Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Backstretch

This morning I got up and met some friends on the backstretch of Les Bois racetrack.  I have been meaning to go down there but first I had to go get my photographer's license at the racing commission.  Me and my friend, Julie had both our cameras out & were taking pictures of some of riders as they rounded the bend and headed into the homestretch.  I snapped a few shots back at the barn too as there is a lot going on back there with horses walking on the horsewalkers & peeking their heads out of their stalls.  

It was great fun watching some of the riders exercise their horses on the track.  The first picture is of my friend, Lindsey - doesn't she look like she is having a blast!  

I have a story about wanting to race horses.  When I was about 12, me and my friend decided we wanted to be jockeys and sent off for information about jockey school.  I grew up in Illinois so there is a lot of racing back there and this is way before the Internet when you had to call or write a letter for information.  We got the info packet filled with the jockey apprentice program and lots of details about what to expect.  As a "tween" we were all on board to do this - when we got old enough of course!  Unfortunately as time went on I grew way to tall to be a jockey and ultimately decided that I would rather jump horses than race them.  Neither one made my mother really happy!

Here are a few pictures from the track this morning.  







Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Go For Baroque Andalusian Show

This past weekend I photographed at the Go For Baroque Andalusian Show at the Idaho Horse Park.  On Friday I photographed the dressage show which was outdoors.  This show was indoors which was nice since the temperatures ended up reaching 100 degrees and a cold front came thru, bringing high winds for the evening session of the show.  

This was an Andalusian breed show which consisted of in-hand, english, western and vaquero classes.  Everyone looked like they were having a great time showing this weekend and all their horses looked fantastic!  

Here are a few pictures from the weekend.  If you are interested in learning more about Andalusian horses check out the Northwest Andalusian Horse Assoc. website at www.nwaha.org





Friday, June 20, 2008

Go For Baroque Dressage Show

I photographed the Go For Baroque Dressage Show today at the Idaho Horse Park.  Normally I have been posting a few pics on my blog a few days after the show but I thought I would give everyone a sneak peak at a some of the photos from the day.  

Everyone looked like they had great rides.  It was a really hot day with the highs reaching around 95 degrees.  I baked out there standing in the sand arena.  But everyone ended up with great pictures in the end!  

Look for your proofs on Monday night!  Oops!- proofs went up Tuesday morning.  Sorry for the wait but I had 2000+ images to go through and it took a bit longer than expected.   I will be photographing at the Go For Baroque Andalusian Show this weekend.





Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Jazz in the Canyon

This past weekend Ben & I went to Twin Falls to enjoy Jazz in the Canyon.  We stopped at the visitors center after arriving and got to see 5 base jumpers take the leap off of the Perrine Bridge.  Ben counted the time it took from their jump to landing.  It ranged from 12 to 18 seconds.

After seeing the base jumpers we went to see Shoshone Falls since neither of us has been there.  It was a great place to stop and see the waterfalls as it was pretty impressive.  

After that we drove around the countryside looking for Ben's uncles house.  Unfortunately Google maps gave us directions that were way off and nobody was reachable to get directions.  We eventually got directions and ended up at their house without any other mishaps.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend.  The first couple are of the base jumpers.


Shoshone Falls
A self portrait of Ben & I at Shoshone Falls
Centennial Park at sunset
Our purpose for the visit was to go to Jazz in the Canyon and hear my friend's group - The Jeni Fleming Group.  They did not let us down with a great performance at a beautiful venue.  As always it was great seeing Jeni & Jake (her husband) and hanging out with them for a bit after the concert.  Check out Jeni's website and listen to some great music at www.jenifleming.com

Jeni and I were roommates when we were attending Montana State in Bozeman.  Funny story on how we met - I was calling people from "roommate wanted ads" and Jeni walks up to me and asks if I am looking for a roommate.  I say "yes" and she gives me her number.  I call her the next day and go over to check out the place.  Later that night she calls me with the details and says that she wants me to be her roommate - she has a good feeling about this.  Next thing you know I am moving in.  I ended up living with Jeni for a year and then moving into another apartment with her sister, Heidi for another year until I graduated.  We have been great friends since!

The group playing at Centennial Park as the sun is setting.
Jeni
Jake - Jeni's Husband - jamming on the sax.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Once Upon A Horse

This weekend when I was at Once Upon a Horse photographing the Barbara Cimino Memorial Dressage Show & Combined Test Jan Herrmann asked me to take a few pictures of her mares for her new website.  We did both conformation and at liberty shots.  I also took some casual shots of the horses when they were standing around wondering why these people are chasing them.

It is so much fun for me to shoot these types of sessions. Normally I am photographing everyone at the horse shows or randomly pulling out my camera when I visit my horse.  The horses were cleaned up nicely with braided manes.  It's just so much fun watching the horses run around the field - I just got the added bonus of taking pictures of them.  

The challenging part of this type of session is getting the horses to stand in one place with their feet placed how I want with their eyes open and ears up.  Sometimes that is a lot to ask of some horses - ponies especially.  Usually it just takes a little patience and a quick finger for pressing the shutter button!  

Here are a few pictures from the session.  You can see in them that the light was constantly changing from overcast to blaring sunlight.  Overall they turned out great!






Can you tell that these horses are buddies - they are trotting in unison.


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Elijah - otherwise know as Eli

The other day I went out to ride and much to my surprise Eli had arrived.  I knew he was coming at some point, but it was totally out of my mind when I left my house.  I usually try and bring my camera when I go out there but not that day so I had to wait until yesterday to get a few pictures of Eli.  He didn't let me down with photo opportunities with a bit of running around and antics of trying to kick mom.  Of course he is cute as a button!

Eli is a thoroughbred colt born Monday June 2nd.  He has a feisty personality that says "he is all boy".  One thing about him is that he is super friendly.  He seems to have figured out that people make great back scratchers and chew toys already (much to everyones dismay).  Mom has some work cut out for her with this one!  By the way he is not mine but my friends - Shelley & Shawna's colt.

Here are a few photos of him at a week old running, bucking, being curious and just hanging out with mom.  There will be many more photos to follow in the coming weeks/months.








Monday, June 9, 2008

Barbara Cimino Memorial Dressage Show & Combined Test

This weekend I photographed at the Barbara Cimino Memorial Dressage Show and Combined Test at Once Upon a Horse in Eagle.  Everyone rode great and the weather was a bit cold but otherwise it was a great day.  Here are a few pictures from the event.

For those of you that don't know what a combined test is - it is a dressage test & a show jumping round.  It follows the same levels as eventing - beginner novice, novice, training, etc.

I also photographed some of Jan's horses later in the day.  I shot some conformation and at liberty shots.  I will post a few later this week.




Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Summer Spectacular Hunter Jumper Show

This past weekend I photographed the Boise Saddle and Jump Club's Summer Spectacular Hunter Jumper Show at the Idaho Horse Park.  I had a great weekend photographing everyone.  There were lots of great jumping rounds and the horses looked fantastic!  

The hunter/jumper shows always bring back good memories of riding and showing my old horse, Simon back in Illinois where I grew up.  I occasionally pull out the old VHS tapes and watch a few of my rounds when I feel like reminiscing.  Maybe one day I will get back in the ring with my current horse, Denali when I am not photographing at one of the shows.

If anyone is interested in more information on the Boise Saddle and Jump Club their website is www.boisesaddleandjumpclub.com




Waiting for their next class to start.