What a difference a picture can make

[Tony]

Frequently I have people comment on the pictures that we post on our web site and get questions about our horses and photography, too. I wanted to show an example of what a difference taking a little time makes. I have even seen on this forum, people asking to see "bad" pictures, and have even asked me if I would post some "bad" ones. They say, "Don't you ever take a bad picture?" to which I reply, "Of course I do, but you won't ever get to see them."

You have all heard the expression, "A picture is worth a thousand words." It works the same, either for bad or good, and for the life of me I cannot understand why anyone would ever want to share a bad picture of their horse. I was once at an outstanding breeder's farm, helping with a sale, and a friend of mine wanted to take a picture of one of the farm's stallions, so I started to get it out for a picture. The owner stopped me, saying that he did not allow photography of his stallions, but would be happy to give my friend a picture. I had never thought of it, but it was an excellent lesson. He had spent years and thousands promoting his stallions and did not want anyone to have a "less than flattering" picture of any of them. Smart man!!!

Here are a couple of pictures that were taken less than a month apart. See what a difference a photograph can make?

 

[kaykay]

what a great example!! I hadnt posted pics of black my jr over stallion in months. I finally posted when I had pics of him at nationals and everyone was asking why I hadnt posted pics before. I didnt because all i had was a couple of really bad pasture shots LOL. No way will i put those on my website!!

I totally understand why people dont want others taking quick shots of their horses and showing them. Its a lot of money and time spent promoting a horse and who wants them shown in an unflattering position

 

[EAD Minis]

Good lesson Tony. Your horses always look amazing and I can see why I big farm or any one would want some one ruining a reputation and throwing thousands of dollars away with one bad picture taken. Good idea and a good thing to keep in mind. Thankyou for posting this!!

: And kaykay your boy is AMAZING i just love him. Your very smart for taking your time with posting pictures of him because we were all blown away by him im sure!!!

: :aktion033:

 

[user 488]

He had spent years and thousands promoting his stallions and did not want anyone to have a "less than flattering" picture of any of them. Smart man!!!

Very smart man! Pictures are with a thousand words.

Many do not know the difference between good and bad..........

and others have taken bad pictures of other peoples horses intentionally.

Some pictures can make even the very best horses look bad.

 

[capall beag]

Those are very good examples!

Definately good vs bad pictures!

Very interesting..........always tells me that don't judge a book by it's cover!!!!!!!!!

That is a great post, very helpful!

 

[Reble]

I do agree Tony, now if I can just get that through to my hubby,

he hates me taken pictures.

:

I have found great deals when others do not see what I see.

:

 

[wildoak]

Absolutely right, great examples Tony. A good picture makes a huge amount of difference.

Jan

 

[Equuisize]

In horses, a picture might be worth more than a 1000 words.....

I think that sometimes, in winter wooly photos, there have been horses

I'd never take a 2nd look at and seen them in the summer and had

my socks totally blown off.....thought "dang, I should have bought that horse."

I drove to see a mare, in the winter, back a few years ago. The horse was

Eastern Washington, which gets colder than our side and this mare was WOOLY.

I couldn't equate the beautiful summer photo she sent me with the horse she was

physcially showing me.

This gal gave me a great hint for winter horse shopping......she slipped a snug

full body sleazy on her, and viola' I once again could see the conformation of

the horse in the summer photo.

Good advice as always Tony!

 

[Darkstar]

Very good examples, and points as well! They almost look like different horses.

Seems like getting good photos is alot harder than it should be. It's amazing how a slight change in the angle of the photo can change the look of a horse. There is a definite 'knack' to taking good photos. I wish I had that 'knack'! lol

 

[horsehug]

Tony,

What gorgeous tiny horses those are!

Another thing it proves is how quick so many are to jump to conclusions about what is or is not a dwarf just because a horse is not in perfect condition!

Like you.........I loved them and did not think they looked at all dwarfy months ago! I saw their beauty even in the first pictures.

I hope it means I am gaining even a tenth of your "eye" in looking at the tiny ones!

And now with your knowledge of feeding etc. you have brought out their full potential and charm!

No wonder you are my mini-mentor

Susan O.

 

[chandab]

I'd love to have someone knowledgeable help me take pictures of my horses. Unfortunately, I can't afford most of the professionals and I don't believe there are any my area. We live on a hill slope, so don't have much in the way of flat ground, I don't have knowledgeable help and the horses don't stand still if I tie them to something (this I can work on

: ). So, what's a girl to do?

Love the example pictures.

 

[Beccy]

Another thing it proves is how quick so many are to jump to conclusions about what is or is not a dwarf just because a horse is not in perfect condition!

I learned a couple of years ago how easy it is to judge a horse wrongly from a bad picture. I saw a picture of a little silver mare in her winter coat and plump. I was positive she was a dwarf, she appeared to have an extremely short neck and very short legs. Well good grief, when I saw her in person a few months later in her summer coat, what a gorgeous, tiny and beautifully proportioned lady she was!

 

[DebiM]

Very good examples, Tony. Several years ago my closest friend drilled this one phrase into my head while teaching me good photography. "No picture is better than a bad picture".

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

That is very true tony and the same works opposite. I have seen horses in person that I was SHOCKED at what they looked like as I had only seen amazing pictures!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Oh Lisa- That is SO true!!!!

 

[MBhorses]

Hello,

We are the ones who took the bad pictures as few months ago of those fillies. You all have to understand we are new the taken pictures of minis and have learned alot from Tony. We don't have a photo person in our family, but we are trying to learn the right ways to take pictures. I hope everyone likes the way the fillies look now, he has make a big difference in them.We are not able to afford a photography at this time, so we have to learn by our mistakes. Both of the fillies are very nice.Also when I posted the pictures I was just asking about what people taught about them, I didn't know I was going to learn I take bad pictures as well, but I am learning new things everyday.We know our pictures don't look nothing like everyone who has been doing it for years, but we are new and learning so work with us on learning.

Hopefully everyone can learn from our mistakes . :no:

Take care,

melissa

 

[DebiM]

Melissa, I've been away from the Net for awhile so had no idea who took the original pictures. So please don't think that my response was directed at you. If you could see some of the pics I took 6/7 years ago you'd feel real good abt your first efforts!

:

 

[Tony]

Melissa, I did not post them to embarrass you, nor point to you in any way. It is a prevalent problem nationwide and I just wanted to help others. I knew that some would remember them and wanted them to be seen to make people stop and think before they jump to conclusions. It works for some, but NOT for others.

Believe me, there are many people, myself included who still are learning, but are at different stages in our quest for knowledge. My pictures are certainly eons away from some that professional photographers, Liz and before her Amy Toner and others, get. However, I do know that unless a picture is retouched that when I look at a horse in person, I KNOW that that horse CAN LOOK LIKE THE PICTURE, so am not shocked. as some have stated, when I see them. I am just grateful that someone captured them at their best! I can assure you that I don't look like the "head shots" that I used when I was an actor many years ago, but it doesn't take from the fact the I DID AT ONE TIME!!! :bgrin :aktion033: :bgrin (And I have sired some beautiful daughters, just like some fat old studs that looked good once!)

 

[user 488]

MBHorses...nobody here is directing anything toward you. There are TONS of bad pictures posted here and placed on websites.

Lisa...I too agree. That is why I would never buy a horse off certain professional photographs. It could be scary. :lol:

 

[horsehug]

Melissa,

Like I said in my post to Tony, I also saw that they were beautiful little horses from your pictures too!

I have some I'd love to send to him to capture their beauty even more!

Susan O.