ARSE OVER TEA KETTLE; Sang Tan

photo by Sang Tan/ WPN

Ready for the unexpected?


I was just wandering around shooting on the streets of London one sunny cold day, enjoying a break from my routine. I did not expect any drama to occur.

As I passed the Horse Guards Parade, the daily Changing of the Guard
was about to happen I have photographed it many times
before but I stopped to have a look, and maybe to get some stock
shots as the light was not bad. I decided to go to the front on Whitehall for a wide shot of the mounted sentries.

Stationed behind an iron gate, I waited for the Life Guards to ride out from the stable, do their inspection bit and ride to the sentry boxes to replace the guards already there. I meant to make a wide shot of both guards lined up for
inspection but suddenly one of the horses decided to walk away. The Guard tried to control the horse but was thrown off to the
ground, followed by the horse itself.

All this happened within seconds
and I did not even realize that I had my finger pressed on the
shutter all that time. I did not plan to shoot a sequence but, I
guess my experience and training kicked in and I just reacted.


I think because I was not expecting anything unusual to happen,
it allowed my mind to be unclouded, which gave me the reaction I
needed.

These soldiers and horses are very well trained;

I knew I had an unusual set of pictures.

c Sang Tan

the full series of photos of the royal horse fall, Sang Tan, WPN
www.sangtan.nildram.co.uk
www.britishpressphoto.org/sangtan