It may be of interest to equestrian photographers that none of the above 5 photos just happened. Considerable thought and preparation went in to set up background and dynamics.
The first 2 photos involved getting a mob of Rata Mill horses to gallop through a particular valley. Kit was positioned like a sniper on a particular hill close to where the horses were paddocked. I knew that if I could get them through a particular gate into an adjoining paddock that they would gallop as a mob. We opened the gate and waited. If I pushed them through they would probably scatter. I also had to guide them into the valley. One hour we waited until finally, yes, as predicted. Kit had a telephoto lens the size of a bazooka. I am pretty sure that the photos were taken with thos lens.
Photos 3 – 5 were taken at Ruapuke beach. We bundled 3 horses into the truck and drove the half hour. It was a fine day, so we went in the afternoon hoping to catch the sunset. Kit was thrilled when we got there: no people and complete freedom to do what we wished. Impossible in Europe apparently.
The horse in photos 3 and 5 is a sweet little Rata Mill mare called Severn. Poor Severn. We unsaddled her and run her up and down that beach I don’t know how many times. After about 100 metres she would stop and look back at us much as to say, ‘What the hell do you want me to do now?’ I particularly love photo 5.
Photo 4 is one in a thousand. I have seen the sun dip below this horizon many times. We had picked the perfect evening. I warned Kit that once the sun hit the horizon he would have less than one minute before it was gone. Jenny on Nakita was sent into the surf. What a photo.
