The Black Dog’s PhotoBlog

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill

You should have seen this guy in person. As I listened to his story I was amazed at how far he’s come. His owner (my trainer) told me tales of before he came to her and how he would chase people off the previous owner’s property and was very territorial. Through a lot of hard work on her part he’s a totally different horse now and boy is he beautiful.

Posing. Showing me his good side.

Showing off, doing some tricks.

You know how the beauty of a well-made car makes you smile. When you see those lines and curves so smooth, reflecting the light so beautifully it just makes you feel good inside. The way that chrome shines in the sunlight is so satisfying. When it’s well-made, it brings along a happy feeling.

I really appreciate quality craftsmanship. Besides seeing it in cars, I find it in many things. In this case it’s an old used saddle. Can’t you just see it in the smoothness of the leather and the stitching? This saddle is a beautiful deep rich mahogany color. Soft and supple but still very sturdy and strong. Being an older saddle that continues to possesses such beauty could only be attributed to the quality of its construction.

I love it when someone takes pride in their work. That pride always seems to show through in the finished product. It’s the same to me with photography. When you take pride in your photography you won’t just throw any ole picture out there and call it “good enough.” Instead, when you take pride in your photography, you will only release the best pictures and you will feel good about your work. You will continually strive to improve and grow. Once photography becomes your craft you will strive for beauty in your craftsmanship.

Yesterday my husband and I had the pleasure of watching Chris Cox at the MN Horse Expo. I just love to see a trainer who is so in tune with their horse. There were many other things we enjoyed too from the trick riders, stunt riders, the rodeo, the parade of breeds and all the vendors selling so many different things. Of course, I had to buy a thing or two.

Horses are such intelligent and majestic animals. I love to photograph them. Some are very fascinated by cameras, they almost seem to pose just for you and they love having their picture taken. Others are more shy and reluctant. Because each one is unique, I doubt I could ever grow tired of the challenge each different one brings to a photo session. If you’re a horse owner, think about having your portrait taken together with your horse. It will give you a lasting memory to keep and look back on.