Photo Credit: Maria Marriott, Horse Photographer
One of my favorite stories is the legend of the white stallion, a wild horse who refuses to be captured and haunts the dreams of anyone who attempts to catch him. I wrote about the Legend of the White Horse in one of my previous blogs. And one of my most popular wild horse images is that of Tango, a magnificent Cremello wild stallion from the Virginia Range of Nevada whose overpowering gaze graces the living areas of several of my collectors.
You may or may not know most so called "white horses" are actually "gray" horses. They are born with dark coats that will eventually get lighter with time. Horses that are "true" white are rare and you can identify them by the pink color of their skin and often blue or hazel eyes.
With that said, I absolutely love photographing light color horses, especially if they have a little something else special in addition to their beautiful light coats - such as unique markings or eye color.
When I had the chance to do a portrait session of “Dude”, a 21 year old Appaloosa/Thoroughbred cross, I knew his color would help me create something special.
Creating The Horse Portrait
Much of my portrait work is done using a black background. Typically, my mobile portrait setup includes two to four strobe lights and a large black background frame. Using a combination of angled lights - or even a single strobe - allows me to "paint" interesting light on the subject that highlights the power as well as the grace of the horse, producing equine portraits that are both artistic and elegant.
For “Dude”, I wanted to create something different - an elegant and artistic image, but with a different feel. Because of his lighter color, a “high key” approach became my choice in order to bring out his beauty and characteristics.
I will start by saying that “Dude” was a complete gentleman and complied perfectly with everything we asked of him during the session. Once he understood what was going on in the set, he actually seemed to enjoy it.
I will also say that this horse quickly proved his intelligence, anticipating some of the requests we made of him knowing that he would be rewarded if he complied.
White On White
The result became one of my most memorable captures - as were the stories from this portrait session, which we still laugh about. The “high key” approach worked out well and allowed me to bring out “Dude’s" unique markings, as well as his playful personality.
Photo Credit: Maria Marriott, Horse Photographer
About The Artist
Maria's work has been recognized for its emotional impact and intimate portrayal of the American mustangs and elegant portraits of domestic horses. She works closely with several non-profit organizations focused on the benefits of equine therapy and preservation of the wild horses on our Western lands.
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