The BCS Winter Photo Challenge

When I saw the photo challenge over at Braymere Custom Saddlery, I knew that I would have to be part of it too!! So, without further ado, welcome to the Bits and Spurs entry in the BCS photo challenge!!!!!!

1.Vintage-These are my oldest models. I got them both from MEPSA awards. Can you guess what years they are from??

2. Nekkid-"Hey, where is your blanket???"



So, for the next prompt "Scale issues" I was going to go with this photo....

..but then I thought to myself "I can do better then this.."

Do you see the Stablemate?????

....now THIS is a scale issue!!!! 

3. Scale Issues

Ollie did great with this photo, but it was still very hard for me to take it because the model kept falling off of Ollie's back. 

So, the Ollie picture is my official entry for the prompt "Scale issues."

4. I see Spots

Mom and Baby (Theodora and Quimby). 

5. Unbridled Passion

6. Rare Breed-This is my first medallion. I finished it yesterday. I sculpted and painted it myself. :) However, because it is my first one it is a VERY rare breed. 

7. Portrait- Because no post is complete without a picture of Collin!!

8. Conga-I have a lot of two and three horse conga's..many more than I thought I did!!!

9. The Great Outdoors-I love this photo!!

10. Best In Show-Ashka is most certainly my best model in the MEPSA photo shows I do with her. She is great!!! 

I hope you enjoyed this photo Challenge as much as I did putting it together!!!

Oh, I have updated my blogroll so that you can enjoy more model-related posts. Trail Blazer Farm is one of my newest favorite blogs. She takes a lot of photos and writes very well. You should go check her out!!

~CBL 

Very Busy

Hello Everybody!!!

I am so sorry that I haven't posted this week. I have been really busy horse searching, and so I have had not had much time to blog. BTW, I decided not to get either rescue horse (Leila and Leroy), but I am going to look at an Appaloosa gelding named Ollie on Wednesday. He pretty much fits everything that I am looking for, and so he will probably be coming home with me, but you never know. I will post more info in him soon. 

Ollie

So, because I have been so busy, I have been out of the model horse realm for a while. There is rumor that the Bayberry and Roses Christmas horse is going to be in short supply, and my Golden Oak Stables weekly newsletter confirmed this. Apparently, Bayberry and Roses is flying off the shelves-although I saw B&R in person, and I found him way to purple. He almost seemed like a decorator model to me.

My IMEHA results are coming in slowly, and so far Shining Chex "Yukon" got first place in his color category. I am very happy about that. My October MEPSA results should be coming in soon also, but most of the horses who went are already qualified because my printer isn't working and so I cannot print any pictures of my new models. I guess it is time to use Walmart to print my pictures now until I can get a new printer. 

Snowfoxx (above picture) sired his first foal! His colt's name is Troy, and he is owned by Trail Blazer Farms. If you want to see a picture of Troy, then feel free to go to my Pedigree website:

http://wintergreenpark.weebly.com/

If you want your foal to be sired by one of my stallions or you want a full pedigree, then be sure to send me an email! I reply very, very quickly. Your model does not need to be a foal to be sired. It just has to be the within the age of my stallions' (and if you are using one of my mares, my mares open years also) open years.

Send me an email at: cowgirlyssa@gmail.com if you are interested.

I am sure that you have noticed all of Snowfoxx's fall pictures. I took him outside for a photo shoot yesterday.I was going to take full body photos, but I got distracted and I pretty much just got Headstudy pictures. However, I think that they look pretty good!! What do you think of his pictures? Do you own Bayberry and Roses yet? What do you think of him?

~CBL

Photo Showing Tips: Outdoor

Recently, I have been getting emails and comments on my blog about Photo Showing. so, I thought that I would show you all some great tips for getting started in Photo Showing...or just taking pictures of your model for fun.


Lighting
I generally go outside to photograph my models because I like the natural lighting of the sun better than artificial lighting inside. If taking pictures outdoors, then I would advise you take the pictures either in the late evening or early morning, depending on the season. I personally like to photograph at about noon in the summer.

Photo taken at noon in early July.  

 Shade is also good to use for pictures. Sometimes when you take photo's in shade then your model doesn't stand out as much. I prefer to take a sunny picture, but when you have the right background it can look really good. Shade is good to use for Stablemate scaled models.

Gleam

If you don't watch where you place your model outside in full sun, you can end up with a picture not worthy of showing. A judge will usually overlook a photo of it is too bright and shiny.

Angle
A judge wants to see the full model when they are judging it. A little bit of angle can be very attractive and could even show the model off better, but if the angle is too strong then the judge could think that you were hiding part of the horse, or the judge wouldn't be able to see enough of the model to judge it properly.

This picture is beautiful and attractive, but the judge wouldn't be able to see the
whole body and so it wouldn't place well, or your model could be DQ. 

Lighting is beautiful, color very rich, but the angle is too strong to photo show this picture.

 Background
Your background is very important in an outdoor photo. Usually a judge appreciates a little bit of overhead sky and a appealing background. Make sure that your background is in scale to your model. Your footing also matters. Preferably the rocky ground of the above photo isn't the best. Try to think about "would a real live horse put himself in these conditions, or could I make something better for him that would be more realistic?" Another thing to remember is that your background footing and/or  background nature isn't tilted in the picture.

Look at the angle of the cement and the background. A judge will place
a straighter photo higher than this one.  

This picture is OK. Not much gleam on the model, BUT his
hooves are very deep in the thick grass and their is no
horizon. 

This is much better. Some sky, and some grass, which help make
a really good picture. 

Okay, I think I have covered the most important parts of  producing a really good photo. I am sorry if this post has a lot of corrections, but my sisters are playing a movie and I am distracted from it. 

~CBL

P.S. If you are interested in joining MEPSA (It is awesome!) or you are just looking for more model horse photography tips, feel free to go to the MEPSA website at:http://mepsa1.tripod.com/

Story Of The Horse: Collin

I am sure that you all know who my favorite model horse is.

Collin

Yes, it is Collin. He is so photogenic in every way, flashy, and just a stunning model. I am waiting for his IMEHA results (the judge is 58.1 % done with the breed show he is in) with an anxiety and excitement. This (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) pretty much describes my excitement. Anyway, back to what I was originally going to talk about..........


I bought Collin at Dover Saddlery last year on December 26th. I had always wanted him since he had come out on the Breyer website earlier (way earlier) that year, but I had always skipped over him when I would come to buy models. As I was in the store debating over him and O Leary's Irish Diamond, my younger sister said "Come on, Alyssa. You have always wanted him, and I am sure that he will do very well in MEPSA. Just get him already!"

So I did.

He has gone to win both Grand and Reserve champions in MEPSA, and hopefully it will be the same for him in the IMEHA. 

I will announce the IMEHA results when I see them. :)

~CBL 

MEPSA Open Show Results

Foxfire 

I entered my first MEPSA OPEN (I was in NOVICE for two years) show a few weeks back. Today I got the results and I was happy,happy,happy. After the crushing "my horses were in the wrong class at the Championship show" blow, I was just well, very surprised by how I placed.


I entered 13 horses, and four placed.

Bleau Angel

2nd place Grey Mare (out of 44)

1st place Classic-sized OF plastic (out of 65)

3rd place Stock mare (out of 74)

7th place Quarter Horse (out of 43)

Jasper

7th place Stablemate Scale OF plastic (out of 84)

6th place Light Type Stallion (out of 82)

2nd place Gaited breed (out of 34)

7th place Buckskin/Dun/Grulla/Dunalino (out of 49)

Ashleigh

1st place Light Mare (out of 34)

 Collin

3rd Place Other Draft (out of 42)

5th place current Traditional (out of 64)

Once again, Happy, Happy, Happy!!!!!

Jasper's pedigree will be up on Wintergreen Park later today, so he will be available for breeding. I reply very quickly!

http://wintergreenpark.weebly.com/  

The BOX! / Novice Wrap-up

Today my MEPSA box arrived, on the same day my box arrived last year. Even though I didn't do as well as last year (and my horses were somehow put in the wrong classes), I was still excited. I shouted and pulled  everything out the box. I was/am still very proud of my models.

Amazing SPIDER MAN!
BTW.....he is one of my favorite superheros.... tied with Captain America.

My ribbons that belonged to each photo. 

I took photos of all of my ribbons from my two years of being in Novice. They grand totaled at 48 ribbons. 

The ribbons and loot from the past two years. 

Next, I took photos of each horse that have shown in MEPSA with their ribbons from both years.

Remember: I am including both years ribbons in these pictures. 

Ashka was my overall best performance mare. She won two Champions, two reserves, one third, one fifth, and one sixth, plus Overall Grand Champion Performance. 

Shasta Marie won Reserve champion, one third, and one sixth. She also won Overall Reserve Champion Performance.
Shasta Marie has retired from MEPSA. 

Theodora: One reserve champion, two thirds, one fourth, and one sixth. 

Quimby: Two champions, one reserve champion.

Paintball: One third, one fifth, two eighths. 

Ballou: One third.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Loki: One fourth.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Collin: One fifth, one seventh.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show).
I love this boy so much. Just look at his color!

Escapade: One champion, one reserve. (Escapade only showed in last year's champ show). 

Ashleigh:  One Champion, one seventh.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Dexter: One seventh.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show).  

Bleau Angel: Two eighths.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Snow White: Eighth place. 

Spots N' the Middle: One Champion. (Only showed in last year's Champ show).

Zenobia: One ninth.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show).  

Koda: One tenth.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Blackhawk: One sixth, one ninth.  (only shown in 2014 Champ show). 

Mandrake: One champion. (Only showed in last year's champ show).

I also have four or five ribbons from other horses that I have traded and sold. I am very happy!!!!

~CBL

The Wall O' Ribbons