Horse experts I need help here - DPChallenge Forums

07/25/2011 11:36:56 AM · #26

Originally posted by Ja-9:

Originally posted by HighNooner:
Thanks Ja-9
Once I have chosen the photos I'm going to use I will use Topaz mask to create a flawless mask and I will decide then, I know I need to take the BG out, but haven't decided on what goes back in, maybe a well studied lens blur!

And this is the kind of photos they like to see

can you use a filter that helps to "whiten" the horse more? In hair styling I would use purple shampoo to take yellow tinge out of hair...not sure if it would work the same here...just think'n out loud...can't possibly get those beautiful beasts out to the dessert (I have NO idea where you are and where the dessert is in conjunction (or NOT)...Lord, that would be amazing

I shot all of the photos in RAW I just moved the "kelvin slider" and tint and the colors came put great!

Message edited by author 2011-07-25 11:37:13.

tanguera

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/25/2011 11:41:57 AM · #27

Originally posted by Ja-9:

get those beautiful beasts out to the dessert (I have NO idea where you are and where the dessert is in conjunction (or NOT)...Lord, that would be amazing

LOL,

Ja-9!!! Would you put them on TOP of the sundae or just decorate them with whipped cream :-)

Tariq, I think it would help if you just desaturated the yellows. But that's also my fave of the bunch. I do agree that the bg in all of them is meh.

07/25/2011 11:45:36 AM · #28

Originally posted by tanguera:

Originally posted by Ja-9:
get those beautiful beasts out to the dessert (I have NO idea where you are and where the dessert is in conjunction (or NOT)...Lord, that would be amazing

LOL, Ja-9!!! Would you put them on TOP of the sundae or just decorate them with whipped cream :-)

Tariq, I think it would help if you just desaturated the yellows. But that's also my fave of the bunch. I do agree that the bg in all of them is meh.

oops...at least I'm consistent....lol (hangs head in shame)

Message edited by author 2011-07-25 11:45:45.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/25/2011 12:13:53 PM · #29

I fixed the yellow tones by changing the color temperature on the RAW file, relieved the crop and tilted the horizon a bit to elevate the head.

I think I will do a white wall for the BG that has the same texture that is on the lower white wall, Do lens blur on the grass and back wall and soften the shadows.

Any suggestions will but much appreciated.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/25/2011 02:58:43 PM · #30

If it was mine, I would get rid of the blue railing. It grabs a great deal of attention from your subject.

Given that the competition will be held in Arabia, I would guess that the preference will be for a horse that exemplifies the Egyptian line (as opposed to the Polish, Crabbet, ect. lines) so a dry head and a flat croup will be more important than a thin throat latch or a deeply dished head. The images I have seen in the trade magazines that come out of Arabia tend to put the emphasis on the feeling of the desert in the backgrounds, and the spark that is unique to the breed, rather that the perfectly groomed and shined up images that are sought after in American publications.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/25/2011 06:15:59 PM · #31

In addition to the fine equine photographers on DPC, you might want to check out the sites of two of my favorite photographers who shoot Arabs.

Johnny Johnston who gets beautiful polished images, who I got to help at a shoot once long ago. He was shooting a string of maybe thirty horses, and his ability to see what was about to happen next and be ready for it was amazing. No wasted moves and a certainty of when the image he wanted was in the camera.

Wojtek Kwiatkowski is much more of the artist than the documentarian, but his images are stunning if you don't mind a heavy hand with the post processing. If you have no interest at all in horses, they are still beautiful images.

Message edited by author 2011-07-25 18:17:20.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/25/2011 06:44:49 PM · #32

Originally posted by HighNooner:

This is a great place to start. The colors in this neutral rendering are much more pure, you've thrown too much yellow into the "processed" version. The light on this horse is great, the musculature is really emphasized here. The gait looks wonderful to me, the 3/4 view is fantastic for the head, the tail and main are adding to the composition, and without the crop the butt has plenty of breathing room.

R.

littlemav

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED VR

07/25/2011 09:20:08 PM · #33

Thanks

Highnooner for the details on the contest... CRAP Arabians.. Wonder if I PS my crazed wild ass Quarter mare and slap a dish in her face if She'd pass... LOL We use to have a few Arabians in this neck of the woods but you don't see very many anymore and for sure no really nice ones!

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited

07/26/2011 02:50:33 AM · #34

I have an edit.

The mask is only 80% done, still needs much work>

Message edited by author 2011-07-26 02:51:42.

Qiki

Fujifilm X100T

07/26/2011 04:47:58 AM · #35

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I have an edit.

The mask is only 80% done, still needs much work>

Without wanting to cause any offence Tareq, IMO your background here just looks very 'fake'. You are trying to fix a background in PP, but had you used different settings at the time you took the shot this wouldn't have been necessary. Your pre-PP background in this shot (as well as a number of your others) is sharp a long way behind the horse, suggesting you used a smallish aperture. I see from your profile that you've got a few nice F2.8 lenses and had this been shot at 2.8 you'd likely have a nice bokeh in the background. Then you wouldn't need to be messing around with PP blurs. Just my opinion of course. There are probably others who are far better tweakers than I, who could make the image look great with just PP. Do you have the opportunity to go back and re-shoot?

Message edited by author 2011-07-26 04:51:42.

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited

07/27/2011 04:33:12 AM · #36

I did take some more photos this morning . Wednesday

This is Haleem

Is showing the man's hand ok?

Message edited by author 2011-07-27 04:34:00.

Qiki

Fujifilm X100T

07/27/2011 05:48:45 AM · #37

Nice shot Tareq. I guess it would be better without the hand, but for me it's not a deal-breaker. And nice bokeh in the background. This time the subject is very nicely isolated.

Message edited by author 2011-07-27 08:57:51.

melodicgrace

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

07/27/2011 07:26:59 AM · #38

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I did take some more photos this morning . Wednesday

This is Haleem

Is showing the man's hand ok?

This one is my favorite so far, Tareq. =)

07/27/2011 09:08:00 AM · #39

+1...definitely worth the re-shoot

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/27/2011 12:16:37 PM · #40

I wouldn't be bothering you guys if I knew what makes a good horse photo.

Thanks much. Is this any good? with the head down like this?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/27/2011 01:11:28 PM · #41

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I wouldn't be bothering you guys if I knew what makes a good horse photo.

Thanks much. Is this any good? with the head down like this?

I like this, but consider cropping from the right to a square; the bright area is distracting, and the square will put the eye near the 1/3 x 1/3 intersection.

ETA: I don't know if it's suitable for your contest, I just like it ... :-)

Message edited by author 2011-07-27 13:12:35.

hajeka

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

07/27/2011 02:45:45 PM · #42

I'll go with

GeneralE. I really don't know anything about horses (okay, they have 4 legs and they're big), but I like the beautiful face and all the details here. Perhaps a little crop from the right, but not too much. Wonderful light btw.

melodicgrace

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

07/27/2011 03:07:18 PM · #43

Oooh, these keep on getting better and better. =)

07/27/2011 04:21:42 PM · #44

I'm still curious as to what you can do in the barn/stalls...especially given what you did with this last head shot....(like you have nothing better to do with your time...if the staff at the stalls hands you a pitchfork because they've seen you so much this wk...be ready to heave ho....lol)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

07/27/2011 05:00:54 PM · #45

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I wouldn't be bothering you guys if I knew what makes a good horse photo.

Thanks much. Is this any good? with the head down like this?

I am allowed 3 entries in the contest and I think I will use the one above as entry number one after I have taken some of the advises here.

I need to make a second pick so here we go

Message edited by author 2011-07-27 17:01:36.

izadoodle

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

07/27/2011 05:34:46 PM · #46

What I have learned with taking photos of Arabians in head shots is ears up and showing of the neck. The below head shot is a beautiful artistic shot (and my personal fav)

The other head shot is a nice "portrait" head shot.

To be honest...the 2 first rearing up shots don't do a lot for me, but I do like the 3rd one.

My question to you would be what kind of image are you trying to present for the contest?
Here are a few sites I view for ideas....I will go check out more about the contest and let you know more
//www.cristycumberworth.com/
//www.heatherlast.com/
//www.vesty.com/
//www.viselphotography.com
//www.aprilvisel.com
//www.reephotographics.com/
Good luck
Stacey

Message edited by author 2011-07-27 17:40:02.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/27/2011 05:54:24 PM · #47

Originally posted by HighNooner:

I wouldn't be bothering you guys if I knew what makes a good horse photo.

Thanks much. Is this any good? with the head down like this?

This one's fabulous, dreamy and intoxicating.

R.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/27/2011 06:22:51 PM · #48

Thanks guys this is my final edit for my first entry

Please tell me what you think

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/27/2011 06:31:09 PM · #49

This is my fave so far. Classically Arabian head shots start at the shoulder, to show off the throat latch and slope of the shoulder. Though I might knock the colors back a bit.