bridgetnorman_7448

Mustang fight

NIKON D5000

settings

Aperture f/7.1 ISO 400 Shutter 10/16000 Focal Length 1950/10

upload_date

Apr, 2016

Views

421

Likes

+19

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We have so many photo opportunities in N. Nevada. I love this shot, I need to get out and focus on the mustangs!

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photograph was taken near Fernley, Nevada. These are on BLM range.

Time

This photo was taken mid day. I had spent many hours in the area taking photographs of the wild mustangs in the area, so I'm not positive about the exact time.

Lighting

No special lighting was used, just the sun. It was a beautiful spring day with a few clouds.

Equipment

I used my Nikon D5000 and a Nikon 70-300mm lens.

Inspiration

I love the wild mustangs in the area. This photo was taken during mating season. I knew the stallions would be out looking for a new mate and fighting for the ones they already had. These two stallions had been fighting over a beautiful filly. The black one was her mate, the brown one kept pacing around trying to catch her attention. She didn't seem interested in him. The black one was more beautiful in real life than in this photo. He is a small stallion and is less hands than his filly. The filly already had a young foal that was about 8 months old that looked like the black stallion. We watched as the brown stallion tried to sneak up in all directions, and I knew that there was going to be a fight. They actually fought a few times, but this photo was so full of action! When I got home and looked at this photo, I was so excited that it turned out awesome! I can't wait for the next time the mustangs are full of energy.

Editing

I adjusted the shadows a little with he unnamed program in my computer. Other than that, this is totally natural.

In my camera bag

I have my Nikon 5000, Nikon Coolpix 510. And Nikon 70-300mm and Nikon 18-55mm lens'. I usually bring a tripod with me too, but I prefer to hold my camera when I am photographing horses.

Feedback

When you photograph horses, wild or tame, you have to be prepared. You need to know the mannerisms of horses. Their ears tell you a lot. If their ears are laid back, back off and watch out. If their ears are forward, they are curious and will let you hang out there. When you are dealing with wild horses, there are laws on how close you can get. But even with the laws, you have to read the horse. If the horse starts to move away from you, back off. Also, you never want to walk up to a wild horse straight on, walk up with your side to them. Straight on seems like a threat to them and they will run, usually in the opposite direction. I have learned, over time what their sounds mean. There is a distinct difference in sounds; from a couple of horses playing or a mother calling her young, and a stallion warning another stallion, or even controlling his own herd. When you photograph any horse, you have to be ready with your camera at all times. A lot of the time they aren't as active as the two in this photo, but they are always beautiful. They are very spontaneous and their expressions are always amusing. I usually use my 70-300mm lens because the horses are usually are quite a distance away. I wish I had a lens that let me get a closer photo, but I'm a beginner at photography and have to take one step at a time. Horses are my subject of choice, and are absolutely amazing creatures and deserve respect and saving.

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Mustang fight

Behind The Lens

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