‘Painters such as Stubbs have the advantage of being able to interpret what they see and often paint in a beautiful light to highlight the horse’s powerful muscles and topline. By using flash and sculpting the light around the horse I am able to emulate this style of painting, typical of the Old Masters, such as Stubbs, and in doing so I have captured the essence of Uthopia’, says Matthew.
Sculpting light provides the authenticity that post production techniques, such as Photoshop, could never achieve, particularly when shooting outdoors.
‘Horses are beautiful animals to photograph but it often takes some time to earn their trust and my aim is to form a bond and understand each horse I photograph in order to capture their essence.’
Matthew has developed his unique skill over a number of years and has a true affinity with the horse. Photographers all over the world have tried to emulate Matthews style of photography which he has found flattering, however as yet they have been unable to capture the subtleness of his lighting technique together with the working partnership and bond he forms with each horse.
For Matthew the most important factor is always the horse not just the style. To connect, to understand and to capture the horses personality is vital – without these essential elements all the dramatic lighting in the world would be wasted.
What is the most important factor in The Horse Photographers work?
‘To ensure that I take time to connect with every horse I photograph and to truly present them in their best light.’
