Horse Photo Competition 4 2016 : Results

Judges Comment
What an incredibly striking and powerful image. The bold blacks and bright whites, the deep shadows, the stunning curve that follows this horse's back, neck and line of his head ... and in the center of it all, that striking and mesmerizing eye. Well done! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you so very much Ilona! My name is Anna Panke and I am an animal photographer based in COlogne, Germany. I took the photo with my Canon 5D III and the 70-200mm 2.8L I in July this year. I have been fascinated by horses since I was little and startet channeling this fascination in photography almost ten years ago now. Especially the eyes of horses intrigue me.
www.annapanke.de

Judges Comment
This was a particularly tough competition to judge, and if there could be two "Competition Winners", this would be absolutely be one of them. Sadly, there can be only one and it was a tough choice. This image is just fabulous -- an incredible capture, a magical setting, beautiful movement with the sweep of the tail and the curved neck, stunning light, and wonderful framing. There is strength in choosing to convert it to black-and-white, but I wonder that it might be just as powerful in color. An absolutely beautiful image. Congrats and thanks for sharing. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
WOW !!!!! What an honour - I am blown away with such a lovely write up from the Judges. Thank you very much indeed !!!! My name is Taryn Rahl, This photograph was taken in one of my favourite places, the Sardinia Bay Nature Reserve in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I used my nikon D600 body with a 24-70 nikon lens at 2.8 - post processing in Lightroom. I am a lifestyle photographer, but I have recently taken interest in equine photography and I hope to go further in this direction. Thank you for your vote and encouragement !
www.tarynrahlphotography.co.za

Judges Comment
This is a tremendous image. Strong framing, a stunning landscape, powerful composition, and expert white balance and post work. Nicely done! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you, Illona, for the MoE and your kind words. The photo shows my horse Bella on a sunny afternoon and was shot in Hamburg, Germany. I used the Canon 1D Mark III and the EF 16-35mm lens.
www.tierfotografie-albrecht.de

Judges Comment
This image is an instant favorite. I think it would benefit from a little more lightening of the horse, bringing up just a few more details from the shadows there if possible. Wonderfully leading lines and receding shadows, and powerful play of blacks and whites. Nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
This is a fabulously dramatic black-and-white image. The low angle adds to the drama. I wonder if it is a little dark and if it might benefit from a little brightening and boosting the whites. But a powerful image. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
hello, my name is Josip Miskovic. Thanks for the opportunity to say something on this picture. today has a very important significance of memory. When I have done this photo, I did not think that a little later in that place there would be earthquakes that destroyed the city. This summer I was with my girlfriend to visit the national park of the Sibillini mountains (Italy, Umbria), the place of unique beauty in the world. Going up the mountain I have appeared in front of the horses that you see in the picture, free grazing and were not afraid of me. I used the Canon 760 D is a simple 18-55. I dedicate this picture to all the earthquake victims of the Sibillini Mountains.

Judges Comment
This is wonderful capture and a stunning subject, of course. The crop allows us to follow the extraordinary, sweeping curve from the horse's nose, following his powerful neck, and through his raised leg. It's difficult to see from the low-res image, but it would seem that the whites along the horse's back and nose are a little blown out, which is unfortunate ... but otherwise a lovely capture. ~ illona

Judges Comment
What a fabulous capture and setting. Beautifully framed and managed in post. Nicely done! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Freedom, West Virginia, Nikon D4s with a 200mm 2.0 lens. Edited in Photoshop.
www.annelisenicolephotography.com

Judges Comment
This image just exudes winter ... one can actually feel the wind, and the cold. The driving snow offers a wonderful effect as the landscape becomes almost black-and-white, allowing the horses to stand out from their frigid setting. Wonderfully captured and framed. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you Illona. My name is Sonja Wilde, and this is an old photo I have taken in 2009. But I still remember the cold wind and this two friends, trotting side by side through the falling snow. I used the Canon 40D with the 70-200mm F/2.8 lens.
https://www.facebook.com/Fotografie-Sonja-Wilde-128177183925470/

Judges Comment
What an absolutely perfect capture ... and the tight crop adds to the tension of the image image. Nicely done. ~ illona