Day 30 - The End!

The final photo-a-day topic was "The End". I started out thinking about shooting the trail that leads out back then moved to the end of the driveway. When I looked down the drive, I could see Ralph shoeing Bobby. I tried to capture that image - the driveway leading to the barn w a spot of light at the end - but I wasn't able to capture the image as I had hoped - so I settled for the "End of the Aisle" shot w Ralph and Bobby shows in silhouette. I'm a little sad inside that the challenge is now over - what a journey it has been. I'm hoping to find other ways to challenge myself and my camera thru the quite time of the year around here. Stay tuned!

Day 29 - Contrast

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a pony! When I thought of contrast, I immediately thought of the difference between the normal coat and the shaved coat of the fuzzy Glory! I just love the contract between the two textures in the image. And the final concept - The End!

Day 28 - Details

The yin~yang of a chestnut mare! Here is a close up of Nellie's forehead whorls! I started trying to do a macro shot of her chestnuts but she was being bouncy so I had Tom grab her head and try to hold it still for a moment and came up w this shot which I really liked! Next up - Contrast!

Day 27 - Expression!

Wet windy miserable weather - And I think Star agrees! Day 27 was expression day and Star certainly provided me w material! Next up - Details

Day 26 - Chores

Sal and Frosty early Thanksgiving morning! If you follow the sand ring fenceline down to the end, you will see his best friend Houston waiting for him at the gate! Next up - Expression!

Day 25 - Monochrome

I think this is my favorite image for the month so far. Once again - it is not what I planned to shoot when I left the house but it certainly called to me while I was shooting. I did almost no post processing of this image - just developed in raw, lowered the saturation a touch and added some sharpening. So fun! Next up - Chores!

Day 24 - Circles!

Another dark grey day here. My plan was to shoot bit rings or a
"figure 8-ed" bridle to show circles but as I was walking to the tack room, I noticed this lovely collection of circles on Skylars door! Next up - Monochrome!

Day 23 - Thirds

Day 23 was yet another dark and dreary day. I just couldn't stomach shooting in the indoor again so I had Tom take Nellie for a walk after their ride - which was much less adventurous than previous days. She is just starting back to work after having some R & R since last June due to a fracture just below her stifle after being kicked in the field. Our vet says she will be as good as new after some down time. We've got our fingers crossed she will be back out eventing in the spring! Next up - circles!

Day 22 - Symmetry

Thanks Hannah and Tucker for being my model. I learned that you needed a short horse for the effect I was looking for. Tiff and Bobbo tried for me but his body was just too long. While I strongly dislike shooting in indoors, I'm thrilled that my camera lets me capture images like this even in the low light! Next up - Thirds.

Day 21 - Action!

The horse in this image will remain nameless. That is all I will say *grin* Next up - Symmetry. Enjoy!

Day 20 - Scenic

I knew there was suppose to be heavy rain but I begged Lindsey to shoot her doing morning feed at a local farm where she was house setting. I knew they had a grey which would work well in the low light. I captured a great "light" shot as we walked to the barn but didn't think it would qualify for the assignment. I ended up with this one for the challenge. With the hay we were able to coax him into a more scenic part of the field. Just after this image, the big rain started. Thanks Lindsey for helping me w this! Next up - Action!

Day 19 - Abstract!

I will admit that I was a bit worried at first (OK terrified!) by the topic of abstract but some coaching from photog extraordinaire Barb Young gave me some pointers. I had planned to shoot Frosty as he has such wonderful color but while experimenting in the early morning I captured this image of Charlie and decided it was a keeper. This is a black and white version of the image I posted for the assignment. Next up Scenic!

Day 18 - Light

For me, it was much more fun shooting "light" even tho the day dawned dark and gloomy. I had to give Tom a message while he was teaching and voila! I found my light image. Thanks to Danny and Kay for again being my model. Next up - Abstract!

Day 17 - Wide

Ug! Total lack of creativity here! Tho the dually certainly is wide I just not thrilled w my submission. Moving forward ... next up Light!

Day 16 - Relationships

I was so excited when I saw this topic but on the day of the actual shoot I was feeling pretty miserable - and I think the image shows that. We have so many interesting relationships here in the barn but my body was just calling for my bed so ended up w this image of Frosty, Houston and Tristan showing their normal field behavior -Frosty and Houston sharing a blade of grass while Tristan does his own thing on the other side of the field. Next up - W I D E !

Day 15 - Patterns

I was really feeling stumped by this one as I was only thinking about symetrical patterns. I asked Tom for advice and he suggested the patterns left in the sand of the front ring after the heavy rains ... ahh ... great idea! I love the hoof prints you can see if you look. Added a bit of a grungy gritty feel in photoshop. Next up - Relationships!

Day 14 - Hay

I tried to bring some creativity to the subject of the day - hay! I thought the light cast by the aisle lights and the shadows created by the beams added some interest. I was definitely feeling the effects of the flu when I shot this as all I could think was - ug - time to order another load of hay! Next up - Patterns!

Day 13 - Mane

Any guess who? Photographed in the wee hours of the morning, I liked the way the lines of the mane interacted w the lines formed by the window bars. Next up Hay!

Day 12 - Bokeh

In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the æsthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."

Here is a headshot of Tristan showing bokeh in the background tho it would have been a better example if there was a touch more light and I could have further seperated him from the background.

I think Ive finally kicked this flu and am going to post all the shots Ive missed so Im caught up before the chaos of the weekend sets in. Enjoy!

Day 11 - Human

Budding event rider Ben Slater and his wonderful pony Dora where my subjects for the "human" topic of the day. I just love the connected look between him and his pony! Next up - Mane. Enjoy!

Day 10 - Dirt!

Playing catch up here, Im also adding day 10's photo of dirt! Sticking w the macro theme - and once again using Star - here is the dirt tangled in her already long winter coat. The word for Wednesdays assignment - Human. Enjoy!

Day 9 - Eye(s)

Well so far Im keeping pace posting the photo-a-day's assignment to the EPNet boards - tho here my track record its quite so good! The word of the day was eye. I decided to use Star as I thought her white eyelashes would work well but she just doesn't have that nice big wide eye. While it worked for the assignment, Im definately looking to improve my "eye" shots and plan to take Laura and Christinas "eye" class as soon as thing quiet down after the first of the year.

Day 8 - Water!

My plan had been to shoot the frozen brook on the road out to XC but alas the weather wasn't co-operating! Not that Im complaing - the weather was just BEAUTIFUL! I switched gears and decided to shoot a reflection shot of the brook, the winding road and the tree line but Onion came screaming down the trail and completely changed my plans! Next up - Eye(s). Enjoy!

Day 7 - Curves!

Love the curves in the topline of this Raku Horse created by Lindsey Epstein. This was one of several she had for sale at the craft fair at Francis Farms in Rehoboth this past weekend. Next word of the day will be water!

Oops - Day 5 - Texture

Yup this is what happens when you post before drinking enough coffee. Day 5 = Texture. I struggled thru some of the deep mud in the run in shed paddock looking for the perfect hoof print in the mud but nothing I captured had any where near the texture of the mud on my Blundstone so I trashed all the other images and kept this one. Enjoy~

Day 6 - Behavior!

Guess who? This was my origonal idea for a behavior shot as I knew I would have limited time to shoot. Of course, our favorite addict didn't want to perform for the camera so I tried to get Mack to be my cribbing model but he was camera shy as well.

While waiting, I did get images of Andrew, Calypso and Charlie dozing in the early morning light and Mack rolling in the mud but nothing had that punch I was looking for. Finally, the junkie couldn't hold out any longer and made his way to a board to crib - tho it did take him about 3 minutes to locate a spot "old toothless" could actually grab a piece of the fence to get his fix. Yup - thats our Bobbo!

Next up - Curves!

Day 4 - Legs!

My first thought for the legs assignment was to shoot the legs of the horses jumping in the 10:00 set but changed my mind after seeing an amazing blur shot taken of a farrier the day before. I knew Ralph was coming to shoe Danny and Dora so I thought I could get something fun of his legs working on the horses legs. When I found out Ralph wasn't coming until noon - and I had orders to print in the house, I swapped to plan "C" after seeing the cool shadows cast by the horses warming up for the jump set. Thanks to Danny and Kay for providing this shot for me! Next up - Texture!

Day 3 ~ Blur

Bobby doing what Bobby like best - Jumping! And Kate enjoying riding him on such a nice fall day. Next up - Legs

Enjoy!

Day 2 - Enviroment

The word for day 2 of the photo-a-day challenge was "enviroment". I captured Sal feeding in the early morning light while out in the barn writing the grain order. Can you see the cat in the driveway or all those pretty ribbons hanging on Alec's stall? Fun stuff!

Enjoy~

November Photo-A-Day Challenge

The Equine Photographers Network is offering a Photo-A-Day challenge for the month of November and Im giving it a shot. Each day a one word photo challenge is posted. You must shoot your photo that day then post the results by the end of the next day. Certainly sounds like fun! Lets see if I can keep up. Here is my photo from the day 1 challenge - Hair.

Enjoy!

Announcing Holiday Specials for 2009!

My how time flys! Im just starting to catch my breath after the busy competition season and suddenly its time to post this year's holiday specials!

I will be offering six different specials again this year. These specials are not available on my regular photo order form. To place your order, email me at Joan@Flatlandsfoto.com

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/seasonalspecials.htm

Back by popular demand are the 5x7 press printed holiday greeting cards with matching envelopes custom designed from your favorite competition photo or portrait. Sold in packages of 25. Priced at $60 per pack.

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/PPholiidaycards/PPholidaycard.htm

Another returning favorite is the 11 x 14 6 image montage special. Add an additional 2 5x7 prints from images in the montage at no charge. Images can be mixed & matched from any show or season. Priced at $145

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/photomontage/photomontage.htm

Next on the list are my photo flip books. Choose 10 or 15 images - feel free to mix & match horses, riders, shows and seasons. Pick from 4x6 or 5x7 prints. Prices start at $100

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/FlipBook/FlipBook.htm

Looking for an elegant way to present a collection of your favorite photos? Order a deluxe photo coffee table book This 12 page 8.5x11 leather bound book comes with UV protective coating on its hinged pages. Choose 15 to 20 of your favorite photos. Mix & match horses, riders, shows and seasons. Priced at $250 thru the holidays.

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/book/books.htm

Next on the list are my gallery wrap canvases. Take your favorite photo of that special horse and rider and turn it into a beautiful piece of art to hang on your wall. Prices start at $180.

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/gallery%20wrap/gallerywrap.htm

Finally - only available until December 31, 2009, order 4 of your favorite photos as screen savers for your computer! Horizontal images are best suited for these. Priced at $50

http://www.flatlandsfoto.com/seasonalspecials/ScreenSaver/Screensaver.htm

As always - if you have any questions about these specials - or anything related to Flatlandsfoto, send me an email at Joan@Flatlandsfoto.com

Enjoy!