Spring Travels and Adventures

The month of May flew by in a whirlwind of epic shoots and fun adventures and travel with friends. In early May the annual EPNet workshop at the Sombrero Ranch in Craig Colorado followed by the Great American Horse Drive did not disappoint! Although we missed Ed Pinkard and daughter Sara as well as Kansas this year, head wrangler Chuck Hummel did a great job of running our shoots for us with the help of Alex and Jessie, Christy, Terry, Johnny and all the rest of the amazing cowboys and cowgirls! The light and weather were great, the horses fresh and the photographers ready for fun and fellowship. Year after year this is the week many of us live for and any other shoot pales in comparison. In addition, having Nikon rep Mark Kettenhofen join us with the latest and greatest Nikon gear is an added treat, and I was lucky to test the new 80-400 Nikkor lens which I now have added to my bag and have been using quite a bit. The drive was fast and furious this year with a near stampede for the first five miles making for lots of adrenaline charged photo ops! The new horses in the herd did not know that the drive is done at a walk and trot and were ready to do it at a full gallop, and took some hard riding on the wranglers' part to get them slowed down. All my photos from my trip to Colorado may be seen at this link, including a visit to the Sandwash wild horse range. 

 After a short visit home I was off again, this time to Europe. I spent a very lovely (although rainy) few days with my Aunt in Brussels recovering from jet lag before I flew on to the Camargue region of France to join a group of friends to photograph the white horses indigenous to the region. This was a long dreamed of trip that proved to exceed my expectations! We photographed horses in the marshes, in ponds, on the beach and in the sea and also visited local stables and equestrian centers. The horse and gypsy culture is strong and alive in this part of the world and very exciting to see and photograph. What can be more fun and exciting than a group of white horses running through the water? See my images at this link.

This spring I also attended the NC PAHA Arabian show in Pennsylvania and spent some time traveling in the Big Valley in Pennsylvania. It is wonderful to see the Amish still farming with horses and all the farms are so picturesque and pristine, it is always a treat for me to travel in this part of the world.

I will be staying closer to home for a while and in July I will once again be leading an online course, The Basics of Equine Photography. This is a very popular and intensive five week course that will cover all the elements of creating good equine images, I will share lots of tips and tricks and maybe even a few secrets, and will provide lots of feedback on photos the students take as well as address any questions or issues you may have. I hope you will join me for this course as we explore the world of equine photography together!

In the meantime please do not hesitate to send me an email if you have a shoot in mind or have horses you need some extra special images of. My travels will bring me all over the northeast and beyond this year and would love to meet up with you and your horses!

The last seven years of Sombrero Ranch and Great American Horse Drive in photos...

In 2006 I travelled to Craig, Colorado to attend the Great American Horse Drive for the first time, and have returned every year since. It is the highlight of my year to attend this incredible event and it has been a huge pleasure to facilitate the Sombrero Ranch photo workshop and photographers portion of this event through the Equine Photographers Network for the past six years now. What a treat and so much fun to share this unique event with fellow photographers!

Every year I return from this event with many new and exciting images that I use to create my calendar, show in art competitions and exhibitions and license for stock usage, the photo ops are just so endless, exciting and unique. At the moment five of my images from the Horse Drive and Sombrero Ranch Workshop are hanging at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum Cowgirls with a Camera show in Wickenburg, Arizona, as well as locally in the Sidney Library in Sidney, New York. All the prints at the library are for sale at greatly reduced prices, here is your chance to have some great western art to hang and enjoy in your home!

For the month of April I will be sharing a photo a day from these shoots on my Horse Drive Photos page. Please go on over and like this page so you can enjoy the photos every day. At the end of the month I will be picking some lucky fans for some great giveaways, including prints and calendars. Thanks!

Saying Goodbye

Gulliver
(Taliszman x Rushcreek Guna)
 1998-2013

The animals that live with us are family members and we have been with many of them as they were humanely put to rest. Some have lived long, happy, healthy lives and laying them down has been bittersweet, but something we were able to prepare ourselves for, others we lost before their lives had barely begun and those have been harder to swallow. It never gets any easier and the worst thing of all is seeing an animal in such pain that the only real option we have is to release them from that pain.

Unfortunately yesterday was such a day when I had to make this decision for my gelding Gulliver, a big, stong, healthy horse that was bred and born here 15 years ago. He and his two bay sisters were always a trio, and being the only gelding in my little herd never seemed to faze him. Doing chores last night felt so strange and the place he left empty was a big gaping hole. Life is always changing, and our time here is so fleeting, please take a moment to appreciate all you have and take good care of those four legged babies that depend on us for so much.

Horse Radio Network Interviews

I have found since most of my online presence is on facebook that when I go to look for an old link to share it can be a real challenge actually finding it, so I am going to make more of an effort to share these links through my blog on a (semi) regular basis. I hope you find these links interesting and useful, and maybe entertaining also!
A while back my friend and colleague Scott Trees and I were interviewed about horse photography by Glenn from the Horse Radio Network for the Stable Scoop Radio Show. It's hard to believe that was in 2008! But it's a fun interview and contains some useful tips. More recently I have started doing photo tips for them again, and there is actually a great archive of photo tips here from both Scott and myself.

Winter Catch Up!

Well I must apologize for having neglected this blog for so long. It is a dreary Saturday afternoon so I thought I would sit and catch up on my latest travels, although things do tend to be quiet this time of year.
In November I traveled to California where I organized a photo workshop for my friend Scott Trees. We had a great group of people and a perfect location at the Santa Rosa Equestrian Center and were blessed with perfect weather and lovely light. We were treated to a nice variety of horses and models, it was a very fun and enjoyable workshop in a beautiful part of the country. After the workshop I drove from Santa Rosa up to Seattle to visit my daughter that had recently moved there. From spectacular coast line to old growth forests, mountain passes and pristine high deserts it was a treat for me to be able to explore a part of the country that I have never had the chance to see before.
In December I met up with some friends in Chincoteague, Virginia. Unfortunately this area is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Sandy and the snow geese had not yet arrived so the photo ops were limited this time. We did however find a group of ponies in the wild life loop and went for a boat ride while the weather was nice enough that we were only half frozen by the time we got back...
We have had our share of snow this winter, and some temps down around zero, but the days are getting longer so let's hope spring is just around the corner! I was able to take a little break from winter earlier in February and traveled to Arizona for some fun in the sun with some friends at the Flying E Dude Ranch in Wickenburg. What a treat! From sunny, bright blue sky days and brilliant stars at night to cowboys and horses and cows, the highlight of this trip was a brief encounter with a bobcat that I will never forget! Speaking of Wickenburg, I am pleased and honored to have been invited back to participate in the second Cowgirls with Camera Show at the Desert Caballeros Museum, if you are in the area stop in and take a look, there will be some great work hanging at this show!
I also explored more of Arizona and have a new appreciation for the wonderful and diverse landscapes of this region. Yes, I love to travel! Upcoming travels for the year include Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Wyoming .... and France!

Travels!

Well it has certainly been way too long since my last newsletter but that is because I have been busy traveling and shooting and that is a good thing!

The season started off with my annual trip to Colorado for the Sombrero Ranch Workshop and Great American Horse Drive. As always there were hundreds of horses and plenty of action, and even after attending this event for 6 years it is still the highlight of the year for me. Sharing it with fellow photographers and horse lovers makes it extra special. I also made a trip out to the SandWash to photograph the wild horses there. Plans are underway for the 2013 Workshop and Horse Drive, stay tuned for details!

In early June I photographed the PAHA Arabian show in Hughesville, Pa and then continued south stopping at Deep Creek Fjords and Quietude Morgan Stud. These farms are both located in West Virginia and the countryside could not have been more lush and beautiful! My visit with my daughter in Boone, NC found a farmer making hay with his team of Suffolk Punches as well as a very enjoyable day spent with the Cowboy Church Wagon Train. On my way back home I photographed some hot shoeing at Tudane Farm in Virginia.

In August I met up with a wonderful group of photographer friends at the Powderhorn Ranch in Wyoming for a women's retreat. I can not say enough how inspiring and energizing this was for me and my work. As creatives we often work alone and face many obstacles on a day to day basis in a profession that is becoming more and more challenging. To set aside some time to laugh and shoot and just enjoy the moment truly helps one put life back into perspective. In addition, the location and our hosts could have not been more kind and gracious with so many opportunities for us to document the kind of lifestyle many of us think no longer exists. We all left feeling spoiled and blessed! After our retreat two friends and I took a road trip and visited the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, The Windcross Conservancy, toured the Black Hills of South Dakota and had a fun photo session with a wonderful group of cowgirls in Colorado.

 

As much as I enjoy traveling and visiting new places I know that I am lucky to live in such an image rich area with many great opportunities always just around the corner! I had a lovely summer evening visit with a herd of foundation Quarter Horses at Frog Alley Farm in Margaretville, New York and I also traveled to Saratoga to photograph the early morning training session. On my way back home I caught some shots of the Amish country which is growing here in upstate, New York. This gallery also includes photos from Pennsylvania's Big Valley, one of the most beautiful areas I have ever had the honor to see. This seems to be a well kept secret when it comes to Amish areas as everyone always thinks of Lancaster, so please don't tell anyone about my discovery!

I spent some time at the Brookfield Trail System photographing the NY 50/30 mile Competitive Trail Ride in July as well as the Fall Walking Horse Pleasure Trail Ride in September. In August I officiated at the Stamford Stampede Competitive Trail Ride. Exploring trails and woods and photographing trail riders is one of the favorite parts of my job!

Since I had to sit out last fall with a broken ankle I have made up for lost time and stayed very busy! In September I officiated at the New England Dressage Festival in Saugerties, NY and also the Winley Farm Holsteiner inspection. In addition I have had the pleasure to shoot some truly fun and lovely portrait sessions with KC Claffee and her boys, the Appaloosas and ponies of Windswept Acres, two ladies dressed up in medieval dress in the woods and Jenn and her boy Solomon at the Great Gully Waterfall. Yes, I have the best job in the world!

 

Finally, In October we had a small portraiture workshop with the great Betty Cooper in the Catskills at the Frost Valley YMCA. Betty continues to inspire me to work on my portraiture skills!
 

Now the days are dark and short, the leaves are off the trees and snow is in the air. I will be making a trip to the west coast soon, and am looking forward to exploring some new places. In December I plan to spend some time in Chincoteague to photograph the ponies and the snow goose migration, something I will never tire of experiencing.

 

 

2013 Colorado Cowboys and Horses Calendar!

 

The 2013 Colorado Cowboys and Horses Calendar is available!
This is always such a huge job to whittle down many thousands of images to come up with a good variety and representation of this event, and I truly appreciate everyone that supports this project!

August ImagEquine Gallery a Day!

For the month of August I am going to share a photo gallery a day, some old work, some new work, some favorite work...please go to ImagEquine on facebook and see each day's link posted there...from mustangs to mules to horse shows, from rodeos and cowboys to dressage and carriage horses...every day a new gallery for you to browse and enjoy. Of course if you see an image that interests you your inquiries are welcome! As always, please do not download or copy photos without my permission.

Yesterday I posted a gallery from my 2008 visit to the Wild Mustang Sanctuary in Hot Springs, South Dakota. One of the best things those of us concerned about the wild horses can do is to support the sanctuaries, I just wish there were more of them. I am looking forward to visiting this sanctuary again later this month.

Today I shared a gallery of images taken at Horse Progress Days in 2011. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania area has the largest concentration of farmers still farming with horses and this event has some incredible horse powered equipment on display and of course the horse power to run it! Check out the horse powered treadmill for example.

Roadside Findings

One of the things I like most about traveling is the unexpected things I find along the way. Sometimes the most wonderful surprises are just around the corner...I am still questioning the most amazing turkey I came across recently...as a believer in animals being messengers I wonder what this meant after a week of many challenges. Regardless, I enjoyed this little impromptu photo session that I had with this turkey thoroughly! I later found out that he is a Royal Palm turkey, something I never knew existed before. I have to admit that some of my favorite images I have taken over the years have been those taken along the road, and this is the reason that when I travel I like to take my time, explore and take the back roads! No highway travel for me if I can avoid it, you just never know what you may find!

Happy Summer Solstice!

This photo was taken this past Wednesday during the last light of the summer solstice. I have been fascinated with reflection photos for some time, a new perspective is always good for the soul. The summer solstice project is a good motivator to get out and shoot even if it may be so hot you almost don't do it!
I have been doing a lot of traveling and gotten to see some amazing horses and places but it is always nice to be home too. As long as the days are time seems especially short this time of year!

I made the trip to visit my daughter in North Carolina and made some stops along the way at Deep Creek Farm Fjords, Quietude Morgans and Tudane Farm. In addition I spent some time photographing in some of the most amazing Amish country in Pennsylvania and New York. Also make sure you visit my earlier travel galleries from the Desert Southwest, Florida and Colorado.