PHOTOGRAPHING HORSES. 343 



photograph is no more an absolutely correct map of the 

 surface in view, than is a carefully drawn picture. 



In order to preserve harmony in the graceful curves of 

 the upper line of the body, the horse, to look his best, should 

 have his ears pricked forward, his head carried high, and, 

 if possible, he should not have his tail tucked in between 

 his legs. When standing still, he will look to most 

 advantage when the fore leg of the observer's side is more 

 advanced than the other, and when its hind leg is more 

 drawn back than the other hind leg {see Pis. 33 and 35). 

 Unless the background be a specially prepared one, the 

 horse should be well away from it, and it should be out of 

 focus, so that he may stand out in bold relief. (Compare 

 Frontispiece and Plate 62, with Plates 33 and 38.) As a 

 rule, the animal, even when he is a grey or white, should 

 be placed, more or less, against the sky. If possible^ the 

 horse should not be put, as is frequently done, close against 

 a building, the lines of which would prevent the eye from 

 following the contours of the animal. I find that horses look 

 more animated and hold themselves better, away from their 

 stables, than near them ; and especially when they are in an 

 open plain. My readers can draw their own examples from 

 the photographs given in this book. 



It is absolutely immaterial whether the camera used is 

 on a fixed stand or is held in the hand, so long as the 

 results are satisfactory. For "taking" horses standing still, 

 it is evident that it would be best, were the plan practicable, 

 to photograph the animal in diffused sunlight, as might be 

 obtained by using a roof of ground glass. The difficulty 

 here would be the attainment of sufficiently long exposure 

 while the animal remained in a suitable position. Although 



