Over the next few days/week, this blog is going to be undergoing a little bit of a conversion process. I won't be changing the main URL to save some sanity--though it might be a little confusing an address for new folks--but most of the pages are going to be switched around, revamped, or deleted.

The aim is to turn this into a more suitable place to host Margo's photo studio--aka, a place for me to host and promote my sim photography offerings to the equine community! While the site will definitely remain centered around on Equus Sims, it will focus less on hosting information about my sims and horses (since I don't have very many to focus on to begin with!); instead, it will become a portfolio of "Margo's" work and a place to list available services that can be requested from her.

I'm still not sure how I'm going to meld information about the horses I do own into the new focus, buuut I'll figure out something! In the meantime, if you visit the site and things just don't seem right--now you know why.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to jot down your thoughts on this post until I get something up on the Equus forums about what's coming up.

Cheers!

Spring's come for the Equus Sims forums, which means competition season is in full swing! The new forums are absolutely fantastic, but with classier holdings comes classier shows  to compete at--so this time around, I have to read through the rules carefully to make sure I know what I'm doing!

Now that LEC Espresso is happily registered with the Hunter Jumper Club on the new site, he and Margo have entered their very first A-Rated show! As of right now, Margo is still participating in shows as a member of the Lawrence Equestrian Riding Academy; she'll probably be representing them until she graduates from High School.

Without further ado though, here's Margo's entry:

 Here, seen approaching Jump 2--

 And here, taking jump 5b (Obviously, haha!)--

 This shot is a little tricker to decipher, but she's taking a rollback after jump 4, to procide to jump 5a.

Here, Margo lets her hair loose and steers Bean back to the stables--while he smirks cheekily at the camera.

Having been absent from the Equus community for so long, I decided that to get my mind back into things I'd make my poses from scratch again (even the ones I didn't need to)... And, well, it proved a little more challenging than I thought. Even though I'd wager they look fairly decent from the angles I caught, there's still some parts of each pose I'm not really that pleased with, so it may be a little while until I release them to the public. I certainly would like to, though.

As for editing, I did a few things different this time around than usual:

First, I used the Amber Action from Florabella Spring Set I, as well as some of the other additives from that set. I don't use those actions a lot because they're fairly overpowering on Sims screens, but because Appaloosa Plains has so much variation in color, and the jumps are also all quite varied, I felt having something to tone down all the shades and mellow them would  be better than my normal actions, which focus on enhancing colors rather than subduing.

Second, I used motion blurring on the legs to try and get more impression of movement. I'm not sure if it's working as intended, but I'm happy with the result, so oh well. :)

Third: I did a bit more hair editing than  usual, which hopefully turned out alright... I am not as good as some, but at least Bean's mane is nice and short. I also edited clothes for the first time in the "jump" picture, to give the jacket some lift in the back. Doesn't look too bad.

Anyways, I am SO excited to be back in the Equus scene--there's always so much going on, and getting Margo involved makes her feel like a part of something so much bigger than just Desperate Sims. I already have so many plans for Margo's future, being able to involve so many wonderful people in them makes me a happy camper indeed. ♥

Cheers!

The days have gotten shorter and shorter--and with the release of Seasons, my sims can finally experience the frustrating cold as I do! Up in the snowy reaches of Canada, things have gotten incredibly chilly, with several feet of snow clogging the sidewalks and frost coating my windows.

It can be very frustrating at times, but winter is definitely my favorite time of year. I don't spend a lot of time outdoors, but nothing beats curling up on the couch with a cup of hot tea and a view of a street coated in white.

I  imagine Margo has similar feelings about it; she's never really been outdoorsy, but nothing gets between her and where she wants to go. And--naturally--she wouldn't want to be separated from her equine friends for very long.

As the snow started to get deeper, classes at the Academy were postponed until the riding trails can be cleared and the training yard is less icy. Margo still goes to the Ranch every day to do her job taking care of Dusty, Fury, Rocky and Mumba, but as she has started to form a really strong friendship with Bean, it was difficult not seeing him every week.

So, even though classes were cancelled until March, Margo still hitches a ride to Appaloosa Plains every weekend to see her Hanoverian buddy. There isn't much she can do, since practicing her riding technique isn't really an option, but the trip is worth a few nuzzles and a break from sitting around the house.

I have to say, the more I see these two together, the more I know how much this is a match made in heaven. I know I've been posting pictures of them for a while, but in a way it seems like their relationship is just beginning--in the story, and in my heart, too. They've always been cute together, but it's doing photos like these that remind me why I keep coming back to Equus--the relationship between a horse and a human is a beautiful thing, and with characters I love this much, I just can't keep them apart.

I hope everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying their winter weather, and of course--if you own it--the Seasons Expansion! I wish there were more ways for animals to interact with snow, but I guess I'll just have to take what we can get. :)

Back in November of 2012, Margo and Daisy officially became students of the Lawrence Equestrian Riding Academy, and establishment built by Christina of Equus-Sims who has kindly let me use it in my story!

In Desperate Sims, LEC's Academy hosts classes for students from Beginners to Intermediate level--currently, both Margo and Daisy are "beginners" in the story, but I've used them both in some Advanced competitions for kicks and giggles. ;)

There are also several other sims who Margo and Daisy are competing with at the Academy:

More about them after the break!

This is a bit of an older event that took place in May of last year, but I never posted the eventing pictures in a separate post.

Margo May Kane and LEC Espresso

Daisy de Wynter and Mumba

Placement
1st Place	Daisy de Wynter & Mumba
2nd Place	Margo May Kane & LEC Espresso

It was a bit of a clean sweep from the LEC Academy riders, but it cemented a very unhappy unease between Margo and Daisy. Neither of them have been able to compete in Equus competitions for close to a year--hopefully they can get back into the "reins" and start mastering the art of riding again soon! (But hopefully aren't pitted against each other too soon!)

As requested, here is the text/image tutorial of how I edit my screenshots. As a forewarning: this tutorial is NOT meant for Photoshop newbies--if you do not have at least basic knowledge of how to use Photoshop, this tutorial will not teach you!

At certain points, I may direct you to other tutorials to teach you how to do certain techniques I use in this explanation. You may ask me to elaborate on anything those tutorials say that does not make sense, but don't ask me to explain without reading/watching them first.

What I Will Be Using:

• Photoshop CS5 (Download for you scallywags!)
• Topaz Re-Mask 3 (Download for you scallywags!)
• DanLuVisi's Brush Set
• Water Splash Brush Set
• Pioneer Woman Action Set (Just for Slight Lighten)
• Kaleeko's Warm Color-Pop Action

As the event's description: "Cross Country tests the speed, strength, and endurance of the horse and the skill of its rider. The Queenstown Spring Cross Country Trials is hosted this year by none other than Shoreline Hill Stables. The trials will consist of two different classes, each judged separately. Entrants must submit three pictures of horse and rider over three different obstacles."

I decided to go with a Twinbrook setting for this event, since there doesn't seem to be a lot going on there and the flat-land swamp area seems pretty ideal for Cross Country; however, this idea turned out to be a bit problematic, since a lot of the swamp is unrouteable terrain and I couldn't place lots in any of the ideal places to put obstacles.

So, I went with a "simple" approach; the first picture is on a tiny batch of routable terrain I could find, where I used the Pose-Player add-on to orient the horse/rider (total pain in the arse--never doing that again), the second I edited one of the fishing holes to be less deep and with a jump at the end; then the last one, just a standard jump in one of the emptier, flatter areas of the swamp.

I really tried to go for easier obstacles than I have with previous jumping competitions, since I feel I might've gotten a little ahead of myself when I was making poses before. It's still not quite novice level, but closer. I can't wait until Margo actually learns to ride in Desperate Sims though, so I don't feel so guilty making her all uber.

Well, except that last jump! I actually wanted to make a larger fumble, showing her actually falling off (though in this instance she does fall off, she just hasn't yet), but I really liked how the pose turned out so I just used it anyways.

The stance/water in the second image is based off of this picture; the poses in the third/fourth are based off of this one.

PS: Don't you love how in the third picture, Bean is just like, "Lookit me, I'm gorgeous, let me pause and catch this  breeze to show off my beautiful profile," and Margo's like, "OMG OMG OMG WAT IS HAPPENINNNGGG."

Bean. You are the ultimate troll. ♥

Alright, ladies and gents! The results are in, and its time to announce the winners of this month's Individuality Show!

I want to preface this by saying--this was very, very difficult! I honestly felt like changing my mind every time I went back and looked at the entries, because there were so many that I feel deserve recognition. I ended up having to wait an hour or so between judging each entry so that I could keep a fresh perspective--so, the following results are based on those scores.

I really loved all the entries, though--you guys have some really wonderful horses! I had to be quite a harsh critic to be able to pick my favorites, so below I'm going to explain what I liked about the winning entries, what I might like to see more of in the future, so that when I hold this show again later on you guys have a better idea what I'm looking for in the entries.

Alright, so without further ado:

Information
Name:	Daisy de Wynter
Age:	Teen (15yrs)
Traits:	Snob, Mean-Spirited, Ambitious, Equestrian
Jobs/Activities:	High School School Newspaper Lawrence Equestrian Academy
Eventing Horses:	Mumba

There are few girls out there with as surly a disposition as Daisy de Wynter. Few can recall when she's ever been nice--and even fewer can recall the last time she smiled. Nothing in the world lives up to her expectations, and she has no problems announcing this--leading to there being very few people out there willing to remain in her company.

However, if her arrogance gives her anything, it's incredible ambition. Daisy never stops trying to improve, and always expects the best--so she accepts nothing less than First Place from herself. "You're first, or you're last." Not the most poetic words to live by, but she lives by them all the same.

Though Daisy's talents span over many areas--writing, schoolwork, debate, and even art--she has always favored the riding arts most of all. Her family's rather enormous wealth--a tragic gift from her late father--has afforded her luxuries such as her own horse, "Mumba", as well as a place in LEC's Riding Academy.

Daisy's Eventing History

So far, Daisy has participated in the following competitions at Equus-Sims:

Event	Horse	Placement
La Maitrese Show Jumping Event	Mumba	1st Place

To request Daisy's skill in photography, or to ask her to participate in a competition with one of your own horses, please read the information in the Services section.

Information
Name:	Margo May Kane - View Her Journal
Age:	22 Years Old (Currently 16 in Desperate Sims Time)
Traits:	Shy, Clumsy, Loser, Coward, Photographer's Eye, Animal Lover
Occupation:	Freelance Photographer and Competitive Equestrian Stablehand at Simlous Lake Horse Ranch
Represents Stable:	Currently N/A
Education:	High School Graduate Graduate of the Lawrence Equestrian Riding Academy
Current Specialty:	Show Jumping (Primary) Cross Country (Secondary)

When people first meet Margo, she often comes across as being incredibly withdrawn and anxious; she's been shy from a very young age, but those who take the time to get through to her will have a loyal friend for life.

Unfortunately, she's had quite a lot of other difficulties to overcome. She was a bit of a loser during her school years, picked on and outcast by a majority of her classmates for being clumsy and cowardly. She has always frightened easily, and has a hard time sticking up for herself. Despite all the struggles she's been through though, from the heartache of a broken family and her attractions to very troublesome boys, she has pulled through remarkably, growing into a sturdy, hard-working young woman that embraces challenge.

Since she was 13 years old, Margo has been an aspiring photographer, using anything from camera phones to an old, vintage camera of her mother's to catalogue the events of her life. She enjoys sharing these experiences and pictures on her blog Yours Truly, Margo. Her persistent efforts with this skill over the years gained her a photographer's eye, making her not quite such a loser anymore.

When she was 15 Years Old she also joined the Lawrence Equestrian Academy, where her love for horses was nurtured and transformed into an incredible passion for participating in shows and events. To afford this experience and training, she worked as a stablehand at Simlous Lake Horse Ranch in her hometown of Twinbrook, learning not only the value of equine companionship but the responsibility it takes to care for them--and turning her into an avid animal lover.

Because of her passion and experience in both areas, Margo has chosen to combine them and offer her services as a photographer for both humans and horses, as well as her services in competitive horsemanship to those with a horse but no one to ride it.

Margo's Eventing History

So far, Margo has participated in the following competitions at Equus-Sims:

Event	Horse	Placement
Equus-Sims Think Pink! Event October 2011	Dusty Dame	1st Place
Hanoverian Stud Qualifying Show	LEC Espresso	87 Points (Gold)
La Maitrese Show Jumping Event	LEC Espresso	2nd Place
Queenstown Spring 2012 X-Country Trials	LEC Espresso	4th Place
Appaloosa Plains 2013 Spring Series	LEC Espresso	4th Place
Spring Pairs Hunter Trails XC Event	Dusty Dame	TBA

To request Margo's skill in photography, or to ask her to participate in a competition with one of your own horses, please read the information in the Services section.

Equus-Sims hosted an event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October of 2011; Margo and Dusty Dame placed 1st Place with the below image:

Thanks, Equus-Sims! I'm glad you thought they were as cute as I did. :)

The images from Bean's Study Qualifying Challenge, in which he placed Gold: