In the frame by Alice Gipps

In the frame

Photos allow player to combine passions

Words and photos by Alice Gipps

Alice Gipps has spent her life riding and working with horses, whether breeding, training, playing, drawing, writing about or photographing them. Her knowledge of horses and polo has helped her become a talented photography, allowing her to combine her artistic side with her love of horses and polo. She holds a 3-goal women’s rating, a 0goal mixed rating and a 1-goal arena rating. She shares her story here:

Growing up on a farm in Wales, my love for horses and photography started at an early age, riding a naughty Shetland pony and borrowing my father’s Canon camera to photograph wildlife and the farm animals. Although I went on to study Equine Science at university, weekends and summer holidays were spent drawing horse portrait commissions, producing freelance articles and polo photographs while learning more about everything to do with polo by helping at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club in exchange for lessons.

My first commission was to cover the ‘Pony Power’ photographs and interviews for the UK publication “Polo Times” and it snowballed from there nearly 20 years ago. What started out as a hobby turned into a career, with images subsequently sourced for cover shots, published in international polo magazines, books, websites and national newspapers along with invitations to cover Royal polo events.

Knowledge gained from the Equine Science degree, and awareness of the game from playing polo has given me a deep understanding of both subject and sport, both valuable assets that have contributed towards my career as a polo photographer.

For many years, I spent time perfecting my skills shooting polo action, which is always an exciting challenge to capture the most dramatic moments

that portray the energy and atmosphere of the sport. The image of Bautista Heguy and Adolfo Cambiaso with the mallets entwined touching the ball at exactly the same moment is an unusual image, especially of two of the most famous polo players in history at that time.

There is a large element of luck that such action happens in front of you, however, having the ability to predict the game helps hugely to capture them and achieve a shot with impact when it does come your way. Good equipment is also important. Most recently, I’ve been using the new Canon R5, which is incredible for portraits and action. The 100400mm lens is very versatile and easy to travel with.

I adore action photography and it is still a big part of my work. Although it requires artistic energy to portray the beauty and power of the game, it was not until later in my photography career that I sought an even deeper connection with my artistic routes and started creating fine art photographs. The intent was to produce equine images full of visual pleasure to become wall art for everyone to enjoy.

My own ponies were an early influence. The image of Nicotina, the polo pony mare with a rawhide halter, was my first picture to be sold as a

A photo of Alice’s horse Nicotina was the first image to be sold as a fine art print. It is displayed at the Orange County Polo Club in California.

Alice captured the most famous players at that time, Bautista Heguy and Adolfo Cambiaso, touching the ball at the same time.

This photo, taken at a traditional Argentine gaucho festival, is often mistaken for a painting.

fine art print in 2005. It has since been featured in top London galleries, Ralph Lauren Home and is the center piece in the Orange County Polo Club in Silverada, California.

Nicotina helped me win the Cowdray British Ladies Open in 2007, quite a feat against Clare Milford-Haven’s mighty Audi team with Nina Clarkin the first time, and then we won it with them in 2010. Nicotina retired from polo to breeding due to an injury and produced three lovely foals, which I’ve since trained and now form part of my own home-bred string. So, the image is not only one of my favorite pieces, it holds many personal memories.

My most famous piece to date is “Tropillas.” Often mistaken for a painting, this image was taken at a traditional Argentine gaucho festival. The array of so many different colored Criollo ponies, all galloping through the dust during the competition, creates an arty composition that captivates the viewer. It is not easy to capture the wow factor in an image, but when you do get a special image, it is a way of sharing the passion that drives you as a photographer with everyone. These festivals are full of wonderful authentic scenes that have led to several of my most prominent images. It was an honor when the Singapore Polo Club presented the Tropillas picture as a gift to HRH Prince Harry in 2017.

It is also another image that holds many personal memories as I am very fond of Argentina, returning almost every year since 2003 to photograph the Argentine Open. Palermo has an unforgettable electric atmosphere, and Cambiaso on home turf with the crowd going wild, is something else.

Photography allows me to express my artistic side, combining all my passions. I am always on the lookout for beautiful scenes that capture movement, character or feeling that will evoke emotion. Polo images are often very personal to the players, whereas fine art images allow a far wider audience to share my love of horses.

Covid 19 has disrupted life significantly in 2020. I was involved with the prestigious Gallery 8 exhibitions in London, held by the Country House and Stables, at the start and the end of the year alongside well known equine artists, sculptors and the famous equine photographer Tim Flach. Throughout a large part of the year galleries were unable to open, however I felt a need to adapt to the situation so I set about creating a new website, solely for my fine art images. They are displayed in online galleries and I am also able to show my work in ‘virtual exhibitions’ where the pictures are available smartly framed or mounted as well as options of more sleek, modern looking HD Acrylics and Astral (aluminum) pieces.

For more information, please go to the website: www.alicegippsgallery.com. •