So Many Beautiful Horses

I had a field day shooting head shots on Sunday - the horses were so well turned out I couldn't resist! I am just loving my new camera (except for the added weight). It does such a better job capturing the full range of light in tough situations. I usually dread shooting in ring 2 at Beland as most of the day you are shooting directly into the sun with the black tree shadow background contrasting the bright white sand in the ring. It has always been an adventure but the images from Sunday are super! Now there was a slight overcast part of the time I was shooting that ring so I guess Ill have to wait until the USDF show in May to make a more accurate assessment! Now the super saturated orange color in the blood bays and chestnuts Im not loving so much but never fear - all images are color balanced in photoshop before printing. I will play w the settings again today to see if I can reduce the saturation on those colors.

Anyway - proofs from Beland are now posted. To see the proofs go to http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/competitionphotos/2009%20albums/Beland-042609/HTML/index.htm. Remember - I will fix that glowing orange hue on those light bays and chestnuts! Enjoy ~

Blue Skies at Beland

Blue skies - green grass - yellow dandelions - and a light breeze to keep the bugs at bay ... well some of them anyway. Here is a shot from the warm-up at Beland yesterday Still no leaves on the trees but Im betting we will have shade this weekend - keeping my fingers crossed anyway. Great day shooting dressage. Ive done the first cull reducing the number of images from 1100 to 800. I would expect about 400 proofs from the day but its early in the season so you just never know. I hope to have proofs posted by Wednesday but will drop a post here when they are live. Now back to work!

Enjoy ~

Pick Me !

I just received some great news that want to share it with my Flatlandsfoto friends! Two of my photos have been selected for judging in the People’s Choice Awards for the Equine Ideal Spring Photo Contest sponsored by the Equine Photographers Network! To see the Professional photos (and vote!), go to http://www.equinephotocontest.com/peopleschoice.asp?cat=Professional My photo is called Best Friends and can be found about half way down in the middle. I photographed these yearling wild horses this past January in the Placitas in New Mexico and feature a version the image on one of my note cards (shown above). There are some truly amazing images in the collection! Be sure to ck out the Amateur photos as well – and vote for your favorite!

Off to photograph dressage at Beland - another day of fun in the sun!

Enjoy ~

Flatlands Combined Test & Dressage Show

Proofs posted! You know the drill. Use the coupon code to receive a 20% discount on order paid for by May 4th. What a great day! While it was a bit nippy w the breeze, who can complain when the sun is shining in April! Im definately a bit rusty after not shooting any action shots all winter but practice will make perfect! My new camera arrives tomorrow so be prepared to have me photo-stalk anyone riding on the flat between now and Beland on Sunday. To see the proofs from Sunday, use the link in the upper right corner of the Flatlandsfoto home page or go to http://flatlandsfoto.com/competitionphotos/2009%20albums/FEC041909/HTML/index.htm. Enjoy ~

Portrait Sessions !

While it is still a bit early here for portrait sessions w beautious backgrounds, we managed to find some spots where it didn't show that spring has yet to arrive here in Rehoboth (tho as of this morning the trees are starting to bud woo hoo). A big thanks to Sarah, Robyn and Beth who were my models for my course in shooting portraits. Once we get some leaves on the trees - watch out! I will be looking for more models to practice the art of portrait shooting!

Easter Sunday Jump Clinic !

And there was light ... sunlight ... what a shocker! It has been so long since we have seen the sun that it took my eyes forever to adjust. Great jump clinic and no real bloopers but shhh dont tell Robyn! It was so fun to actually get out and shoot some jumping before this weekends combined test here at Flatlands. It will be interesting shooting over fences this weekend as my main camera is in the shop and my back-up camera's shutter is so much more sensitive than my poor old worn out camera that I start firing about a stride before the horse leaves the ground thus creating some Joan bloopers for this years slide show ... Stay tuned! Proofs from the jump clinic are posted at http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/assortedimages/proofs/FEC-041209/HTML/index.htm

JWU IDA Proofs Posted!

Proofs are now posted for the Intercollegiate Dressage Show held at Johnson & Wales University this weekend. I only photographed the First level 3 and the Training 4 tests as the rain was too heavy after lunch for a non-umbrella enviroment. Use coupon code 041109 to receive a 20% discount on orders paid for by April 27. To see the proofs, go to http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/competitionphotos/2009%20albums/JWU-041109/HTML/index.htm. Next up Flatlands Schooling CT and Dressage Show Sunday April 19th. Enjoy!

Got Grass?

Got grass? They do in VA anyway! This cute little guy was so proud that he was actually able to bend those long legs enough to grasp the grass. Not sure he actually knew what to do with it once he had it - but that didn't matter! He paraded his bad self around the field showing everyone he could that he got grass!

The Yearling Girls

While it may not look much like spring out my window this morning - more frost on the ground and the possibility of snow this weekend - it definitely looked like spring in Virginia! These yearling fillies were curious about the camera making it very difficult to photograph them but I captured this image in the lovely afternoon light. The flowering pear trees made a great background! I have so many beautiful images from this trip I haven't even had time to sort thru them yet. Ill try to get a few more up this week before the JWU show on Sunday. Enjoy!

More Signs of Spring

Equine dentist Wayne Robinson was here yesterday to float the horse’s teeth giving me a great opportunity to get some dentistry stock images. Wayne is one of the few dentists still using manual floating techniques and has been doing our horses for 20 plus years. People who watch him work are just amazed how relaxed the horses are – and without being tranquilized!
The road trip to VA was just amazing – it is definitely spring down there w flowering trees and lush green grass. My plan is to get some of my images posted here this week before my first official show of the season this Sunday at JWU Equine Center in Rehoboth. Stay tuned!