Behind the shot
One of Australia’s top equestrian photographers, MICHELLE TERLATO travels the world capturing equestrian athletes in action. Each month she shares one of her favorite shots.
Rider: Emma Mason
Horse: Poker Face
Event: 2012 Melbourne International 3 Day Event
Location: Werribee Park, Victoria
Camera Type/Settings: Canon 7D, Canon EF 70-200mm, f/4, ISO 250, 1/250 sec
Challenges:
When I attended the 2012 MI3DE, I was still early in my career and not yet an official event photographer. The Werribee Park mansion, gardens, and parklands are spectacular, and I spent most of my time wandering from jump to jump, experimenting with different angles and perspectives – although interestingly, this image is not of a fence but of the galloping between them.
I was standing in the Mansion paddock, contemplating whether to head to the Rose Garden, but with horses coming through every couple of minutes, I wasn’t going to make it in time. Instead, I found myself in the forest area and realised that from this position, the mansion was framed perfectly in the background.
I decided to stay in place and wait for the next few competitors. The first shots didn’t quite capture the movement in the way I’d envisioned, so I adjusted my shutter speed to introduce a subtle blur – just enough to convey a sense of motion. I also crouched down to get the feeling of being at ground level. It worked perfectly for this shot of Emma as she passed by. She was leading the CCI2* after the dressage phase, adding even more significance to the moment. The light was a bit low and in hindsight, I probably should have increased the ISO, but that’s something you learn with experience.
Why this shot is special:
I often wish I could experiment more with my shots, but the pressure of capturing that perfect image is overwhelming. However, this shot turned out better than I had imagined. I love how it captures the parklands so beautifully and the horse action so close to the mansion.
The scattered dirt and bark flying behind Poker Face, along with the slight blur of his hooves, create the sense of fast motion as Emma maneuvers between the trees, while the 70-200mm lens makes the subject seem closer than they actually are.
At the time, I knew this image was special, but I didn’t realise how special! It ended up being featured on the 2014 MI3DE program cover and tickets, and to my amazement, it was nominated as a finalist in the FEI World Photo Grand Prix alongside only seven other photographers worldwide. While it didn’t win, I was thrilled to receive such global recognition and keep the program in my study to this day!
Michelle is available for event, commercial, and private shoots. Visit Michelle Terlato Photography to view her impressive portfolio.
