Photo showing adds a competitive dimension to your model horse collecting hobby. Taking photographs of Breyer horses and other model horses enables you to enter photo shows. These virtual horse shows offer the chance for you to win prizes as you compete against other collectors in classes ranging from halter to performance.
The easiest way to begin photo showing model horses is to enter halter competitions. Although the name suggests you need a halter or headstall on your model, in truth you can just take a good, clear image of your model without any tack or accessories whatsoever. All you need is a model horse, a camera, and a backdrop to get started. You don't need any special equipment, tack or props. If taking pictures inside, just be sure you have a flash and position the model away from the backdrop to avoid distracting shadows.
Make a Simple Backdrop for Your Model Horses
One look at the pictures entered in a photo show or on collector's web page will show you the wide variety of creative backdrops. Everything from fancy barns and fences to fences decked out with logos and signs as if at a real horse show give a feeling of realism to the entire setup. Such dioramas enhance the realism of the image, and realism is what you should aim for in every aspect of model horse collecting.
The idea when taking pictures of model horses is to show your horse off to his or her best advantage. The entire horse should be visible, from the tips of the ears to the hooves, so that the judge may assess the model's condition as well as all aspects of the breed characteristics.
Beginning collectors often see such intricate setups and assume they need them to get started photo showing too. But you can make a simple backdrop from a well-draped, clean piece of cloth.
Materials and Colors to Try
Materials suitable for model horse photo showing backdrops include cotton and velvet. Choose solid colors over prints; prints can distract from the overall presentation, and may be difficult to choose in scale to enhance the realism of the model. Many collectors haunt the remnant aisle at their local fabric store seeking those odd-shaped pieces left on the bolt. These make great backdrops. If you can't get out to the fabric store, try an old bed sheet or pillow case. As long as it is solid colored, unstained and smooth, no one will know it came from the linen closet.
Certain colors enhance the appearance of each model, depending on the horse's coat color. Choosing colors in the spectrum opposite the horse's coat color is an old 'real' horse showing trick whereby riders select hunt coats or other items to make their horses' coats sparkle. Try the following cloth colors with the following model horse colors:
- Bay horse - try navy blue, burgundy or a soft ivory
- Chestnut horse - try shades of green
- White or gray horses - light to dark blue cloth
- Palomino - shades of green, rust or brown
- Appaloosa and Paint colors - select cloth that highlights the predominant coat color
- Black horses - use a light colored background
Set Up Your Backdrop
Indoors, find a firm surface such as the kitchen table. Take an old box and place it at the end of the table. Make sure there's a good deal of room between the box and the edge of the table. Drape the cloth over the box and onto the table. Play with the folds of the cloth so that they fan out gracefully, or smooth them until there are no wrinkles. You may want to use thumb tacks to tack the cloth to the cardboard box.
Take the Picture
Position your model so that the left or right side is facing the camera. Most collectors choose the side of the model where the mane falls, but you can choose the side that you think will be most appealing to the judge. A slight angle may enhance the overall look or appearance of certain breed characteristics. A Quarter Horse or stock breed model may be angled to show off the powerfully muscled hindquarters, or an Arabian angled to capture the graceful curve of the dished face.
Be sure the model is well away from the backdrop so that no shadows will cast upon the vertical line of the cloth-draped box. Place the camera on a tripod or steady it on books. Aim for the barrel or middle of the model, and take your picture.
That's all you need to do to get started photo showing. Be sure to resize your image on the computer for digital photo shows according to the show's specifications; many ask collectors to keep the images under a certain size so as not to overwhelm a website or server.