That is a good idea Julie, I should post smaller images. I always put a copyright over my art on the net but haven't really on the photos. I too hate how it looks! But I've found so much of my own art being sold on eBay, Cafe Press, etc. People think everything is up for grabs on the net I guess.

OH OK Marta I see what you mean...I wasn't sure if you meant to crop it for looks of that if someone stole it they could easily crop out the name. Another nice thing about painting is he will probably be on a hill with the ocean behind him with his unbraided mane and tail flying LOL. No sidewalks.

The thing bothering me with this for a painting right now is he is standing high in the rear, we were just lucky to have him holding still for 2 seconds, he was looking for mares and fidgeting and screaming. So I wasn't able to direct the trainer well because there wasn't a lot she could do. He was under control just not to the posable level. I will probably try to lower his butt and I also think his hind quarters look weak at this angle so may make his haunches a little fuller. Things I would never do to a photo but do all the time for paintings.

Dee Dee,
I have no experience with horses but it seems to me that if the horse was shot at the same angle it would be posed in harness, it would be better. Aren't most horses posed 3/4 to the front which makes the hind quarters look less high?

It's a lovely shot but not the most flattering angle. Too much of a profile? He looks really close-coupled.

Anyway, you shoot to let you paint and you've seen him in the flesh so you know what he looks like. I'll be interested in seeing the finished painting.

Jim

Jim, yes I think this angle makes him look a little short bodied too. Halter horses are usually shot total profile, (except some breeds like quarter horses which also have a typical shot 3/4 front or behind to show off their muscles) I like to take a small step toward the rear on a profile so it's a very slight angle to accentuate the hind quarters on most breeds (it's easy to get the hind quarters looking unbalanced to the fore like this otherwise). But I hate to paint a posed halter looking shot of horses, you see them all the time and they are so "canned" (my last Andalusian painting on my site is total profile which the client wanted).

I think I should "borrow" him for a few weeks so I can really study him! LOL! Something tells me the owners won't go for that...:)

Dee Dee,
how he looks best to you is the key issue. Perhaps some candids in the paddock would give you the angles you need for a painting.

Go early or late. See how he moves on his own. Take some shots and go from there.

This shot just doesn't do him justice.

Jim

Hey Dee Dee,
Take a look at my studly boy..
www.perennialdalesponystud.com .
I call him my "golden retriever in a pony suit"! He's been SOOOO easy to train/handle/love on..
Just a good ol chap! Rides in mixed company all the time, and has never given me a hard time! Surefooted on those goat trails up our rocky mountains...I can't say enough about him<them>

I wish I could, but I am not able to take more shots of him as he is 3 hours away and they were up near my house for a horse show so we took some shots at the show. I have some great profile shots of him but I don't want to paint another "perfect" horse profile. I love his head and neck in this shot and his legs, it's his barrel and hind quarters that aren't quite right. (maybe cover it all up with flowing mane and tail LOL). I usually build horses for paintings from many parts though so I'll either frankenstein this one together or more likely I'll ditch it for another horse. Heh. I'm sure once I go take the latest Frieian photos I'll forget all about this one and be excited about something else. I just need some different breeds!

I did get the trainer to lunge him for me but he was surprisingly dead head just plodding around at a slow trot.

OMG Marta what a BEAUTIFUL stallion! I have not seen a Dales pony in real life before. He is almost like a little Friesian! I wish I could see him in person, lucky you to get to live with him!

<<OMG Marta what a BEAUTIFUL stallion! I have not seen a Dales pony in real life before. He is almost like a little Friesian! I wish I could see him in person, lucky you to get to live with him! >>

I DO, consider myself lucky! I was THISCLOSE to getting a haflinger, when I saw the Dales on the cover of Horse Illustrated back in Nov. 2000. Called around, found a breeder with a section A colt, due to be weaned that spring, and so I bought him! Sight unseen! Course with so few around, thats pretty much how anyone who buys them, does.
Had one guy in Ohio, out here on business, meet up with us, and he has a just coming 3 yo stallion, and he'd never been ON a Dales before, so Danny happily obliged.
He's the friendliest thing!
Yes, a miniature friesian...I'm getting a tshirt made,
"NO, He's not, a friesian"! MUCH MUCH shorter! Level headed, and super disposition.
Did you see the shots of him and the little ones? Soo very gentle..!
Ok..I'll stop gushing! I've had him for 6 years, and put every little bit of training in him, he makes ME look good!

You were lucky to find him. He sounds very sweet! That is great. My cousin has a Haflinger stallion who is beautiful too, and she has a Friesian I will have to tell her about your stallion. Yes he does look very sweet and very gentle!