Horse Photo Competition 1 2014 : Results

  • Judges Comment
  • i can't say enough about this amazing image. unlike the overhead image (taken, i assume, by the same photographer of the same group of mustangs), this photo places the viewer at ground level, right with the herd ... and by doing so we can feel the horses, hear their hooves and their breath, sense the crush of their bodies and almost smell them. the white horse amidst the crush of dark bodies -- accentuated by the deep shadows -- is immediately captivating, but also the convergence of the black horse and the white one in the center of the frame makes for an absolutely strong image. beautifully captured and managed in post. i would consider editing out the white object to the left of the frame -- something straight ... perhaps a bit of a gate? -- as it is the only distracting element in this entire image. again, wonderfully shot and processed. well done and congrats! ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you for first prize and Mark of Excellence. Such a honor to earn this prize. My name is Daniel Rodrigues from Porto, Portugal. This photo and the another photo of mustangs they were photographed in Spain, in Galicia, during the traditional "Rapa das Bestas". A tradition that has existed for many years. In relation to another object to the left of the frame is another white horse who was also there. The photos were taken with a Canon 5D mark III and the lens 24mm 1.4 and edited in Lightroom 5.5. I enjoyed shooting this photograph and the other because the wild horses together are something powerful. You can see more about the "Rapa das Bestas" or my work in: http://www.danielrodriguesphoto.com/#!rapa-das-bestas/c1wn7 Thank you!
  • www.danielrodriguesphoto.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • this little scruffy pony is absolutely adorable and the image overall is magical. the variety of textures from the halter to the mane, the bits of hay, the deep shadows and the fine hairs on the muzzle, invite the viewer to come back countless times for more viewings. just a lovely image. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thanks to the judge for these Mark Of Excellence! Picture was taken in St. Johann i. Pongau AUSTRIA, Shot with the Amazing Sigma Dp2 Quattro. Freiberger Dominic
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • this is an absolutely beautiful image of a gorgeous horse. adopting the low angle, almost at water level, makes the viewer feel they are part of the scene. one can almost smell the horse across the water and hear the splash of him pawing at the water. the choice of converting to black and white make the lines of the horse stand out even more against the dark background. beautifully done! ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you Inga for your nice comment and the Mark of excellence. I feel honored to receive this award. My Name is Friederike and I come from Germany (Essen). Horse photography has been my passion for several years. The picture shows the 9-years old PRE stallion called „Aquiles“. He is very beautiful and has a strong and friendly character. The photo was taken in a gravel pond. To achieve the low angle, I walked deeply into the water. This was a (worthwhile) challenge with the heavy camera equipment and the water current :) The photo reflects one of the best moments of the shooting. I especially like that Aquiles seems to enjoy his slow and quiet walk through the water. I decided to convert the picture into a black and white photo because this style enhances the atmosphere. I worked with my beloved 1Dx and the 70-200mm 2,8. Exifs: Manual mode, ISO 200, f4,0, 200mm and 1/1250. The picture was edited by LR. If you are interested in more photos click on the link. :) Best wishes, Friederike
  • www.scheytt-photography.de
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • this image is fabulous and an immediate favorite. the virtual sea of horses, the deep shadows, the highlights of the couple of white horses, make it an instantly memorable photo. the viewer can feel the crush of horses, and the heat from their bodies as the dust stirs around them. truly fabulous work. ~ illona
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • this beautiful image is immediately captivating, not just because of the horses' movement, but because of the simplicity of the composition -- with the background blacked out -- allowing the horses to truly stand out. wonderfully captured and managed in post. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • "Midnight Tango" - What a great honor this is! I traveled to Wyoming for this shot. I am a photographer based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Equine photography is a passion of mine! This shot was captured with a Nikon d7100 with my 70-200 2.8 lens. This shot captures the true essence of these beautiful creatures in movement. Horses are my true photo passion!! Thanks!!
  • www.hilarybishopphotography.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • the depth and contrast of this image is immediately intriguing, and the added texture of the snow-matted coat, the steam lifting off this horse, and his breath, make it an absolutely striking image and an immediate favorite. wonderfully done. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you to the judge for this Mark of Excellence. It is exciting to have my photo acknowledged, I am an amateur photographer from Northern British Columbia the picture was taken with a Cannon T3 EOS 1100. Anita Cowan
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • the warm intimacy of this image make it immediately inviting ... the details and textures captured here make it seem as though we can almost step into the stables with this horse. the inclusion of the boots and wheelbarrow only add to the incredible welcoming quality of this image. as a former horse owner/trainer, i love this warm, intimate image. nicely done. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Such a honor to earn a Mark of Excellence in this fabulous competition. My name is Jayme Dodrill and I am a pet photographer based out of Portland, Oregon. This image was taken outside of Portland at my barn and it is especially special to me as this is my 26 year mare who has been with me since she was 5. When I took this, it was my goal to, in one image, portray all the love, sweat, tears and just plain hard work that I gave in order to make my (12 year old) childhood dream of owning my first horse come true. She has taught me so much about responsibility, patience, trust, commitment and what truly can be achieved when you dream big and work hard. This horse had a huge part in making me the person that I am today. Image was taken with a Canon, 5d Mark II, 24mm, f/2.5, ISO 2000 and 1/250 and a simple B/W conversion in LR.
  • www.forthelovepetphotography.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • another wonderful "parts" shot, but the real strength in this image is that bottom right corner where we get just enough of a glimpse of the left foreleg to demonstrate the movement in this image almost more than the flipped mane. nicely captured and managed in post. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • This photograph was part of a portfolio on horses I called Horsescapes. It was published in LensWork and is part of an exhibition at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California. For the project I used only a Leica Monochrom and 75mm apochromatic Summicron lens. This is Raisa's shoulder.
  • www.timothyfloyd.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • using the horse's back to echo the lines of the distant mountains is the creative strength in this image. very nicely done! ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you, I'm very proud for this award, my name is Riccardo Pezzotti i live in a small city near the Sebino lake, north of Italy, and i'm an amateur photographer. I made this photograph in June 2014 during a walk on the mountains over the lake. Shot with a Nikon D600, 50mm f1.8 prime lens and post process with Lightroom.
  • ricostuff.tumblr.com/
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • as an animal photographer, i adore the detail shots, and this shot is gorgeous. beautiful contrast between highlights and shadows, wonderful rich texture. and SO horse. nicely managed in camera and in post. ~ illona
  • Photographers Comment
  • This photograph was part of a portfolio on horses I called Horsescapes. It was published in LensWork and is part of an exhibition at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California. For the project I used only a Leica Monochrom and 75mm apochromatic Summicron lens. This is Freckles' mane.
  • www.timothyfloyd.com