Shoot 4

Shoot 4

This shoot went a whole lot better than the last. With it in my head that I wanted to shoot more interesting activities, I was lucky that the next time I went down to the stables, Lisa's daughter was getting the horses ready to ride. This meant a lot was going on for me to take photos of, and I could shoot a small range of movements and objects to shoot.

In shoot 3 there was a photo of a horse and Lisa looking at each other head on with a fence between them which I wanted to capture again, but this time instead I captured two horses looking at each other (3) which I really liked, but unfortunately it wasn't in focus.

There are a lot of photos in this shoot that I felt highlighted the life of being a horse owner, perhaps because this is the generic picture we get when we imagine horse owners; the riding part. I aimed to take more portraits this time, and to show the relationship between human and horse.

This image I particularly like because of the comedic factor. The horse is looking into the camera and therefore at the viewer with almost a shocked face, which of course it isn't because that's just us giving horses human emotions, but the wide eyes, ears back and head turned slightly away gives the horse a look that makes it seem that it is. This is emphasized by the way the head is only just poking into frame, as if he's photobombing and otherwise picturesque photograph; the model looking away from the camera, elegantly clipping her helmet. The background is interesting because it also defers from the beautiful image we have in our heads when we think of horses; the rubble and mess is very much an eyesore even when you're there.
This image is more Berry inspired than anything; it shows the person at work clearly focused on what they're doing, without feeling too miserable or serious. 

This image shows one of the activities that people with horses have to do on a daily basis: sorting out the reigns. we can easily see the concentration on her face. He hands are manicured which goes against what we would initially think of when we think of somebody with horses. Her hair tied back and her outfit however, is far more 'conventional' to the stereotype. The tones show that this was a dark day, and therefore shows that people will go out in any weather and time to be with their horses.

This image was taken during golden hour, and I really loved how the water reflected the sun and backlit the girl who was helping out at the stables that day. This creates a huge contrast between the stables and the water. The water shows the work that has just been done; it could be washing or giving water, but because it's only in specific places we know that it wasn't there before. The girl walking towards the camera helps us assume that she was the reason why it's wet. The background shows the sparse trees, indicating it was shot in the colder months and in the countryside, which gives the audience a little more context to the image.

This image is perhaps my favourite from the shoot. The lack of contrast gives a nice soft atmosphere to the picture, almost like a dreamland. This feels much more glorified than the other images, because we can see the straps all done up perfectly, her nails are painted with no chips, the horse's hair is neatly brushed through; everything seems immaculate with nothing out of place. I really like the angle and composition, because it's not solely focusing on the horse or the person but instead the equipment used. With the woman being the one to initiate the work, we can see who's in charge. Yet, with her hands relaxed and therefore the horse seeming calm, we can sense the trust between the two.

This is another favourite. This is shot from the inside of one of the storage stables. Inside were bottles of medicines, treatments, reigns, helmets, high-vis jackets etc. Everything you could ever need when owning a horse. I really like the contrast of the light on the bag, showing its texture and giving the image more depth overall. All we can see really are the items on the shelves; the rest is engulfed in darkness. This was because there was no light in the stable, which creates quite a moody feel and mysterious look. Everything seems isolated and untouched, discarded until needed.

This image has a range of tones, mostly down to the way it was shot during golden hour. there were strong shadows and beautiful beams of light that fell elegantly over the concrete, all of which lead towards the horse in this image. the range of tones and textures (the wood, the puddles, the concrete etc) really give them picture the depth that it has. The dark horse stands out from it's lighter surroundings, creating a clear focal point. The distance form the horse creates a very observational view, as well as allowing the audience to see the setting in which the rest of the images are taken.

overall, I feel that this shoot was the most successful of the lot that i've done so far; the images have a wider range of things going on and I achieved my aim of showing the connection between human and horse.