Tips to get you started on water/splash photography.
Days at the beach or the lake get you thinking of sun bathing, surfing, water skiing, and all those fun water activities. For us model horse people, water also means splash photography with the horses, which is just as fun!
Water/splash photos are beautiful, and can bring a whole new realistic dimension to your model horse photography. However, it's tricky to capture them! As a self-taught photographer, I've learned a lot from experience. Kind friends in the hobby have given me great advice as well, and now I'd like to share it with you! I am by no means an expert, but these few simple tips are a great start to getting that perfect splash pic!
Tip #1: Camera mode
Having your camera set in the right mode is probably the most important step; the whole outcome of your photo depends on this. To get the best clarity, set your camera in Sports mode. This mode has lightning fast shutter speed, making it the only mode that captures movement without blurring.
I use a Canon, so keep in mind that settings on other cameras and even different models may not look exactly the same, but they should all have a Sports mode.
Next step in the Sports mode is to select continuous shooting and the timer. This little setting is very convenient because you can concentrate on splashing while the camera snaps the pictures on its own. To set your timer, go to the continuous shooting button...
As seen in the photo, there are 3 options, and I like to use the last one. This is your timer, and you can choose the number of photos taken in a row. Go for the max, (mine is 10 photos) because the more photos the camera snaps in succession, the greater your chance is of capturing the splash! The timer typically lasts 10-20 seconds, giving you plenty of time to get in position to splash!
Tip #2: Creating the splash!
It's as simple as splish, splash, right? Not exactly; there are definitely ways NOT to do it. I've tried using my hands, which resulted in too big of a splash or hardly a ripple. The aim wasn't very accurate either. My favorite technique so far, is a small plastic cup. This way you control the amount of water, and with practice your aim will be spot on! I have used this technique with Traditionals, and have yet to try it with smaller scales. I have achieved good results by throwing the water at the front of the model horse, but you can experiment from any angle to get the right splash! Just be careful to not "photobomb" the picture! ;) This is why a cup is so useful, because you can throw the water from a good distance.
Tip #3: Conquer the angle
A good angle is key to the realistic quality of your photo. A basic rule of model horse photography that you all probably know, is that if the angle of the camera is slightly upward from the ground, the horse will appear more life-like. If the camera is pointed slightly down toward the horse, it is easy to see it's true size in proportion to the background, and you lose the realistic look. That being said, how do you achieve this angle when you're on uneven, rocky or sandy terrain and you're not even holding your camera?? I like using a towel, because you can fold it into whatever shape you need to position your camera for the right angle. The towel also offers some protection from the moisture, especially if you're on wet sand.
Camera is set, horse is posing, let's shoot! Focus in on your lovely subject, press the button, and while the timer is ticking, get your cup ready to splash! Splash away as much as possible until the session stops. Don't be discouraged if you didn't capture any splashes; even with the continuous shooting, the timing is still tricky. It takes a LOT of photos to get the best splash. Here's just a few examples out of dozens that flopped...
Perfect! :)
Point is, in order to get your perfect splash pic, expect to take LOTS of photos! :) As you practice more, your timing will only get better, and the reward is absolutely worth it!
(Also as a side note, expect to get wet. Very wet. 😄)
~ Haley
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