Charles Mann
With contributions from Ami Hendrickson and Stormy May

Paperback: 212 pages (2007)
Trafalgar Square Publishing
ISBN:157076347X

Photographing and "Videoing" Horses Explained: Digital and Film on AMAZON.COM

Photographing and "Videoing" Horses Explained: Digital and Film on AMAZON.CA

With the advent of the digital age, more and more horseowners are picking up their own cameras and putting their horses in the frame. And although the book, published in 2007, does open up with the film vs digital debate (which has been pretty much decided in favor of digital), the rest of the book is simply about good basic photography skills – no matter which camera you use.

This book is a good primer on the basics of photography for horses - it covers technical information in a practical, applicable way, by showing you "why" and "when" you need certain skills in certain situations. Mann writes the book in a clear, conversational tone, and includes anecdotes from his professional life on the trials and triumphs of many different photos.

The "Tips for Success" and "25 Common Problems" troubleshooting clinic are particularly useful, as are the many comparisons of photos taken at a range of settings. For example, they demonstrate the effect of different white balance settings and the effect of using different lenses with different focal lengths.

The video section is somewhat lightweight compared to the photography section, as you can see from the Table of Contents below. It covers the subject in just fourteen pages, but manages to touch on equipment, editing software, lighting, sound, and producing a sales or promotinal video. For the video newbie, there is lots here to get you started. If you've been doing your own sales videos for a couple of years, however, there's probably not much you haven't already dealt with.

The sales and promotion chapter is also useful. It covers some of the more specific aspects of shooting horses to present them to a particular market, for example some standards for various breeds and disciplines. It also shows examples of the same pose used for photos of an international competition and for a backyard pony.

Overall: Recommended!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

1 The Basics
A Visit to the Camera Store
Film vs Digital
Types of Cameras
Necessary Accessories
Choosing Your Medium
Film Speed
Going Digital
Understanding Shutter Lag

2 Seeing the Light
Exposure: The right amount of light
Shutter Speed
Depth of Field
Qualities of Light
Using Flashes
Advanced and Specialty Flash Settings
Strobes and Other Off-Camera Lighting
Artificial Lighting
Color Temperature
White Balance
Filters

3 The Language of Lenses: Getting up close and personal
Lens Basics: Zoom vs. Fixed
Effect of Focal Length
Angle of View
Understanding Optical and Digital Zoom
Autofocus vs. Manual Focus
Using Tripods and Monopods

4 Planning the Perfect Shoot
Carrots Anyone? Getting Your Subject's Attention
Background Checks, Port-a-Potties, and Power Lines
Preparing and Planning a Shot List
Running the Show
Composition Basics
Get Down, Up or Over: Finding New Angles
Get Closer

5 The Photo Lab
Get to Know Your Photofinisher
Using Home Computers for Viewing and Printing Photos
Monitor Matters
Printing: DPI and Image Quality
Printing Paper and Inks

6 Storing and Managing your Images
Film and Prints
Storing Digital Files
Managing Your Digital Images

7 Troubleshooting Clinic: 25 Common Problems Solved
Finding the Right Solution to Your Problem
Exposure Problems
Focus Problems
Lens Problems
Flash Problems
Color Issues, White Balance, and Color Temperature
Problems with Film and Prints
Problems with Prints from Digital Files

8 Turning Pro - Handing in your Amateur Card
Moving from a Hobby to a Business
Model Releases
Licensing Your Images
Put a Value on Your Work
Know Your Copyright
Contracts
Avoiding the Most Common Pitfall: Giving Images Away
Insurance

9 Tips for Success
Ten Tips for Photography Success

10 Equine Videography by Stormy May
The Right Equipment
The Camcorder
Finding the Right Tripod
Editing Software and Hardware
Shows, Lessons and Schooling Sessions
Recording and Producing a Sales Video
Editing the Sales Video
Producing a Promotional Video
The Final Edit

11 Sales and Promotion: Essential Photography by Ami Hendrickson
Photographing the Posed Portrait
Proportion
Aim for the Shoulder
Parts
Balance
Attitude
Posing for the Head Shot
Shooting Effective Action
All Power Comes From the Rear
The Horse at Work

Resources
Glossary
Index