I am setting up farm shoots right and left of stallions of different breeds that I want photos to paint from. After seeing Julie's late day shots I would love to get some at that time of day as well. I am sitting here trying to write back to a couple of the owners and not quite sure what to ask them about that time of day.

I am asking them first if the area where the horses are will be sunlit until dusk, we have so many tall trees here that many pastures are in shade earlier than dusk so that golden light never hits them. I'd hate to get there late and have nothing but shade.

Julie you said you got to the saddle club at 5 and the best light was from about 7:30 to 8. I guess that answers my question right there...I was wondering how long you have to work in that golden light, maybe a half hour or so? I will be taking a lot of running at liberty shots and want to be sure we have time for it all in the light. There will be multiple stallions in each case so I will need time to do each. I know the equine photography workshop in Ojai did their shoots about an hour and a half after sunrise and before sunset as well.

One of the places I am going have all black stallions(Friesians) but another has Andalusians and one stallion is black while the other is a cremello, a very light cream with blue eyes. I would like sun on the black guy definitely because I like to paint horses with sheen on them, it highlights the muscles and all so much nicer than flat shaded lighting. But full sun can blow highlights on the light coats. So I want to be sure I have time for both in the best lighting.

I want to go at a time when I will have plenty of time in the best light to shoot but without taking up hours of the owners day, everyone is always very nice and excited about having their horses photos taken but I don't want to overstay my welcome.

I will ask them if they know if their pastures are in sunlight until dark, and if they are then I'll ask to come around 6ish. If they aren't I'll go earlier. Having written this all down I answered several of my own questions, except how much working time there is in the golden light time of day, would you say an hour or so? Anything else I'm not thinking to ask them? I guess I need to do a couple practice ones on friends first!

The one caveat with black horses and that lovely golden sun, is it turns them *bay*. All that yellow just makes a black horse brown. It is the wildest thing.

The golden light will be ideal with the cremello, but, may be too warm for the blacks.

And yes, about 30min is all you have for the perfect light. It is a real balancing act with at liberty shots because that same light isn't as bright and slows your shutter down. Which is bad for moving shots.

For the friesians, I might try and do an early morning shoot as the light is beautiful, but more blue. And, it gets brighter vs lower. They would have to have the horses ready around 7:30 to 8am though.

I wasn't thinking about the shutter speed going too low...so glad you mentioned that. I think I will get there early for the liberty shots and then do some portraity things in the 30 or so minutes of golden light.

Also didn't realize it would turn a black horse bay, the Friesian people would not like that. Makes sense that would happen though. I'm so glad I asked, thanks for this info!

Hee...I don't think I've seen 7:30 am since high school. I work on the computer 10-12 hours during the day then paint until the wee hours so I don't get to bed until about 2-3 am often. And the friesians are 2 hours from me. I love early morning but haven't been able to reset my internal clock to get to bed early and get up early. I'd be in trouble if I tried to be a 'real' photographer! But yes I can see how early morning would be ideal for dark horses.

I met a gal at the park the other day where I walk Hallie, who was walking her mini horse. SO cute...Bullet! Turns out she lives very near me, I just emailed to ask her if I could take some shots of him just before dark in the golden light. Hopefully that will work out and I can get some practice in. He is a beautiful pinto, with a flaxen mane and tail. He was a rescue and she just had him gelded a couple of months ago. He'd be a good subject if she agrees to the shoot.

Hi Dee Dee,
For your liberty shots, if you could have someone lead a mare around outside(further away), you will get quite the expressions on your stallions.
My little mustang filly is quite the tease, already at a year old, so when I have an extra hand, I'll know to use her for any of the "boys" shots..or...typically, take them from who they are used to hanging with, and that'll do it as well!~
Good luck on the early am shots!!

LOL Marta I dont' think there will "be" any early am shots for this chick. We'll take what we can get in the evening!

Yep we usually use a mare with the stallions, most of the farms I've gone to the last few years have been pretty good about knowing how to get their boys to act up. A few wait for breeding time and do the breeding at the end of the shoot. The best one was an Arab farm, they had their hired hand drape a huge bobcat fur over him and get on his hands and knees. I had no idea he was going to do this and he was in the bushes all hunkered down and started making the most realistic, loud cat snarling and growling noises you have ever heard! Scared the P outta me, I about jumped the fence in with the horses! He crawled slowly by making that noise and I have to admit I did get some awesome shots of the horses.

he was in the bushes all hunkered down and started making the most realistic, loud cat snarling and growling noises you have ever heard! >>

Yeah..um, I think I'll stick with the "positive" end of "nature" to create the shot! Yikes!
Here's a late day shot I grabbed yesterday, at a friend's 70th bday party, course, hearing of a newborn, I headed for the barn!

I swear, I'll get better at these attachments!! Sorry its soo big!

THat's a great shot Marta such a cute baby! Love baby season. There was a cute little 6 week old Andalusian in the ring today at the show (with his mom). He beat out a 3 yr old stallion!

LOL I don't know if it is more positive to frustrate a stallion with mares to get a good shot, or to have a phoney bobcat crawl by... LOL! We were chuckling at the stallions on the ring today, all of them only had one thing on their minds. I feel sort of sorry for stallions, they miss out on a lot sometimes since they have to be separated from other horses, etc. they sure have a hard time focusing on anything but the girls!