Finally getting around to processing photographs taken on Sept 14 of the Onaqui herd of wild horses in Utah’s West Desert. Hard finding horses, poor setting etc. I found myself “seeing” in black and white most of the afternoon.
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Photographs of Various Storms in Utah’s West Desert
This post is a collection of the various thunderstorms I have photographed in Utah’s West Desert. I make it a point to get out and photograph the Onaqui Herd of wild horses whenever I can, especially if there is a chance of thunderstorms. It has been rare to get great lightning, but the sunsets are absolutely spectacular even if the lightning is a rarity. The photographs that are long (panoramic) were taken by stitching between 10 and 15 separate, overlapped images into one image. The file sizes are enormous, as I stitch RAW files from my Nikon D810. For example, the panoramic of the double rainbow is 21,700 X 7200 pixels! All files are significantly downsized (1800 X 1800 pixels, at 72 dpi) for posting. I have printed these panoramas 24″ X 72″ and you can’s spot any pixels at all.
Wild Horse Photography – Wild Horses Running
On this trip to Utah’s West Desert I was specifically hoping to photograph this herd of wild horses while they were on the run with a long exposure time. The idea was to blur the background, lets etc., but having some part of the horse(s) sharp and in focus. It takes a lot of luck and timing to get an acceptable shot. I have not had a chance to process any of the “normal” photographs from this trip, only those that I liked with the “motion” effect. We had several other photographers on this shoot, and met a very nice gentleman from Midvale if I remember right. He knew each and every horse in the herd, knew when they were born, knew who was related to who. Very impressive! Another great evening that I will remember for a long time…
Photography of Wild Horses – Onaqui Herd Aug 8
We had another great trip photographing wild horses in Utah’s West Desert. The Onaqui herd is unique in that if you are mindful of their demeanor, you can walk right through the herd and get very close-up, intimate photographs of these magnificent creatures.
I haven’t had much time to process the approximately 2,000 photographs I shot, but here are a few of those that I have processed thus far. The photograph of the two red stallions on the run is a combination of the photograph I shot and a process that makes the photograph look like an oil painting. It has a more “contemporary” look but still has details that would appear in a photograph.
Wild Horse Photography – July 27 Onaqui Herd
Another trip to the West Desert to photograph this magnificent herd of wild horses. The herd was hard to find, and it was much smaller than usual. I desperately hope the BLM hasn’t rounded up this herd.
Those horses that did come to the watering hole were few in number. Not a lot of fighting, but enough to keep you on your toes. The sunset was spectacular (as they always are in the West Desert). The small family band that is running to the watering hole is new to me. I don’t think I have photographed them before. I will have to go back and see if I have.
Photography of Onaqui Wild Horses and Lightning – July 20
Wow! What a trip we had in late July to the Onaqui herd of wild horses in Utah’s West Desert. The herd was using the Simpson Springs watering hold on the Pony Express route. They had already left the water when we found them. After spending a couple of hours photographing them we left to find another herd to photograph at sunset. We did find the other herd, but they were nearly a mile form the road and we were quickly running out of light. There was a storm brewing, so we decided to “focus” (pun intended) on photographing the storm and hopefully some lightning. We were not disappointed! The lighting was once again remarkable. The panoramic photograph of the sunset was made by stitching 14 photographs into one. The panoramic photograph spanned over 180 degrees. The lightning was another rare opportunity. No rain and lots of lightning. What a fantastic trip…
New Photographs July Onaqui Herd of Wild Horses
We had a GREAT visit to the herd in July. It was so hot the herd didn’t graze much. Spent most of the day at the watering hole. That gave us some unusual opportunities to photograph them. Lots of fights (some real and some just “jousting”). It allowed us to have a lot of horses in the background that sometimes helps simplify any distractions.
There was a fierce fight near/in the watering hole. The brown stallion was fighting with the gray all day long. Both stallions were on their hind legs just seconds earlier. Then the brown stallion decided to run to get away from the gray. They were on the edge of the watering hole surrounded by other wild horses so that meant they ran through the water. Great opportunity that I was glad I was able to witness and get a few photographs of…
So many photographs to process but here are a few of what I have processed thus far…
Fine Art Photos – Wild Horses
I have added a new tab on my homepage. It is labeled “Fine Art Photos”. Here are the Images that are on that page. Click on the tab for a full explanation of the photographs. To get back to my home page just click on the main title.
Photographs of Onaqui Wild Horses Taken in March 2017
In reviewing the photographs I have taken of the Onaqui herd of wild horses in 2017 I noticed I have not posted photographs of my trip in March. As you can see, most of the horses have their winter fur and winter facial hair. It was a long and cold winter for this herd, but as you can also see by these photographs that there are plenty of new foals this year.
The clouds were amazing. When I see the contrast between white clouds and blue sky or storm I immediately see the photograph in Black and White. That happened several times on this trip and I really like some of the black and white renderings.
I am working on another set of selected photographs that I will put in a tab called “Fine Art”. Hope to have it done next week. Enjoy the hot summer!
Latest Photographs of Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses
Another great trip to Utah’s West desert to photograph this wonderful herd of wild horses. I worry every trip out that the herd has been rounded up. With so many foals this year they are really multiplying quickly. I have herd rumors that the BLM will be using PZP on this herd rather than rounding them up and taking them off to holding pens.
I am no expert on any of this, but PZP seems like a better alternative than simply rounding them up and shipping them to massive holding pens for the rest of their lives (or until they are slaughtered).
The main watering trough that this herd uses regularly was dry! I did find them nearby, but they were moving to an area that I have never seen them in throughout the 7 years I have been photographing them. I hope to get back to them in a few weeks to see what has happened. I will keep you posted.