Friday, March 2, 2012

Photo-Heart Connection February 2012


Yes more horses, but not my daughter (this time).  I have to admit I've been waiting for this month's photo-heart connection to finally get here because as soon as I saw this image - I knew this was the one. 

Depicting real life at a horse farm, amidst all the fencing, standards, poles, & other farm stuff - owner/rider joins her horse in the paddock to bond before riding.  This is a barn friend of ours who lets her horse run in the outdoor arena before she rides her.  Although the horses are turned out daily (for most of the day), they usually hang out in the sun & enjoy the winter rye grass - so no need to really run & play & get rid of some energy - excess energy you don't want or need under saddle.  I was (obviously) standing a ways away & joked that I was her stalker photographer, but it was really nice to see them bond after the running around.  Together they walked back to the barn, horse totally locked onto her owner - no lead line needed (until you get out of that paddock) - horse willingly/respectfully following the owner (herd leader).  I enjoy watching the horses interact with each other and with their humans - you can tell a lot about the dynamics of their relationships.

To see other photo heart connections, visit Kat Eye Studio website.

The image was taken with a 105mm (macro) - it's what I had with me at the time; post processing  - desaturating, & a touch of sepia.  Some of the colors of the standards, poles were bright and distracted from what was going on behind the fence.

18 comments:

  1. I loved reading your story about the owner and the horse bonding together. You did a great job of capturing the essence of that in your photo, too.

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    1. Thank you for following the thumbnail to my post. I'm glad that the feeling of the photo is also seen by others.

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  2. This has a dreamy quality to it, like a throw back to an earlier time that we all seem to perceive as easier. Great story as well.

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    1. Thanks!! With post-processing I was trying to achieve a little bit of old-fashioned coloring (and to tone down some of those brightly colored posts).

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  3. There IS a lot going on in this image, but I do get what you are trying to convey here...in spite of everything around them, it is, simply, the girl and the horse.

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    1. Yes - life goes on, routines continue - no matter what is going around you. Thank you for following the thumbnail & leaving a comment.

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  4. You've captured a lovely connection between the girl and her horse! Wonderful image!

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    1. Thank you!! I appreciate the comment. Hope to you come back visit again.

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  5. This photo tells a whole story of connection and compromise, I love it very much

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    1. I'm glad that what I saw in the photo is also being seen by others. Thank you for stopping by & leaving a comment.

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  6. You captured such a beautiful moment in this photo! No wonder it's your Photo-Heart Connection this month. I love seeing this, and from afar it gives it such a sense of place. In all of the busy-ness there is this island of calm, this moment between horse and rider. Lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us!

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    1. Thanks Kat for all your kind comments & for seting up this monthly prompt.

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  7. There is something about being a photo-stalker. You capture those moments that are so true, so unstaged, so whimsical. Nice, nice photo and story.

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    1. I'm hoping to one day expand my photo-stalking to street photography (it just makes me really nervous). Sometimes around our barn there are many things going at the same time - I love standing in one area & observing (& photographing) everyday life out there.

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  8. Your words along with the photo gives me a sense of place and of a lifestyle that I know peripherally but not on a daily basis. Thank you for the glimpse into life on a horse farm.

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    1. Up until 6 years ago - this life was a mystery to us as well. I still feel as though we have so much to learn - but we are giving it a try. It is surprising all the activities going on day-to-day. Thank you for stopping by & leaving a comment - hope you'll visit again.

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  9. This is such a beautiful image and story. How wonderful that both the horse and the owner are able to share such moments.

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    1. It is nice when the horse respects/loves the owner/rider - otherwise it can be dangerous. I don't know if I would have been able to capture the same image if I were closer to them. Thanks for following the thumbnail & leaving a comment.

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