New Toys

Recently at camera club, someone brought in a trio of lens extension tubes. To cut a long story short, I thought they would be very useful for tiny horse photography and as they cost only £13, it would be foolish of me not to buy a set.

I started off with a handful of tiny models on the kitchen table. This is my favourite Stablemate Highland Pony, because of her more realistic eyes and rich dun colour.

A Papo Border Collie:

Thinking I was starting to get the hang of this, I fetched an old Breyer box and used it as a background. Little Stormy, who I haven't yet photographed properly, was up first.

Another Highland - I told you I liked them! This one is from the same Stablemate gift set as Prince.

I love how the ponies of this mould always seem to be smiling. So sweet.

Getting everyone together...

Upping the stakes, we go even smaller, to my favourite Mini Whinnie...

Closer...

The macro rings are great fun. Before I felt a bit limited because I couldn't take good headshots, but nothing in ze world can stop me now!

And to finish, a rare behind the scenes shot...

British (Heavy) Horsepower

I recently made the decision to restrict my model horse buying to either ponies or heavy horses since those are the two groups of breeds I find the most interesting, so the Breyer Stablemates British Draught and Pony set was right up my street. Plus it had a Suffolk Punch in it. So how could I not?

I unearthed a pair of my model tractors to act as props. The period after the Second World War, through to the Sixties, is the time of farming history I find most fascinating. Horses still played a major part in the day to day work on the farm, but were being squeezed out by tractors. Soon the horses were gone altogether. It makes me sad that there isn't a draught horse on every farm anymore.

The Clydesdale from the set, which I have decided will be a Shire.

The Suffolk Punch, my favourite horse breed.

The Shetland Pony is adorable.

And last but not least. the Highland Pony.

I had some fun with the tractors too. For those who may not know (and how could you not?), the Ferguson TE20:

And this one I call simply; Shades of Brown: Chesnut, David Brown, Bay and Skewbald.

I've had these tractors for approximately ten years, maybe more, maybe less. I was surprised how well they looked considering how much I played with them. You could say they are vintage in their own right!