230608 horseplay 2
A little horseplay in the early morning fog at Rolling Thunder Ranch in the Big River valley of Cedar Hill, Missouri.
A little horseplay in the early morning fog at Rolling Thunder Ranch in the Big River valley of Cedar Hill, Missouri.
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Jun, 2023Views
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Awards
Summer Views Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Superb Composition
Peer Award
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Behind The Lens
Location
I made this photo at Rolling Thunder Ranch in the Big River valley of Cedar Hill, MIssouri. The ranch is across the valley from our home. We live on a ridge overlooking the valley and the horses. We moved to our home in 2020. After a couple of years, we got to know the owners of the horse ranch and they let me come over to take photos.Time
This photo was taken right at dawn. I always wake up early and look out at the valley that spreads out below our house. If it is a foggy morning (as it is on many mornings) I drive over to the horse ranch. I'm always the first one there. I have to walk about a half mile into the pastures to find the horses, which can be a challenge in the fog. But, it is always peaceful and very still. If I get there too early, I have to wait for first light so that I can better see the horses.Lighting
I like the feel and mood of the horses in the fog. I'm always looking for something new or I'm waiting for them to do something different. My only comment on the lighting is that I shoot mostly backlit once the sun starts to break through the fog. I like the effect.Equipment
I use two mirrorless Canon R cameras with a 100-500mm lens and a 24-105mm lens.Inspiration
My wife and I ran a horse boarding facility for over thirty years. I took some pictures at our place, but generally didn't have the time or energy to photograph our horses. Now that we moved and I retired from working as a photojournalist for 50 years, I have a whole different perspective on these beautiful animals. Now they don't look like work!Editing
No. This was a straight forward image with minor cropping.In my camera bag
Just the two cameras that I mentioned before. I stopped carrying a camera bag many years ago. It was bad for my neck and posture. I stopped using a flash years ago.Feedback
You just need love and appreciation for horses. Plus, you need lots of patience. Sometimes I stand in the field for long periods of time without shooting, just watching and waiting for the right moment. Horses can spend a great deal of time with their heads down doing nothing but eating. That's why I wait and wait for those brief moments of action.
