nancyswanson_8046

Shy Barn Dog With Treat

Australian Shepherd dog laying down with treats. Background is blurred .

Australian Shepherd dog laying down with treats. Background is blurred .
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Apr, 2018

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Meet Gigi, my spirited ex-racehorse. Her spirited nature and beauty make her one of my favorite subjects.

Summer in the desert brings thunderstorms. In this photo, taken at sundown, the rain is in the distance. In the foreground is a craggy formation.

Sun rays break through dark clouds above the desert.

I was driving home from the upper valley of west El Paso, TX when I saw this scene. I stopped and took a few shots.

This is Haley, a therapy horse who works with disabled children.

Vertical photo of a dappled grey draft horse on a black background.

This is Johnson grass and is considered a weed. Here it has taken root and flourished in a Texas irrigation canal.

After a heavy rain, rays of the sun broke though the clouds above the desert.

I took this photo on a rainy, summer day as I walked a trail on the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas.

BW photo of a 1 month old amused by his reflection.

Its springtime and the Spanish Broom bushes are in bloom. This is a close-up of the vibrant yellow flowers.

Behind The Lens

Location

This sweet girl was hanging out In the barn where I board my horse in west Texas. Her sweet expression and soft blue eyes begged for a photo.

Time

It was mid morning and she had just finished accompanying her owners as they fed and watered the horses. Now it was time for a well deserved break.

Lighting

We were inside a horse barn where the mid morning light was spreading down the aisle.

Equipment

I had just finished riding my horse and had my trusty iPhone 7 Plus handy. I crouched down on the floor using my elbows as a tripod to best capture that furry face.

Inspiration

The dog was hesitant to befriend me but little by little, treat by treat, scratch by scratch we became friends. The way she tentatively took the treats, settled down to enjoy them and gazed up at me was a moment that honestly spoke of her growing trust towards me.

Editing

The photo didn’t need much post-processing. I upped the brightness a tad since there wasn’t a lot of natural light making its way into the barn. I also increased sharpness around her face.

In my camera bag

I take most of my photos while I’m interacting with animals in my everyday activities. And I’m rarely without my iPhone.

Feedback

I love taking photos of animals as they enjoy themselves and explore their world. This means instead of staging shots, I just wait for the shots. The better I know my subjects, the better I get with anticipating those moments. I’m learning to be a more acute observer so I can see and then seize these instances before they pass. Being at the right place at the right time is somewhat magical.

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nancyswanson_8046

nancyswanson_8046

Shy Barn Dog With Treat

Australian Shepherd dog laying down with treats. Background is blurred .

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow nancyswanson_8046

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