While the horses in Steeldust’s band were still napping, I tiptoed away, then turned back to take this pic – actually, these two pix. Then I let Photoshop stitch ’em! The horses were so quiet and still, they apparently didn’t move a hair! So my first attempt at a panorama of animals has turned out better than any series I’ve ever stitched together of inanimate objects!
Go figure. 🙂
From left: Alpha and Steeldust, Hannah and Storm (yes – note the slightly redder hue of her coat and the browner hue of his – they’re lying flat out 🙂 ), Sundance behind Mahogany, Sable, Kestrel, Mouse behind Kestrel, Ember, barely a bit of Comanche and Aspen!
It’s so hard to get all the horses in one picture close enough to identify them and not have them be just a blob of horseness out in the distance. While they were quiet, it was cool to take a couple of pix and combine it later. Not in the picture are Luna and Butch – to the left – and Hook and Pinon, hidden in a bit of a draw behind these guys.
I’m slowly but surely getting through the pix and posting stuff as it moves me – hope that’s OK!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
TJ, This has got to be unique. They have a great trust in you and assume you are another lookout, I think. How magical. They know you are theirs. mar
TJ, I wanna be jus’ like you when I grow up!!
I told Mar a few days ago – you are one of the luckiest women on the planet. I can only imagine (and dream) of what your days spent with these most splendid folks must be like.
God Love You, Lady.
Hey TJ! That is brilliant, how you were able to panorama those two pictures… you can’t even see the seam line! =) I’ve tried for AGES to get a good panorama of my horses, but it never works because they all come cantering up to meet me (trust me, it’s awfully hard to take pictures when you’ve got 13 – soon to be 14 – horses all running up to you!). But most of the days, not all of them come running up, and we have such a large field that there are a few horses that have found little hiding spots where they can hide away without us knowing where they are. The last time I saw all of them on the same day was probably on Thursday. =) But brilliant picture, I love it. Very expressive; it reflects the somewhat peaceful life of these mustangs. 😉
Marilyn – I think so. 🙂 And I know I am theirs!
Lisa – Well, God must surely loves those horses! And God knows I do. 🙂 Every day I’m with them, I learn something new, and every minute I’m with them, I appreciate to the nth degree! I was out with a group once, including another advocate, and she told them “we see the horses so much we just take them for granted.” I was stunned, and I corrected her. Some people really just don’t get it. I’ll never forget she said that, and it colors the way I relate to her.
VC – Thirteen horses! And … baby on the way? 🙂 When you’re taking pictures of them, focus on one or just a few and follow those horses with your camera. Take pictures of them, then look for another small group or individual to focus on. It is hard to take pictures of objects coming right at you! If you happen to have a Canon SLR, set the focus mode to “AI” – that will track the horse(s) as it’s coming toward you. I don’t know what the designation is on a Nikon camera. If you have a point-and-shoot, check your owner’s manual to see if it allows you to change the focus mode. Otherwise, just practice – and shoot a LOT! You’ll get some blurry ones, but you also should get some in focus. Try this, too: Shoot while you’re crouching or kneeling (if they really come running right to you, be able to get up in a hurry or have someone with you to help keep the horses from running over you!). I have a wonderful pic of some of our horses at home (my parents’ place) coming toward me like that. And if your “soon to be 14th” horse is, in fact, a foal, do the same: Shoot from the foal’s level rather than standing and looking down at him or her! You’ll get some great shots!
TJ – I do, in fact, have a Canon SLR. It takes wonderful pictures and I am in love with it! I am going to visit my wonderful horses today and I will be sure to try that new ‘style’ of shooting. =)
Sorry to disappoint, but our soon to be 14th horse isn’t a foal. ='( I wish it was, though! We might be buying a palomino quarter horse, or maybe adopt a mustang. Yes, we have our eye on a certain horse, but after reading so much about the mustangs, I’m leaning towards bringing one into my life and home. We’re unsure, though, about even getting another horse at all because of a tight budget – it’s expensive to keep 13 horses, and to add yet another would max out the wallet. Y’all know what I mean. 😉
Also, since money is short in these harsh times, I don’t wish to risk the welfare of any of our horses – especially a mustang, if we end up getting one – thanks to the amount of money available. My family and I have been talking, and we’re leaning towards not getting another horse for a while until we get back into the swing of things (winter has set us WAY off track). 😉 C’ya’ll later!
VC – YOU take wonderful pictures! Your camera is just the tool that allows you to do so. 🙂 I know what you mean about lots of horses straining the old purse strings. My mom and dad have, I think, 20 at home now? I’d also love to adopt a mustang some day, too.
Mistangs are so beautiful. And if they must be taken away from their homes, we might at least do them the favor of sharing our homes, right?
That’s what i thought about last night. But then, I remembered the ever-so-strained wallet. The money almost always gets in our way, doesn’t it? Oh well, we’ll figure something out eventually. =) I got some wonderful pictures yesterday, after a very frustrating ride on one of my horses. Hanks for the tips, TJ!!!
True enough … and again, true with the money. 🙂 I hope your frustrating ride had a happy ending (I’ve had those, too), and glad you got some wonderful pictures! Keep shooting! I can’t remember whether I told you about this site on GHC, it’s for the Equine Photographers Network: http://www.equinephotographers.org/ You’ll find lots of inspiring photos on that site from a lot of very inspiring photographers!