Second Image for B&W Contest

Today we had 18 inches of snow! I love the spring storms and we really need the snow this year to help lower the risk of fires. I didn't get out to see the horses today but I was told they were running around like nut balls!

This is my second image for the juried B&W show I am going to enter. I like the pensive quality of this horse. The deadline is tomorrow so how about that for waiting until the last minute!

Bye for now,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Same Image - Two Workups

I am working on a couple of pieces for a juried B&W photography competition and the deadline is this Friday! After checking out the previous years winners it was apparent that they seem to like contrasty images. To achieve this you need to have a true black in your image and almost 100% white. This is tricky because you don't want to have your highlights blown out and losing the details. That means they want to see all the little hairs in the white mane and also the subtle detail in the shadows.

The upper picture is close to finished. The lower picture was also worked up in B&W but sepia toned to get the brown color. I left the pink in his muzzle while accentuating the blue gray. I think I like this workup better but unfortunately the contest is traditional B&W!

Save America's Wild Horses: Get Involved!

Stop the Mass Murder and Imprisoning of Thousands of Wild Horses & Burros

Normally every morning I start out my day catching up on emails and doing all the marketing stuff I need to do (when I would rather be with my horses or working on my art!). Alas it is true, a good percentage of time is spent doing things we would rather not be doing! But I am writing this out of my own passion and desire to help our wild horses and their history.

Today I responded to a call to get involved in the future of America's wild horses by emailing Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, and the BLM to stop the slaughter and confinement of America's wild horses and burros. I encourage all horse lovers to get involved also.

Madeline Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens made a proposal last year to adopt all of the 33,000 horses contained in pens (prisons) by the BLM. She has currently reached a snag in her proposal and is looking for support. There is an email to Salazar that is already drafted with a small area where you can add comments if you like. It only takes a few minutes of your time and I encourage each and every horse lover to join this noble campaign.

To take action click on the image above or this link:http://capwiz.com/madeleinepickens/issues/alert/?alertid=12943361&type=AN.

To read more about Madeline and her cause please visit her website: http://madeleinepickens.com/

To quote Madeline: "The horses need your help."

Many thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos

During one of the last adventures of Zephyr and Kairos, Zephyr would not play nicely with Scooter. He pretended to pass the stick but then ran off, keeping it all to himself.

It appears the stick game has finished and Scooter has Zephyr's attention. He seems to be leaning towards Zephyr perhaps because he has a secret to tell him. Maybe he is saying "Lets go hide from Kairos behind a tree and then we can jump out at him!"

I don't know for sure but judging by the expression on Zephyr's face I don't think he is buying into Scooter's idea.

Photography Masters Cup Nominee

I just received news that I was a nominee in the third International Color Awards Photography Masters Cup Wildlife category! I don't know how many entries there were but I do know they had so many that they postponed the announcements from Dec. until March so they could jury all the submissions from all over the world. The judges were from pretty lucrative publications so this is very exciting for me!

Check out this link:www.worldphotographicarts.com/photoshow/colorawards/3rd_gala/presentation/nominations.php?x=p&cid=54 to see some amazing wildlife photography from all corners of the world.

The fees were high because I missed the early entry so I only entered one image and it made it in! Woo hoo!! I did do my homework and look at the type of images that made it into the past years events.

This unusual image was pretty much as shot except I darkened the background a bit. The pony had just rolled and was getting up which is how I was able to capture the mane standing straight up and the clumps of dirt flying. If you look closely you will see he has one blue eye.

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Back from New Mexico and Arizona

Where do I start? Today was a long road trip from Durango to Morrison but the scenery was glorious! It is too early to go to sleep and I am too tired to read and I had no idea how I wanted to return to blogging. After a nine day road trip into New Mexico and Arizona I have returned weary but quite content.

This piece is a bit of a departure for me and I am not sure how I feel about it. I don't normally choose to work on pieces that have so many horses in such close proximity.

I started working on it a while ago and I am not certain if it is finished but I wanted to post it as a tribute to my road trip and New Mexico artist John Farnsworth. He paints amazing oils of horses on larger than life-size canvases and there are always many horse heads close together. It was a pleasure to visit his gallery in Taos which made me think and dream that one day maybe I will have my own gallery too! Not to mention giving me the inspiration to post this piece.

Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Kairos and Zephyr

If horses could grin then these two certainly are. These two characters seem to hang out and have many conversations along the fence rail. Could be they are talking about ole Scooter since he isn't around. They don't always invite him to play with them.

You remember Scooter from yesterday's post......Zephyr wouldn't pass the stick or play nicely with him. Its tough when you are not one of the popular kids on the block, or paddock any way.

Today I went down to Denver to the Horse Expo and ran into a fellow horse photographer Carol Walker. She has done an amazing job photographing the American mustang in their native habitat and has a great book of her work called "Wild Hoofbeats America's Vanishing Wild Horses". Check it out at:www.wildhoofbeats.com. She and I both donate part of the proceeds from the sale of our work to The Cloud Foundation. To learn more about this admirable cause go to: www.thecloudfoundation.org/home.html. The Cloud foundation is dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on our public lands and the protection of Cloud's herd in the Arrowhead Mountains of Montana.

I am leaving for a road trip to Arizona tomorrow and won't be back for nine days. I don't take my computer but I will be taking my friend the camera and hope to have lots of new photos to work on and share with you when I get back!

Have a super weekend and I'll be blogging later!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventure of Zephyr & Kairos: Boys Games

Like most young boys these colts are no different - they love to play with sticks! Meet Scooter. He is a little Peruvian Paso who tries to play with Zephyr and Kairos. Just like children, sometimes they exclude him from the fun. Today Zephyr has a stick and seems to want to try to pass it to Scooter.

Kairos is minding his own business behind Scooter which is very unusual for Kairos. He is Mr. Mastermind the busybody. Scooter is starting to approach Zephyr. You want to play with me? he seems to say.


Turning quickly Zephyr says if you want it come and get it. Ha, Ha fooled you! What a tease that Zephyr is. And little Scooter seems a bit displeased. I can't say I blame him.


This is a close up where you can see Scooter is saying Hey, play fair!

Stay tuned for more on the next adventures of Kairos and Zephyr!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Almost an Appaloosa!

Today was almost a wash for working on any images. The whole day up until an hour ago was spent working on my website; adding PayPal buttons on a Flash site is a wee bit challenging if a person wants to have a shopping cart. Every time I went back to create a new button in PayPal it had logged me off. Quite annoying but for my own security I suppose. And then there was dealing with the folks at PayPal which was a bit frustrating. Lots of time on hold while they searched their databases for an answer! I do like being able to work on my own site for the simple reason the turnaround time is as quick as I want it to be!

Mid-afternoon I did escape and go spend time with the horses. Always refreshing!

I received news yesterday that I was accepted into Denver's Downtown Art Festival this year. It is held in May and this year is its 11th year. This will be my first big juried show and also non-horse event where I am showing my work. In April I will be at Dressage for the Cure in Colorado Springs and in June at Polo for the Cure in Littleton. Lots to do to get ready!

My other website features dogs, horses, and graphic design. It is a bit of a hodgpodge and I wanted to update some of my dog work. I particularly like this dalmatian with the patchy snow in the background. It plays nicely off of his coat. This piece has sat unfinished for a while but tonight it seemed to all come together.

Well I must say it is late as usual and I can tell the sandman is arriving so until next time!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos

I am thinking of branching "The Adventures of Zephyr and Kairos" to their own Blog but for now they will remain here. While I am relatively new to this whole social media thing (and it is a blast!) it still requires a fair amount of time and effort to set all these things up! And like most artists I would rather be creative than a techie. Most of my life has been in the tech industry and I thought I had left software (other than Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, and Painter) behind for ever! What a rude awakening! OK enough of the diversion.

Colorado weather can be really extreme but I wouldn't have it any other way. This day started out warm, and bright and sunny. There was a 50% chance of snow and it blew in with vengeance. Within minutes there was an inch and it stuck to everything. I love that the horses seem oblivious to it and while I walked around brushing myself, Kairos just watched with curiosity. Where was Zephyr? Zephyr is Greek for the gentle god of the west wind. Perhaps the weather was too much for gentle Zephyr...... Well, that isn't really true. Kairos is Mr. Curiosity and needs to be a part of everything and everyone. He just loves to inspect the camera, or anything else for that matter. I thought I was done for the year with snow and winter shots but ya never know which is why my camera is a constant travel companion. There is nothing more rewarding than watching and documenting these fine young windhorses grow up! I have to admit I found a Friesian/paint filly on the internet and I have not stopped thinking about her. I do not need another horse but boy would it make the adventure even more fun than it aready is!

Anyway, it wasn't long before all the horses were running around bucking and playing with each other. It also wasn't long before the sun came back out. I almost couldn't believe how quickly it blew in and out and Spring had returned in all her sunny glory!

Thanks for stopping bye,
Susan
www.windhoresOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity With Horses Book- Part 3

After The Gathering: Number XXX4

I have finished my contributing chapter for "Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity" and it has been edited and returned to me for final approval. Everything is right on track! I had to choose an image to go with the chapter so I chose this one. It is called After the Gathering: NumberXXX4. ATG is a series about the gathering and tragic captivity of America's wild horses. XXXX is symbolic for the number tag that hangs from the horses neck.

There are so many photographers who are doing a fabulous job photographing the mustangs in their natural environment that I decided to turn my lens to the horses who no longer have their freedom

The gaze of this horse meets you eye to eye, soul to soul for the eye is a portal into the soul. The chapter I wrote is one of contemplation and personal transformation resulting from the horses mirroring my psyche back to me. Pretty powerful and amazing stuff if we are open and receptive to it!

Happy Monday!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Portrait: Number Two

Here is my second appaloosa portrait using similar colors to the first. I am working with a bit of blue again and I think it has really enhanced the horse. I will probably do at least one more.

This picture was taken last year at a roundup in Craig Colorado. Every year the Sombrero ranch brings the horses in from their winter wonderland to prepare them to go back to work. The horses are leased out to various dude ranches and outfitters until their season is over. It is truly an amazing site to witness! There is dust flying and horses whinnying and there are about 100 photographers who go to take pictures. The horses just run by and around us and I know that I was so in the moment that I could have been bumped and trampled at any time!

There is something about running horses that mesmerizes people. I think it is because there is such a feeling of freedom and power that accompanies a running horse. We can hear the hooves pounding and the wind on our face even if we have never ridden before. Many people who buy my art do not have horses yet they are so captivated by the archetypal energy associated with the horse.

Tonight I am going downtown to Denver for the First Friday opening. I haven't done that for a while so I am really looking forward to it!

Have a super weekend!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Adventures Of Zephyr and Kairos

Everyday when I need a break I go out and visit my two colts Zephyr and Kairos. We go for short walks together which is giving us time to develop a strong bond and relationship. I have had people ask "Wouldn't I rather be riding?" and while the answer is yes I would love to be riding I have found it very rewarding to bring my own horses along very slowly. Riding is one of the many benefits we share with our equine friends but there are so many other rewarding activities we can do with them. I have been horseless for about seven years now and somehow these two seemed to have found me. I wasn't in the market for one horse and ended up with two!

It is amazing and fun to watch how their personalities develop. Little Zephyr on the left, (he is not so little!), always was very quite and has an amazingly sweet eye. He is more food motivated than Kairos and out runs him to come collect his good-bye treats. He has also become very animated lately and uses his mouth quite a bit to perform. I sat and watched him sticking his tongue out for quite a while and finally had to tear myself away, but not before taking a few photos. I left grinning from ear to ear and as always re-energized. Horses have a way of doing that to us don't they?!

Bye for Now,
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

Appaloosa Portrait

I started working on a series of Appaloosa images this week. I have always had a soft spot for appies as I used to have an appy/TB cross. I had always wanted a black app with a white blanket and black spots. What I bought was a black app with about seven white spots and a white star. She was only seven months old. What I didn't know was that she would get lighter! By the time she was three she was a silver grey with a white mane and tail, a white blanket and black spots.

This image is a bit of a departure from my normal work. I decided to try some color. The color is subdued but nonetheless there. It is not that I am afraid of working with color but that I was primarily a B&W photographer for years so most of my work seems to be predominantly monochromatic.

This was a bit of an experiment and quite fun. I have to admit I am a bit all over the map lately but it seems that if I just go with the flow and allow the image to evolve on its own then it seems to work out in the end! I am not sure if I am finished with it. Normally I let them sit for a day or two and often find I can enhance them further but I liked this enough to post.

There is another one I will post when it is complete.

Hmmm, I just noticed my last three posts are all pointing to the left.....wonder if that means anything? LOL!

Thanks for reading!
Susan
windhorseOne Studios
www.windhorseone.com

The Windhorse

I have always been drawn to horses with unusual markings and blue eyes. There is something very surreal abut blue eyed horses and dogs for that matter. There is a mystical quality to this horse and I imagine him carrying a Shaman or Native American medicine man. That is just what popped into my head as I was writing this. This could possibly be the start of a new body of work since I am not sure where it fits in with my other work. New directions; I love it! The creative process is such an adventure and I never know where it is going to take me.

This week I have been reading "She Flies Without Wings; How Horses Touch a Woman's Soul" by Mary D. Midkiff. It is a beautiful book with stories about how horses capture the hearts of young girls and women. It explains so eloquently the mystery and process of how many of us who are horse artists and equestrians alike have identified with the horse. We all know there is a special connection but there are several aha moments in the book. It took me back to my horse crazy childhood.

Happy March! Spring is on its way and along with that the large CO spring snowstorms. It has been a dry winter here so I hope we get some good storms to keep the mountains moist and the fires away.

Susan
www.windhorseone.com