‘It’s not the camera that makes a great picture, it’s the person holding it that creates the magic’
Well, this might be true, but it’s not until you have stepped out of ‘Automatic Mode’ and started making decisions on how that camera is going to operate until you really unleash what it is capable of.
In order to do that, you need to understand exactly how that piece of kit works.
You need to know the anatomy of what makes the camera take a better picture. You need to know about lighting, composition, and depth of field. You need to know that every adjustment you make will have an effect on the finished product, and that every adjustment you make requires another little adjustment somewhere else.
It is complex. It takes time and effort, but it is worth it when you have a beautiful photo to show for your efforts.
Riding a horse is similar. In order to get the best out of him you have to know how he works. You need to know how his body functions so that you know the consequences of one seemingly small adjustment, and what might then need to be adjusted to improve the picture.
You need to know where to place his feet, his head and neck and his hind quarters to make sure you are getting the best his body has to offer. You need to know how to set him up correctly so that he can show his brilliance in a way that supports his body.
You need to know that a camera on top of an unstable platform will never take a clean, focused photo. Similarly, a horse on top of unbalanced feet will never produce movement that will make it into the ‘keep’ folder.
And then you need to know how your body works too. So that you can ride without pain. So that you can remove tension on tension. So that you can help your horse be the best he can be, whilst you are doing the same for you.
But it’s also worth knowing that not all the pieces come together at the same time. And that’s ok too.
You don’t always have to have the winning photo.