Horse: a Portrait: A Photographer's Life with Horses

by Christiane Slawik (Photographer)

A Portrait is a collection of photographs and writing by award-winning photographer Christiane Slawik. Taking us on her travels around the world, Slawik tells the stories behind the photos and about her personal love of horses. She writes, "Horses have been facinating for me in a way that I can only describe with difficulty. This feeling and facination I try to capture with my camera - this one magical moment that not only I can take home with me in my heart but that others can share in my photos. A moment tht can be strength and elegance, dynamics, combined with wild and simultaneously gentle spirit." Through Slawik's incredible photography and inspirational words, we view a portrait of both these magnificent animals and also of Slawik herself.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2007

Reviews

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one of my absolute favorite horse books; Christiane Slawik's photographs are quite stunning. And the fact that there is a chapter on "heavy horses" deserves a special mention from me (even if Nordic work horses did not make it in there).

[Drasevia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Czech language, this book is called "The soul of a horse" and I think that description is absolutely accurate. Each of the photos perfectly captures the beauty, elegance, spirit and endless range of feelings of this majestic animals which I have loved and admired since childhood.

But Mrs. Slawik obviously loves them even more, which is directly evident also from the entire text of the book. It’s written so beautifully - even poetically - that it captured my heart again, even after years of owning this book.
10/10.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This 2007 English edition was translated from the German by Suzanne Schruefer. There were some minor mistakes in translation, such as "radio-cooperation", colts being called stallions, and the glaring punctuation error on the cover. The text is rather choppy, and often doesn't make much sense. Some of the organization was puzzling, like a huge photo of non-Fresian horses included in a chapter devoted to Fresians.

Just skip the text and enjoy the photos. Sometimes, Skawik identifies her equine models. I wasn't happy to read that the cover image was actually of a stallion goaded into striking out, instead of a spontaneous action.

You can currently find this book at the Internet Archive ... well, most of it, anyway. Someone paid the copy scanned into the Archive a compliment by stealing pages 55 - 56.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just gorgeous. Slawik has a very unique eye, used to great effect here.

I didn't bother to read most of the sidebars because the pictures were the whole point, but the parts I did read were usually explaining the set-up for the picture, and it was often interesting.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread before gifting. Eye candy for any horse lover....
not easy to move off my shelf.

[Kimberly Vogt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are obsessed with photographing horses, this is your book. Beautiful, majestic animals and more than worthy of our admiration. Read it. You’ll fall in love all over again.