February 7, 2023
Photo Credit: Shirley van Lieshout
There is no fear. There is the feeling of love. There is the view of interdependency. There is the sound of silence. There is the taste of power and heavenly serenity. There is the smell of a healthy relationship. I selected Shirley van Lieshout’s horse portrait of “La Fleur,” a mare posing with her owner Lois. Van Lieshout, a Dutch photographer, captures the incredible bond between horse and mankind.
Van Lieshout uses outdoor light as her subjects are positioned on Vrouwenpolder Beach (Netherlands). The water’s blue color and whitish sand provide a warm atmosphere. What a timeless moment to catch on a summer day!
Van Lieshout captures the essence of that shoot by showing us two bodies looking at each other. These bodies are not taken in full. There’s a shallow depth of field for the beach’s background. Both bodies seem to be made as having similar height. They are on an equal-level plane. They are close to each other and taken closely by the photographer. In their background is an immense beach. Focusing on the horse’s eye, the viewer considers what is reflected in her eye.
From the horse’s shape, the viewer may assess the horse’s character: majestic, steady, loving, pensive, and stress-free. From her owner’s straight and vertical body with a slightly bending head, the viewer may read a nonverbal communication of mutual understanding between the two.
On her website, van Lieshout states that in horse photography, “We don’t force anything and it’s just ‘go with the flow’ and we see what can be done.” La Fleur’s relaxed posture may also be the result of walking laps before the shot.
The horse does not appear to be bridled. No braids. No knots. Although van Lieshout mentions on her website that, “A horse is never loose in the photo,” the horse seems loose and free. She might have used her photography thin-rope halter which is made to disappear during post-processing.
The owner is wearing a nice set of clothes that feel comfortable and soft. The owner’s white shirt acts as a neutral color contrasting the horse’s brown color. The owner’s scintillating light grey short adds a shining effect similar to the sun. The mare’s skin is very well brushed. It is also shining under the sunlight. Prior to the shoot, van Lieshout must have had the mare brushed or washed. And she might have used a glazing agent or some oil to make the horse’s coat and hooves shine.
The owner’s head is at the almost same level as the horse’s. The mane’s eye is tenderly open in the owner’s direction. It touches the owner’s upper body. The owner’s hand has a neutral manicure. It touches the horse’s mouth with her left hand. The owner’s right hand, however, might be offering food to the horse’s mouth. Both owner and mare have their heads down. An expression of mutual respect. The horse’s half-face is visible. The owner’s half-face is partially covered with her slightly uncombed hair, especially her left eye. It expresses that bond of trust, friendship, loyalty, and obedience. There is no need to look into someone’s eyes to feel safe, protected, and happy at that moment in time.
The image is beautiful and creative in its simplicity. That kind of professional shoot is taken in a matter of a second. What an incredible accomplishment in planning and posing! As the quote on van Lieshout’s website states, “A camera is the save button for the minds eye.” (This quote is from Rogu Kingston.) And van Lieshout engages our senses and emotional connection to the mare and her owner. Focusing on her subjects is certainly an integral part of successful portrait photography.
This photo won the International Portrait Photography Contest. It combines constructionist portraiture. Ms. Van Lieshout is a talented photographer. Her work shows the preparation and extra attention to detail in horse photography. You might even consider asking her for a blackshoot in which the horse’s portrait would have a completely black background. Such a technique would focus on the horse.
For more on van Lieshout’s unique shoots, please follow her at https:// shirleyvanlieshoutfotografie.nl or at https://www.instagram.com/shirleyvanlieshoutfotografie or at https://portraitphotoawards.net/en/photographer/shirley-van-lieshout107
Philippe Abizeid's Visual Literacy 
