703 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



PHOTOGRAPHING HORSES. 



Photography is a very useful aid for the acquisition of a 

 knowledge of conformation ; for it enables us to place on 

 record exact results unobtainable by any other means. 



Photographs are taken of a horse with the object of 

 obtaining a picture, a portrait, a combination of the two, 

 or a likeness of the animal by which his " points " may be 

 best seen and correctly compared with those of other 

 horses. When a picture is the end in view, the pose will 

 have to be subordinated to artistic requirements. If a 

 portrait, the position should be that which will convey 

 to the spectator the best possible idea of the general look 

 of the animal. This will usually be obtained when his 

 body is in profile, and the head and neck carried in the 

 manner most characteristic of the horse in question. I 

 think that horses in photographs look better when the 

 head is turned a little towards the observer (Figs. 463 and 

 516) or is directed straight to the front (Fig. 416), than 

 when it is turned even slightly away (Fig. 342). When, 

 however, the photograph is required as a more or less 

 exact record of the horse's "make and shape," he should 

 be as nearly as practicable at right angles to the line of 

 sight (Fig. 436), and not foreshortened (Fig. 533) : just 

 as if he were posed for the inspection of an intending 

 buyer. Some photographers like to have the hind-quarters 

 of a horse nearer the lens than the fore-hand, apparently 

 with the object of giving the animal a particularly small 

 head. In such cases, the diminution in the size of the 



