Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Moments after I got out to the band and snapped this golden pic of half-hidden Bia, the sun vanished behind clouds, just above the horizon.

Today starts fourth rifle season, and while after the chaos of last season, it can’t be worse, already drivers are up and down once again. So many weeks of peace and quiet don’t prepare us, ever, for the misery of driving seasons. It’ll soon all be (mostly) over.

… over a friend. 🙂

I was photographing in a different direction when I heard something behind me and looked back to see that Temple had laid down to nap. Sunset was approaching through a cloud bank on the horizon – and the ground was damp after a big rain yesterday! – but it was nice and quiet and peaceful, and already several other horses were napping standing up not far away.

Madison grazed her way down to her bestie, Temple, after I skirted around to give her space. Then, when I saw her standing guard over her friend, I went back down and around to take a pic of them napping together. 🙂

Aiyanna and Buckeye were a bit separated from the rest of the band, grazing their way along this hill. I was below them, in the shade, while Aiyanna crossed close to the top, where her right side was lit by the last of the day’s sunshine.

Just a simple portrait of this beautiful girl in the autumn light.

Thirty minutes post-sunset today ends third rifle season. I’ve never been so glad to bid farewell to a week.

Cassidy Rain against a cloud-softened background as she moseys and grazes with her band.

Ponies definitely are looking fuzzy and velvety for coming winter. The forecast keeps changing, but we could have our first snowflakes of the season early this week.

Another something a little different. You’re supposed to at least see the subject’s head/face in wildlife photography, let alone a “catchlight” in the eye (at least one of them). A pic of a tail probably isn’t, um, traditionally considered a successful pic? 🙂

Just call me a photography rebel!

And let me know if something, anything, about this pic appeals to you … or not!?

(For photography nerds, this pic is nearly exactly as it came out of the camera. I cropped out a bit of the extraneous (?) darkness, and I applied some “sharpening,” and that’s it.)

The days are still fairly warm; the nights are cold enough for a coat (hair, fur, feather or otherwise!). During the short, sunshine-filled days, if it’s quiet enough, naps are almost a must-do.