Outdoor lighting for a Stud Book?

[johnastovall]

Not what you thought, horse bloodlines.

OK, first I hate flash and lights but I'm looking doing a number of shots for a studbook.

Is there a good book on setting up outdoor lighting for large animals or at least basics for things other than people?

[CaptainTom]

John
I bet there is somewhere, but this is your opportunity to "write the book".
My instinct is that controlling the ambient light would be your best bet.
Unless of course you have access to MGM or Universal Studios lighting equipment

[digidawg87]

This could be a good thing for you. With the fee's these horses bring a well light photo will make the horse look it's very best. I'd look for some thing like a Norman 400b or a Quantum flash. Some thing portable is case you have to get out of the way quick but powerful enough to compete with daylight.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

John
I bet there is somewhere, but this is your opportunity to "write the book".
My instinct is that controlling the ambient light would be your best bet.
Unless of course you have access to MGM or Universal Studios lighting equipment

I hope not. I've got enough book project irons in the fire now.

I guess I just need to get a basic book on outdoor lighting and start looking a reflectors and such. I realized yesterday doing some head shots and a few full body ones that you've got to break up the hash shadows on the ground behind the horse and get some slanted light for good delineation of hip and weithers to show conformation.

[srwatters]

Don't horses spook easily with flash?

I'd consider cool lights. You can rent them at LightTec.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by digidawg87

This could be a good thing for you. With the fee's these horses bring a well light photo will make the horse look it's very best. I'd look for some thing like a Norman 400b or a Quantum flash. Some thing portable is case you have to get out of the way quick but powerful enough to compete with daylight.

That's what this ranch thinks and they will pay for good stuff and the ability to get it locally and quick.

I was amazed at what the stud fees are and the poor stud never sees the mare just a veternary tech.

I'll look in to Quantum and Norman. The gear will have to be portable.

[SaundraU]

John I'm going to refer you to EPN: http://equinephotographers.org/

As a horse photographer I've never set up lights or used flash, all natural light but don't feel I have the expertise to assist with your question but the folks at the website above do and are as friendly as TPF.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by srwatters

Don't horses spook easily with flash?

I'd consider cool lights. You can rent them at LightTec.

No, these don't spook at flash. They are used to competing in cutting rings and roping events here there are crowds and lots of flashes going off.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by SaundraU

John I'm going to refer you to EPN: http://equinephotographers.org/

As a horse photographer I've never set up lights or used flash, all natural light but don't feel I have the expertise to assist with your question but the folks at the website above do and are as friendly as TPF.

Thanks, as usual TPF comes though....

[mgadell]

Don't horses spook easily with flash?

My (only) experience with this was that they didn't mind the lights at all, but carrying an open, white umbrella around outside the stalls spooked the hell out of them. I was seriously worried that some of them would injure themselves banging against the walls of their stalls before I could collapse the umbrella and get out of there. FWIW.

Mike

[Dobick]

Where are the majority of the photos going to be taken?

do you expect to be in an enclosed area like the stall/ring, or purely out in the open pasture? The answer to that would drive the type of set-up that I would have.

This sort of lighting if at all possible, would be much easier accomplished with an assistant, but that can sometimes be harder to come by than the perfect equipment set up.

If you think that the horses wouldn't spook, and you could get a light stand within 10 feet of the animal, you could produce enough light with a 550/580 speedlight (or nikon sb800) and use a wireless trigger like a pocket wizard. I don't know how much the fong diffusers knock down the power, but using the stoffen pointed directly at the animal from 10-15 feet away, should at least balance the sun from the opposite side, enough that you might be able to use the sun side as the fill side, especially if you wait until 4pm or later to do a shot (once again, not always possible)

Shooting in broad daylight, I am not sure that I would worry about using any umbrella attachments, etc, you really just need a light source strong enough to balance with the sun, as well as be off camera.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Dobick

Where are the majority of the photos going to be taken?

Snipped

Shooting in broad daylight, I am not sure that I would worry about using any umbrella attachments, etc, you really just need a light source strong enough to balance with the sun, as well as be off camera.

Out side in front of breeding barns on a hill top... The barns are lovely white limestone with large iron sculture of the ranch logo on the side. They would be in bright sun.

[SaundraU]

John one thing esp w/ horses is the closer to Dawn or Dusk is best, the colors in the coat really sparkle. With this you might even be able to forget the lights and such.


Hope you can share some of the photos this sounds like a very nice set up - which barn are you shooting for? what studs?

[Gambit]

John, I've seen some really cool stuff on outdoor lighting at Strobist, but that can't be new to you. (?)

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Gambit

John, I've seen some really cool stuff on outdoor lighting at Strobist, but that can't be new to you. (?)

Like I said I hate lights and flash so never looked at it. Goes against my HCB ethic but for a Nocti habit....