History Secret - Part Two

PART ONE

So we were at Digoine's castle, where my mare played two scenes for french TV series "Secret d'Histoire" (History Secret).

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After the first shot, we came back in front of the castle for another one.

To be honest, I was really happy that my mare was here, because appaloosa coated horses were REALLY greatly pized in history...

"Crossing the Rhine", Adam Frans van der Meulen  (1632–1690)

This time no costume for the horse but as we didn't have any historic saddle, it was all about hiding it, because this time no big dress to do the job. Also we did the first test helping the main actor to ride...

I liked this pair... (don't you think they are cute together?)

 And their accuraty...

"Rendez vous au carrefour de Compiègne, ou le Botté du roi", Jean Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755)

From Oudry's painting, Nicolas-Pierre Pithou, l'Aîné (1750-1818)

Then, the main actor start to play his part...

He was acting Pillipe d'Orléan (1674-1723), regent of french kingdom for Louis XV, on the road to war...

"Phillipe, Orlean Duc, Regent of France" Pierre Mignard (1612-1695)

Funny fact: they said in History Secret that Phillipe of Orlean didn't ride very well, and... the actor was perfectly playing that -not on purpose-. To be honest, I thinks he did fine as he wasn't a rider and the mare who was supposed to only trot did... gallop instead.

An appaloosa coated horse for him is really something I would rate a "plus" because, it was really the kind of horses that used to be king's month at his era.

Louis XIV (brother of Phillipe d'Orlean's own father) was truly into spotted horses...

"Louis XIV at the Taking of Besançon" Adam Frans van der Meulen  (1632–1690)

King Louis XIV at the siege of Lille facing the Priority of Five" Adam Frans van der Meulen  (1632–1690)

And Louis XV (son of Louis XIV, and the king Phillipe d'Orlean was the regent) also...

Detail of a hunt scene with Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755)

It's really the golden age of the spotted horse, even if a lot of thoses paintings ratify those as "king's white horse". Wich is funny, because if the production call us for a white horse, they got an almost white appaloosa horse that would fit their historic re-enactement way better than they expected.

"A Riding School" Dirk Maes (1653-1717)

"A hunter and a Lady resting in a landscape..." Chales Joseph Natoire (1700-1777)

"Louis XIV receiving the keys of Strasbourg" Constantijn Francken (1661-1717)

 

 

I loved the whole experience, 

And I wish you loved my two blog post about too!

edit. Oh wait, there's more now! PART THREE

To finish, here's some more of the lucky castle shot I was allowed to do after all this.

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For the most curious, the episode is running on youtube until thursday 17th of august.

   

My mare is at:

-Minute 22:58

 

FAQ : How to do Splashes?

The question n°1 I got was : How did you do splashes on your pictures?
Well, I already answered to that, but people still wants to know, so here's a reminder:

Splashes needs time & effort, they won't come easy and you're gonna need to be patient.

-If you don't go on shooting alone, so you're at least 2, just ask your friend/parent to throw littles rocks in the waters for you. And you just had to focus on taking pictures. That simple.

-If you're alone, well...
1. Don't be affraid of wet foot (really).

Or came on purpose with boots.

2. Place your figure in the water.
3. Be sure the figure is NOT gonna be taken by the water current.
4. Choose your framing, take a first picture without splash of what you want. (it would help you focus)

5. Be creative to make a stand for your camera, exemple, take some rocks. (Option: you have a real stand foot like a boss, I didn't).

Be attentive to your environment, to found what you need to make a stand & little rocks.

6. With your main hand you gonna take little rocks to throw, with the other your gonna pull the trigger,

7. Be calm and patient, throwing with your main head is better for precision, the stand for the camera gonna help your other hand to keep the camera focus. YOUR ANGLE MAY CHANGE A BIT during process.
8. Repeat, as long as needed. It may need several shots.

It can be long, it can be difficult, the result is the reward. Really. The following pictures were taken by me alone using the technique below, promess.

As you can see, the good picture can be really different than what you wanted first.

So now, you're ready to do all the splashes you want.