a) Your name:
Mark Lehner
b) The name of your business:
HoofClix.com
c) The geographical area where you generally photograph:
Southeast, mainly Area III, but have been known to stray..
d) Years of experience as a photographer:
35 years since first formal training, but not totally steady all of those years.
e) Why you decided to become a photographer:
I guess is just sort of happened to me. Well, my father was a photographer in the German Navy in WW2, and I always had it in my background. He gave me my camera when I went off to college in 1976, to become an architect. As part of my first semester, they required a full course in photography. After that semester they pulled me in and said that I had no talent to become an architect, that if I insisted on continuing I might not even be a good draftsman. But they said as consolation that I seemed to understand the camera, so maybe I should look into that as a direction.. I switched majors, and it’s been a fun ride since.. Getting into equestrian photography, well, my daugters were both eventers in high school, and when I went to one of their horse trials in 2003, I knew that I could do what the show photographer was doing…
f) A short funny/interesting/ridiculous story about an experience you have had while photographing at an event:
Well, I will stand on most anything I can to get the right shot. Sometimes that comes with a little peril. I was in the bed of my truck adjusting my position during a series at the water. This was at Pine Top during Training level, out at the back water where they would drop in and back out, then following the road that is on the dam and into the meadow.. My truck was on the Old Pond side of the jump. When the rider was clear, galloping well away from me, I was backing up while also looking at the images on the back of my camera. Suddenly I was in the pond! Fortunately, my reaction was to defend the camera, and it did’t get wet. I looked around to see who might have seen, and I don’t even think the jump judge saw me….
g) One piece of advice, whether technical or general for a developing photographer:
The most common thing I see folks doing at shows, and all around for that matter, is that people tend to pan their cameras holding the lens overhanded, with the left hand over the top of the lens barrell. If one wants to increase the percentage of well centered shots taken, support the lens from below, with the elbow to your side. Follow the subject by moving with your hips, not your arms. I rarely give this advice in the field, as it comes off unsolicited.. The one staff that I have who shoots overhanded, after a long day of shooting dressage, has a tired, heavy arm, and heads are getting cut off. All of the settings you can apply to the camera mean nothing if you can’t keep the subject in the center of the frame!
h) Links to your website, blog, Facebook, etc.:
Thanks for your profile Mark, what a beautiful photo! Be sure to check out Mark’s website, which says that he will be at Full Gallop next and then the AECs. Photographers, please send in your profiles by filling out this form and sending it my way. And remember to send us links to your event photo galleries if you would like us to link to them.
