Tag Archives: wild horse photography

Photography of Wild Horses – Onaqui Herd Aug 8

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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…

Fine Art Photos – Wild Horses

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.

Wild Horse Photography – Fight

Posted on by

In this post of my wild horse photography you will see a series of photographs I shot a few weeks ago in Utah’s west desert.  In this series a roan stallion spots a black stallion that is “courting” his mare.  The chase is on.  When the roan finally catches the black stallion he almost takes the black stallion to the ground.  Then the black stallion gets his moment when he is able to pull off a solid kick to the throat of the roan.  This herd of wild horses along the old Pony Express trail near Dugway, Utah is such a treasure.  My biggest concern is how quickly they are growing in number.  I don’t believe the BLM has had a roundup of this herd for several years.  There must be near twenty new foals from this year!  I hope they can find an alternative to rounding up many of the herd and carting them off to huge pens in the mid-west.  I have seen the effects on those left behind and it is not a pretty thing.  Stallions that lost their mares and family band are never the same.  The BLM is certainly facing a difficult management task and I hope reasonable compromises can be found.

 

 

 

Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses – December

Posted on by

Every time to get out to photograph this herd of wild horses I am inspired by them.  I wish I had the time to photograph these magnificent creatures every day.

On this trip it was as cold as I have seen it in Utah’s West Desert.  It was 13 degrees just after sunset.  The lighting was amazing!  We were lucky enough to spot the herd (it was HUGE) many miles from the main road.  The lighting was good when we got there but became better and better the later it got.  Another amazing opportunity to spend time with them….

Colorful Utah Desert – Onaqui Herd – Wild Horses of Utah

Posted on by

Here are some photographs I took this spring when the Utah Desert was as colorful as I have ever seen it.  The Onaqui herd seemed to be in great shape, with foals just starting to be born.  To see the desert now, you would never believe it was this colorful.  The plant that is such a brilliant orange is called Globe Mallow or desert mallow.  It is native to Utah.

Newest Photography of Wild Horses in Utah

Posted on by

I recently put together a photography book of over 50 images of this wonderful herd of wild horses in Utah.  It turned out AWESOME.  If anyone is interested in purchasing one, let me know.

These are some of the images in the book.  Enjoy…