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The Eye Can Be Deceiving!


The Eye Can Be Deceiving!
Photo Information
Copyright: Helen Matten (Helkoryo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2074 W: 251 N: 4932] (21996)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-05
Categories: Nature, Transportation, Pets, Portrait
Camera: Canon EOS 400D/Rebel XTi
Exposure: f/8, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Horses of the world 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-08 0:34
Viewed: 340
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Good morning peeps

Many of you wrote in your critiques yesterday that the close up of the horses eye looked like it belonged to a pony.. Well here he is fully tacked up in all his Glory! A beautiful grey Percheron. I decided to go for another cropped shot here to accentuate his beautiful wide and powerful neck. I will post another full view shot of him later in the week. For such a huge and powerful horse he was the epitomy of elegance and grace and as you saw in yesterdays shot his eyes are so soft and kind, but dont be misguided this lovley beast is extreemly powerful when he needs to be.

Details below on this lovely breed taken from Wilipedia

History

Like many old breeds, the Percheron's exact origins are unknown, but it is said that its ancestors were crossbred between the heavy "forest horse" type of animal native to northern Europe and the Arabians that were brought to Europe by the Moors. Percherons probably owe their size and weight to their use as battle mounts during the Middle Ages. After the invention of gunpowder, heavy warhorses were no longer needed, so the Percheron took up its new job pulling heavy French stagecoaches. With the invention of the railroad, Percherons switched to farm duty and heavy labor.

It is possibly because of this evolution that the modern Percheron is such a versatile and adaptable horse. Today, Percherons serve as logging horses but also are valued as pleasure driving horses, riding horses, and as competitors in both regular horse shows and in draft horse showing.

Conformation

Fair Percherons are noted for heavy muscling and for an aspect of ruggedness and power. Also characteristic of the Percheron is clean action and quality conformation of the feet and legs. The mane is thick, though the tail is usually cut short. The breed is close coupled, wide and deep through the chest, with plenty of back rib. The muscles of the forearms, croup and gaskins are especially emphasized in a good drafter, and ease and balance of gait is essential. The horse is also expected to be of good temperament and be an easy keeper.

The Percheron head and neck is typical of the correct draft horse. Good Percherons have a large and full prominent eye, a broad and full forehead, and straight face. A wide jaw and refined ears attractively set and carried with animation are visible evidence of the Percheron's Arabian ancestry. Stallions should have a ruggedness about the head and mares should have a feminine look. The neck is well-shaped and powerful

Percherons have withers well defined, a short back, a deep girth, long, somewhat level croup, big, well-rounded hip, and powerful muscling in the lower thigh.

In recent years, modern show Percherons have been bred for a longer, thinner neck, a longer back, and longer, smoother-looking muscles. These types of modern percherons are used mainly as show horses for competition.


Temperament

The Percheron has a very pleasing disposition, and is proud, alert, and intelligent. They are generally very gentle horses, well-suited for driving, and are strong and willing workers. The Percheron is readily adapted to varying climates and conditions. They have the strength to pull heavy loads and the graceful style to pull a fine carriage. Percherons can be ridden and some have even been trained to jump.

So peeps a fair bit of information there but I felt this beautiful creature well worthy of the detail. I will write more detail about the tack he is wearing with a later posting, so for now just enjoy the view :-)

Hope you all have a great day and I hope your enjoying my new Horse series as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Guess what! Is raining in England again! Deep joy (NOT)

TTFN Love Smurfie

P.S. In case you were wondering, I actually sat on the floor at the ringside to take these shots, I got some strange looks from the people around but the POV from this angle is superb as the horses really do tower above and many of them looked down at me as they passed by too.
boomcat, szekelykristof, patshoo, ioana_tm, juyona, shelbeesmom, cunejo200, coquelicot79, Silke, billy-m, GreenBaron, eosnut, Morgwathien has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To coquelicot79: Good morning my friendHelkoryo 1 07-09 01:28
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1888 W: 73 N: 0] (18572)
  • [2008-07-08 0:38]

Morning Helen ;)))
Excellent...Congrats,
J ;)

Hi Helen...
Beautiful shot...
Have a nice day...
Andro

hello Smurfie,

look like your horsey galloping in the sky.. :) lovely potrait.. well compose with fine detail.. good one here.. sorry i didn't even get to see your yesterday posting..

tfs..

regards, terry

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3157 W: 237 N: 7020] (28231)
  • [2008-07-08 1:17]

Oh, he is a beautiful looking animal, Helen. I do like your POV looking right up at him like this.
I have never heard of Percheron horses. And reading your interesting notes I feel I have missed something. (I learnt to ride on a half-draught horse on my sister's farm. What a calm placid horse Beth was. . .)
Well composed image, good sharpness and clear details - well done
Janice

Hi Helen,
Perfect shot of this wonderful animal. Vivid colours, good contrast, perfect sharpness. Great details, too. White balance is very well set on this photo. TFS
Greetings,
Kristof

Attractive and expression of strength,Well position in frame and well capture of action,especially for neck muscle.good shot,TFS.

Hi dear friend,
so, it's not a pony :)
Good title for the shot and wonderful crop.
Nice story with it.
Have a lovely day.
Ioana

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2514 W: 0 N: 972] (13702)
  • [2008-07-08 1:53]

Hola Helen,
perfecto retrato,
pov hermoso, buenos colores y foco...
saludos amiga.

very nice shot Helen well done

Nothing a lady likes more than rippling muscles! A very majestic pose here Helen! Excellent tones and shadows! Just love his pose against the sky!
B-)
Linda

excellent crop and format, focus and sharpness, exposure, all is great, well done,
regards
jo

Hi Helen,
This is a handsome horse profile accentuating his strong neck. Lovely contrast against the blue sky and clouds. Greetings! Danilo

Helen Hi;
Wonderful POV, detail and sharpness. Excellent note, as always, thanks.
Congratulations, very very well done.
Larry
USA-tfs

Hi Smurfie,
This is a proper Smurfs eye view from down on the floor LOL, the crop here works really well and the details are great, this is well presented and comes with a good note.
Well done
Regards Andy

  • Great 
  • Ejtaan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1081 W: 117 N: 1984] (9804)
  • [2008-07-08 11:26]

Wow.. an impressive animal indeed Helen!
Great shot with a very nice background.
I think you did so well sitting down to get the shots...

Cheers,
Anneke

hi Helen, excellent shot , perfect exposure on the white horse, very good composition and sharpness

rgds
Allen

Hi Helen... just perfect.............

Hi Helen,
This horse is fantastic, he looks so powerful with that lovely big neck. Yo have captured him so well. Great detail.
TFS
Jane

Bonsoir Helen,
Sumptuous portrait, his majesty posing with pride. It's so beautiful, perfect, emerging in the light background with nothing but heaven is the god horse. You're a true artist, Helen.
Kiss, Corinne

A small return to the past, you remember :
2007-03-02 Shaden 2. 465 shots later is the result, I remember that I was there from the beginning and I'm pleased with your progress and be able to admire them. Nostalgia ;O)

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3228 W: 282 N: 6427] (24121)
  • [2008-07-08 15:08]

Stunning capture of a horse with real pride. That arched neck is superb
Great light, fine details and a wonderful portrait
TFs
silke

wonderful portrait dear helen!!great POV against sky...I love it
warm regards
biljana

Hi Smurfie,
This is a superb portrait of this wonderful horse. Excellent pose and superb brightness and contrast. The low POV works fine and the clouded sky creates a perfect background. A superb posting my dear.
Hans

handsome horse! framing is perfecr, sky is detailed, skin details are well exposed.

TFS

i a n

Hi Helen
Great Shot
Perfect POV
and excellent details
Beautiful colors in the sky
Very well done
Ciao
Vincenzo

Hi Helen, great portrait of splendid horse against superb sky, excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Helen,
He sure is a beautiful animal, this tight crop accentuates the fact, well done.
Pete.

  • Great 
  • zms Gold Star Critiquer [C: 321 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-12 8:40]

Outstanding capture of a unique moment

Very well done

TFS

ZMS

Hello helen,
A beautiful portrait of the horse's head. And a great note to go with it :) Great colours, details and cadrage. The frame adds a lot to the portrait nature of the image. Well done, congratulations!
TFS
Barbara

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