for me. Enjoy the photos from this month.
After the photo shoot I selected a range of photos to work on, so that Kezia would have some wonderful memories of her partnership with Archie.
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