A NEW Place for EVERYTHING Hoof Pix®!

This will be my last blog post using Blogger. I redesigned my website using Word Press so from this point on go here to find Everything Hoof Pix®.

So… You want to be a Professional Equine Photographer? Got TIME?

       I’ve lost count of the number of times I have been asked about my profession over the years, mostly by teenage girls who ride or just have a passion for horses and like taking pictures. It does seem like a perfect occupation doesn’t it?… being immersed in the horse world, taking beautiful pictures, traveling, and getting paid for it!!

     Sorry if I'm about to burst some bubbles... but it’s TIME to set the record straight….

       Yes, photographing horses in/out of competition is fun for the above reasons and many more. However, to be a successful equine photographer as with any business, the element of TIME plays a major factor.

       TIME  spent away from home photographing events (at which I’d much rather be competing);  TIME spent sitting in front of a computer organizing, culling, naming, processing thousands (not exaggerating here) of images and (hopefully) filling orders;  TIME spent bookkeeping (this IS a business you know); TIME spent coming up with new marketing ideas to stay a few steps ahead of the competition (which thanks to the digital age, has become fierce); TIME (if you have any left) trying to stay current with the technology;  
      
Last but certainly not least…

     .... way too much TIME spent dealing with a growing number of customers** who are either unaware of Copyright Laws or ignore them, and have no respect for me, my images and all of the TIME I have put into taking their pictures, by illegally copying them from my website and using them without permission, in most cases, without photo credit, on the web (primarily Facebook and other social networking sites).  
     (note to any English teachers reading this… I am aware that the above paragraph is a run-on sentence, but having to even address this threat to my business overrides my obsessiveness for good grammar.)
      Yesterday I discovered yet another Facebook “Page” for eventers… “Area 1 Eventers” and thought I would become a fan because I am also a competitor in Area 1. So I joined. Then of course, had to take a peek at the photos posted there by other fans.  No surprise … my images and those of several other professional photographers, fill the album. We can tell the ones illegally copied because they still have our watermarks running across the images… things like “this image reproduced without permission” …  H-E-L-L-O!  seems pretty clear to me. 

       I spent 3 HOURS scouring that one Facebook photo album for stolen images... TIME for which I do not get a single penny.
       A huge misconception with this business is that we price our merchandise based on what it costs us for the materials. How many times have I heard “$10 for a 4x6?!?  I can get one at Wal-Mart for 39 cents!”  What these people don’t realize is what they are really paying for is our TIME.  

       As a result of this hit on our bottom-lines, myself and several pro photogs in the northeast have joined forces to police ciber-space for stolen images.  As to what we do about it is still experimental.  Some write letters, including an invoice demanding payment, some send out a warning and refuse to post future images until the stolen ones are removed. What I find to be very annoying sad, is that the response from some of the perpetrators (or their parents) has been nasty.  “I WAS going to purchase a print (4x6), but now I will no longer do business with you”.  Well, I’m not getting any money from you anyway, so what’s the difference?
       
         Now do you still want to be a Professional Equine Photographer?  If you have the photographic and digital skills (there is a difference), knowledge of the horse world, desire, work ethic, fortitude, not to mention TIME, but most importantly  are independently wealthy... be my guest.

      ** I am being very general here and do not intend to label all of my customers as thieves.  On the contrary, I have a wonderful base of loyal customers who have purchased their photos from me for years and never (to my knowledge) use them without contacting me first for which I am a truly grateful!
        

End of the Season or Beginning of the Season-SALE!

     Call it what you want, but for Hoof Pix®, the new shooting season is about to begin (with UNH horse trials) and that means time to clean house ...  the virtual house that is.
       I wish I could keep proofs of all past years on the website, but I have to pay for storage space. Thus, I will be taking down the 2008 proofs just before shooting UNH, April 30.  Even though the 2008 proofs will not be viewable on-line, they (and all past years) are archived and can be ordered from me directly, just call or send an e-mail / Facebook message.
    

LET THE SALE BEGIN!!

       Place an order for prints etc. from my website for $60 or more (not including ME sales tax), use the PROMO CODE "sale-2010" at checkout and get 20% deducted from your order.  It doesn't matter which year, either 2008 or 2009 or both, mix & match, just keep in mind that the sale ends Apr. 30!  Oh yes... and SHIPPING IS FREE!

 "WHAT A DEAL" says Yin!!!!

She is LEAPING and DANCING for JOY!!!

       "This is the puuurrrr-fect opportunity to get those prints / digital files you've been wanting all year!"

Leapin' Tadpoles Batman!!!

(Disclaimer: I began writing this post in February shortly after photographing a jumping derby held at Paradise Farm. In typical Aiken-fashion, I got caught up with so many other activities after the derby that I never got back to it.)   

     Sometimes I wonder why I accept requests (or why I offer) to photograph smaller events / schooling shows that run only lower levels, and I mean the really low levels like elementary, first time out, tadpole divisions; where many of the competitors come to school their young, very green horses.
     If you think it's a challenge to catch "the moment" when a horse is gracefully arched over the crest of a high fence, just try to capture any good jumping moments over 12-18" jumps.  Timing is very tricky.  In most cases, the horse's front feet are on the ground before the hind feet have left it.

   

 The second challenge is selling such photos when the rider's mental image is of a George Morris Approved form with all 4 feet tucked and in the air.  I'm really good with Photoshop, but not that good. 

       

       

         On the other hand there are times when tiny jumps evoke an explosive reaction resulting in some really neat pics. These are the horses who are terrified of letting that obstacle anywhere near their hooves. I often wonder what they really see as they approach an innocuous cross rail or 18" vertical pole and are asked to take off and jump OVER it!?!  These images can be priceless ... knees up to the ears, leaping at least 2x higher than the jump.

       Karen Dempsey and her Appendix gelding "Wyoming" illustrated this point superbly at the Paradise Farm Derby... (she has graciously allowed me to use these images).   I wonder what George Morris would have to say about this "Leapin' Tadpole"?  Seems to me Karen should get the blue just for staying on and for looking so good at it!

      

Aiken Steeplechase

      It's taken me a while to get these images processed and uploaded into a gallery... so much going on!   The day after the Aiken Steeplechase,  I rode Irish in a 2-phase hosted by Alison Eastman-Lawler at the southern branch of her Apple Tree Farm.  This was our first time competing since last September so the trails of rust were evident, though not too deep.  I rode the beginner novice combined test plus the novice A & B dressage tests.  Irish was wonderful in dressage despite a horse galloping/bucking/frolicking in a paddock close by, and his rider forgetting the 3rd test she tried to memorize 2 minutes before entering the ring.  He still managed to score a 28 on the BN-A test and 28.5 on the Nov-A.  Our one stadium round for the BN division went very smoothly, one rail down due to my leg coming off on an uphill approach. Nevertheless we finished in 2nd place.
       Yesterday, we competed at another schooling event at Sporting Days Farm.  This time we rode the novice 2-phase and an additional novice (B) dressage test.  Despite some allergy-related snorts and sneezes, the Big Pony scored well in both.  He then jumped a double-clear round of stadium and we brought home the blue in the combined test. All-in-all, a good confidence builder for this old lady.
     But I digress ... the Aiken Steeplechase, second "leg" of the Aiken Triple Crown, was great fun for the BEventing crowd.  Fortuitously, Babette's mother (Carol Lenna) was given a pass for a rail-side parking spot right at the last fence and before the finish line.  The pass included 2 extra parking spots, so 12 of us piled into 3 trucks with picnic supplies and got all set up.
       The Steeplechase is a BIG thing in these parts, which meant dressing to the Nines, not something that is in my job description!  Fueled by the fact that Babette, and all of the ladies associated, would be dressing up (pedicures and all), I succumbed.  Hats were a big deal so we ladies went all out (thank you Target!)
     Michele and George Cheney traveled down from Maine just to attend the festivities and were generous enough to purchase a Wal-Mart Blue Light Special canopy... in the ever popular shade of "monkey-vomit green" so that we could keep the food in the shade... and take turns keeping our pale skins out of the sun as well. We all contributed food/beverages, but Carol Lenna in typical fashion, loaded the tables with wonderful snacks, wraps, hors d'oeurves and sweets.  Glasses filled with Mimosas started the day... which only got better.
       Click here to enjoy the gallery!

Trying a Different Medium

     I picked up one of those cute pocket camcorders last week, my excuse being that I can use it to video my lessons on Irish. I got a lot of practice with it this past weekend recording the rides of fellow BEventers at Full Gallop Farm Horse Trials, and quickly learned 1) videography IS NOT EASY!  2) post-processing the clips is even more time-consuming than what I already do.
     Being me (just ask my husband), when faced with something new to learn I jump right in and will spend days learning how to do it well.  So I upgraded the never-used copy of iMovie on my MacBookPro, found out how to convert the .avi files from the little camcorder to .mp4 files that can be viewed by most, learned how to edit the clips, add music (we MUST have music and it MUST sync with the video) and upload to an account on YouTube.
   Now for the disclaimers: it was extremely difficult to hold this little camcorder steady. Add to this, high winds that blew me around and you will want to take your motion sickness meds before viewing. Not knowing anything about video cameras, my cute little camcorder has a LCD screen which at first look is very cool because it is also a touch screen.  But take it out into the bright sunlight and ... where the HELL did my subject go!!!  I used my new-found talents with iMovie to edit out most of these horrid clips, but you may want to double your dose of Bonamine.
     That said, anyone really interested in watching Babette compete (my) Little Oliver, Lucy Cheney's Bouncer and Polly Merrill's Matinicus, as well as Emily Merrill on Diggin' on Doug click on the video link below *** DOUBLE click right on the video to go to YouTube***  Once you are on YouTube in my channel "FuzzButt4", look around for the other videos.
      I should probably mention that Babette did a magnificent job on all of her mounts, and brought home  6th on Bouncer (preliminary), 3rd on Oliver (training) and 4th on Matinicus (novice).  She also competed "Ana" (owned by Merance Adams) in the tadpole division.  True to form, they finished 1st! (note to Merance: sorry not to get video, Ana's ride times conflicted with hubby's arrival in Aiken). Emily & Doug moved from 11th in dressage to finish 9th and completed their first training level event in great form!
      The video clip here is Bouncer's perfect stadium round and I mean perfect. He moved up to Preliminary this season and is showing all of us that despite his calm, almost half-asleep demeanor, he is most certainly up to the task!

Sporting Days was Sporting!

     I have to make this a very quick post, too much to do. The BEventing ladies and their geldings had good rides this past weekend at Sporting Days Horse Trials.
     Saturday was very busy with 3 horses going in Training level: Emily on Doug, Babette riding Oliver and Ashley on "Joey".
    Oliver gave Babette a solid ride in all three phases starting with a score of 28.6 in dressage. With one rail down in stadium and a breeze around the XC, they finished 5th!

     This was Doug's first go at training level and he showed us that he is up to the task starting with a steady dressage test - 34.6.  He jumped the beginning of the stadium course like the jumps were prelim height giving Emily a challenging ride.

    Unfortunately, they gently parted company in mid-course and were not allowed to continue on to the XC.  From what we saw, it won't take long for Em and Doug to get synced for this next level.

      Joey surprised us all with a beautiful dressage test (Ashley had something to do with it too I suppose). Then no surprise ... he literally "sailed" around both jump courses to finish 2nd!

      Sunday was "Matinicus Day". Polly had been under the weather earlier in the week, so Babette took the ride on Matty. They posted a very nice dressage score of 30.9 and were tied for 3rd.

     Matty is not an easy ride and tested Babette at nearly every turn on the jump courses.  But she prevailed and surprise, no surprise... they came home with the BLUE ribbon!

(Matty getting taken care of post-XC by groom Hannah Mitchell & helpers)

Background (left to right): Mia, Ashley, HAPPY OWNER Polly, Emily & Connor)

 

When You've Got IT ... Flaunt IT!

    I tagged along with Babette, Ashley, and Emily a couple of days ago to watch them have a jump lesson with Boyd Martin.  We drove way out into No-Man's Land to the beautiful farm owned by one of our Area 1 eventing ladies, Jennifer Berryman.
      It was a beautiful sunny bright day, but rather cold with a brisk wind as evidenced by the riding outfits worn by the ladies.  Babette, Emily and Ashley shared the lesson while Polly rode Matty all around the farm in her ongoing attempt to desensitize him.
    Click here to see them "flaunt their stuff".

The "EYE" has it...

      I actually enjoy not being the Official Photographer (OP) at events. The pressure is off, the stress is non-existent ("you didn't get a picture of ME?!"  "Sorry, but I desperately had to get to the port-o-potty that was a mile away"); and if it's rainy or otherwise not a nice day.... I don't have to go.
      This past weekend at Paradise Farm H.T. was a perfect example. Yes, I wanted to, and did, get pictures of my BEventing buddies and a few other friends (see previous post), but in between their rides I could walk about casually, let my mind relax and turn on (fanfare please) my PHOTOGRAPHIC EYE.  Pardon the brag, but I have a very good PE when the conditions are right (see above i.e.,  the no pressure, no stress part).
      Many years ago, in another place, another time, another Galaxy (see BIO), I had a real (= salary w/ benefits) job as a marine scientist. I also ran a side business selling my black & white, fine-art photography. For those of you old enough to remember Ansel Adams, he was my mentor (through his books) and I did my printing in a darkroom with actual chemicals and stuff.  The subject matter was not horses, but nature and scenics and still-life, things I could shoot at 1 second exposures, not 1/1000 of a second. I credit these years for the development of my PE.
       Fueled by gorgeous weather that ranged from early morning frost to bright sun and brilliant blue sky, the wide open XC course complete with rolling hills and pond, my PE had very little trouble engaging. The early morning rides provided backlit images of moisture-laden breath from horse and rider.  The sun, sky and glassy pond drew me in to reflections. The transition from reality to the reflection in some of the images is almost non-existent.  Can you tell which ones are upside-down?

Click HERE to view gallery

    

BEventing Contingent at Paradise Farm H.T.

       For the first time in the past several years coming to the Paradise Farm Horse Trials the weather was superb. The mornings were a tad frosty (literally) but once the sun went to work, we were peeling off our down vests and exposing snow bird white arms to the warmth. Lellie Ward and her phenomenal group of volunteers crammed just over 300 competitors into one full day of dressage and two more of XC and show jumping. I hope everyone competing or spectating appreciates the incredible amount of work and TIME this takes, and I hope many took a moment to thank all involved.
       As for results, visit the Paradise Farm website. My intentions in this post are to entertain with pics of our BEventing squad comprised of:   Babette Lenna riding Lucy Cheney's Bouncer in his first Prelim; Ashley Ireland riding Babette's former upper level amazing chestnut TB Tom Cat (Joey) at Training level. This was Ashley's maiden voyage on Joey... and what a trip they had!  Emily Merrill with Diggin' on Doug (Dougles) competed with her Mum Polly riding Matinicus (Matty) in the same novice division.

Click HERE to view gallery.  Enjoy!

USEF Training Session

The United States Equestrian Federation is holding training sessions in the Aiken area again this winter at Three Runs Plantation (yet another incredibly exquisite "Equestrian Community"). These sessions are open to the public so many showed up this morning, despite the 29 degrees + windchill, to watch renowned show jumping rider Katie Monahan Prudent work with Phillip Dutton,

 Jan Byyny, Will Coleman and others vying for a spot on the US Eventing Team.

       

     The BEventing group came to watch a few of the lessons early this morning as well. (The only one identifiable in the pictures is Ashley Ireland (hint: pink & texting)

      Several of the exercises got our attention! 

   

     One of Jan Byyny's horses was especially entertaining. 

       

It's Tedious Work...

     ... setting up a Stock Image library. I've been wanting to do this forever but the priority during each competition season (May-November) is posting proofs as quickly as possible and fulfilling orders. Processing anywhere from 1000 to 4000 images from any one event leaves little time to devote to building a Stock Image Library. 

        Selling images to equine products catalogues, magazines, newspapers, websites etc. is not new to me. My first sale was to Purina, back in my film days, an image of Sue Bourassa jumping out of the water at Senator Bell H.T. on the bag of Purina's Omalene 200. 
    
    Anybody own a VISA card from Dover Saddlery? The photo on the sample card for eventing is one I took of my good friend and awesome photographer Brant Gamma jumping out of the water at Groton House Farm H.T.
     Two years ago I sold 4 images of horse's hooves/legs to Dover Saddlery for use by Farrier's Forumula in their ads. Then there are the innumerable images sold to Yankee Pedlar, Practical Horseman, Chronicle of the Horse and other publications to illustrate articles.  

       It's one thing to be contacted by a buyer looking for a specific image, which is the way all of mine have been purchased thus far. This way is terribly time-consuming because I spend hours searching the hard drives for images to fit their needs (I know I have something here somewhere!)  If the buyer likes what I have, then begins the dreaded "negotiation" for a license and fee that is fair to both of us.


Thus my desire to build a website filled with hundreds upon hundreds of images to which buyers can come and find what they want quickly, on their own time, by way of a sophisticated search engine. It will also have a convenient price calculator. Punch in the various options of use. Out pops an estimate of what I would charge. 
Sounds great doesn't it?!  

    I think so too, until I sit down at my computer connected to eight external hard drives holding the thousands of images taken since starting Hoof Pix® and begin the overwhelming task of examining each and every image, selecting, categorizing, processing, adding keywords (ugh). Not to mention designing the Stock Image website which is still on the planning table.

Tedious indeed, but I have a window of time while here in Aiken to grind away at it.

       

The Morning After

       We did get ~ 5-6" and the snow was wet, then froze, sticking to everything and making many of the trees droop.  My street - Orangeburg ....

 

       I took a stroll back to South Boundary and found I was not alone. Photographers (or folks with cameras) were everywhere. All trying to get pics of the avenue without cars. As soon as the road cleared, they would all run out to the middle and of course, take their pics of the lovely snow covered oaks... with other photogs in the scene.

       The best was this young photographer snapping pics from the sun-roof of his Dad's car as they whizzed down the avenue! 

       I managed to get a few photos without cars or many people.

       On the walk back, I was passed by one South Carolinian in denial, top down (removed) apparently knowing that the sun will take care of all this white stuff before the day is over.

        As I finish writing this, the sun is making its appearance and the snow is starting to fall off the trees.  It was fun while it lasted!