Wapiti Wildscapes Fine Art Western Photographs
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December 9th, 2020
Back in May of 2015 we brought home a horse called Blue. He was a handsome roan who had spent his life roaming thousands of acres across the hills of a ranch in Montana. Most horses are started- taught to be handled, saddled and ridden- at two or three years of age, when they are still considered to be a colt, or young horse. At nine years old, Blue was way behind the curve. It wasn't his fault; the ranch he grew up on had changed ownership and in the years of transition, with no training program in place, he and other colts fell through the cracks. They were still well cared for, and with changes from summer to winter pasture and routine foot care he did learn to be caught and handled some but he hadn't learned to be ridden and go to work.
My husband Seth changed the horse's name to Gaucho, inspired after reading a book about the horsemen of South America. I took this photo the day we brought Gaucho home, which was also the first day Seth saddled him. He snorted and rolled his eyes some, and gave a few bucks while Seth held on to the lead rope, but really this was the most trouble we ever had from him. He became Seth's main ride on summer pack trips and for guiding hunts in the fall, crossing rivers and mountain passes as if he'd been doing this his whole life. Which I suppose he had, just not with a rider on his back and a pack string following behind him.
Find "The Old Colt" in my Black and White Collection.
December 9th, 2020
Several months ago, a good friend asked me to take a special photograph: He wanted a black and white image and he said, "When I look at it, I want to be able to feel how cold it is." And so began my fascination with taking a photograph that conveyed a feeling, not just an emotion.
So far this winter we have had unusually high snowfall, high winds and below freezing temperatures which has given plenty of opportunity to try and capture my sought-after "COLD" picture (I certainly feel cold when I'm standing outside, trying to hold my camera still in a 30-mile-an-hour wind!), but the image I'd like to share today is one I took back in October when we were getting our first snows. As I write this, the temperature has warmed to an afternoon high of 4 degrees Fahrenheit (the forecast is: Bitter cold temperatures with dangerous wind chills expected), and that October morning I spent driving around seems like a very long time ago. But, at the time, 28 degrees seemed cold.
The name "Cathedral" came from the exclamation my aunt Michele made when she saw this image. One of the things I love about taking pictures is that it requires me to be observing, not just seeing, the world around me, and in observing I am continually awed by the sights that I might otherwise take for granted.
You can shop for "Cathedral" in my Black and White Collection.