2011

2010 in Photos
2009 in Photos
2008 in Photos

Happy New Year! I cannot thank everyone enough for all the support and friendship, through the highs and the lows.

First… the good:

– My work was published in four books and a variety of web/print publications, and featured as album art for two bands. The friends and colleagues I’ve met through the TDN and through my freelance work are tremendous people.

– Since January 2010, I’ve photographed over 2,500 homeless horses. On my many road trips in 2011, I visited 10 rescues in 7 states. I try to put a face on the “unwanted” horse population, wherever these “unwanted” horses may be, from local rescues and farms to the horses at Camelot Auction in Cranbury, NJ. Each week, I meet these horses and spend time interacting with them. The proprietors of the auction have been very gracious in letting me photograph their livestock, and our network on volunteers help to give these horses a unique opportunity. The horses continually surprise me. Over 2,500 animals beg to be captured by my camera.

– The impact and scope of the Camelot Effort has reached far beyond my wildest expectations for both the horse community and my personal views as a photographer. The public response to the auction photos has been overwhelmingly positive, and it became clear that they had value far beyond their initial “mug shot” for identifying horses’ faces and conformation. Although my time and budget were already stretched painfully thin, I embarked on a huge fundraising project with my friend Gina Keesling from HoofPrints and together, we created a calendar of our favorite auction photos. Gina volunteered weeks of countless hours designing and producing these calendars. The final product was not a simple 12-month, 12-photo calendar, but was instead a masterpiece of inspirational quotes and over 100 photos. Although the auction photos could have easily created a gloomy tone, we worked hard to keep the theme positive and uplifting. In the end, I think we were successful. We are doing a THIRD print run, and you can order a calendar here (click here).

100% of the profit is being donated to One Horse At A Time. OHAAT is an appropriate charity, since they are not a rescue that houses horses, but rather an organization that helps horses in need across the country. What I particularly like about OHAAT is their gelding grant program- how wonderful would it be for photos of our own Camelot horses to help control the unwanted horse population? To date, the calendar has raised over $33,000 for One Horse At A Time.

Penny Austin, co-founder of One Horse at a Time, said it best:

“Those of us who have these calendars know how special they are. Not only are they a work of art, they are an incredible teaching tool, but most of all, they are a resounding testament to the power of each one of us doing just one thing – and how each of our “just one thing” combined with everyone else’s has the power to MOVE MOUNTAINS. Don’t ever forget that. Don’t ever think that you can’t offer but a little. Your little is mighty. Always.”

Check out some of the great reviews of and discussions about the calendar:
Teresa Genaro’s Raceday 360 column here.
Fran Jurga’s Horse Tip Daily Radio Show here.
My own blog account of the project, along with dozens of amazing positive comments here.
A nice mention in the EQUINE Ink blog here.
Horse and Man’s “Booty with Benefits” gift ideas here.

And now… on to the photos!

A chilly New Jersey January 2011 greeted the horses at Camelot…

On what had to be the coldest day of the year, I took a drive to Long Island and visited Project Sage Horse Rescue. Not only was I delighted to see a barn full of happy, healthy horses, but I was touched to see the enthusiasm of the young volunteers at the rescue. The impact that these organizations have on the community and youth organizations is profound.

Brittany Rostron, founder of Project Sage Horse Rescue (and Sal!)

Fred, a beloved resident of Helping Hearts Equine Rescue braves the NJ cold with his friend Hayley for a photo op.

Blonde, Brunette, Redhead

Wintertime Wizard

The Mane: a study in texture at Camelot

A photo that was used for a successful fundraiser for Beech Brook Farm Rescue

Tristan, a Belgian purchased at New Holland Auction, and his friend Tyler, at Horse Rescue United in NJ. He has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, but surgery on his eye has greatly improved his comfort and he’s currently living the good life at the farm.

Two heads are better than one at Camelot

Lean on Me

Romeo’s eye at auction (he is in the care of Hoofing Around Rescue)

Bedded down

Wizard steals a kiss while I’m trying to put my hair in a ponytail

Watching over you

Sleeping beauties

Slade loves the Asbury Park Press

And Slade has his eyes on the prize

Lily caught spring fever during a February warm spell

Trolley at Horse Rescue United after a successful surgery on the hole in her head

Duke at the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. Duke, 21, also known as Neet Control. He is blind and lives with his paddock friend Taxi at the SRF.

Standardbred Retirement Foundation. HEY! What are you doing to OUR hay rack???

Wizard, under the arena lights on a cold February night

Camelot Auction

Readymade Breakup at Maxwell’s. Hoboken, NJ

Julio Mendoza of Mendoza Dressage, LLC on Friesian gelding Meindert- dancing alongside Lindsey Winkler. Theatre Equus- Horse World Expo – MD & PA 2011.

Lily and the Peep

Stay Thirsty and Ramon Dominguez win the Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct

Jonathan Andrew at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. Mike Ferraro and the Young Republicans record release party.

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Gatsby, a Camelot Auction graduate

Mimi, another Camelot grad

(Mimi at auction)

Juan the Hinny

Come hither

Rosa and a friend at Camelot

Rancocas Farm gate on the property of Helis Stock Farm in NJ

Zoey at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue (after photo)

Zoey (before photo, ©HHER)

Burke’s fabulous feathers

Wood You Believe? Toby’s Corner takes the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct

Wizard at night

A conversation at Camelot

This one reminds me of the scene in The Black Stallion when Alec leaves sugar cubes on the ledge for him to eat…

Love this mane…

Wizard, all shed out in the springtime

Rocking my retro Navajo saddle blanket

Welcome, Blue and White Brigid!

Pony dreams

“I thought I heard a peppermint…”

“Hey, buddy, you have a little piece of alfalfa in your teeth…”

Atlantic City Race Course

Happy Mother’s Day

Camelot Auction graduates Chip and Dale, in the care of Liberty Equine Rescue in NJ.

Things always look better in the morning

Wizard and me

Ashley Adams and Vaunted- through the Keyhole at Jersey Fresh. Vaunted is a Thoroughbred by Two Punch- he raced twice. Read more about Thoroughbreds who were racehorses and became eventers here: http://thetdnblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/from-finish-line-to-start-box.html

Learning how to share

Rosebud, official mascot of Central Virginia Horse Rescue

Esme

Maryam and Sienna

The end of May can mean only one thing…

Esme

John the Mule loves Laffy Taffy

Bogey at Central Virginia Horse Rescue (after photo)

Bogey (before photo)

Rosebud’s “bell tail”

Push In the Chips BFF, aka Chip, a Tennessee Walking Horse

Hi-Ho Final!

Wayward kitten

GKB Coal Magic, Morgan sporthorse stallion

Groucho Marx, a Camelot bunny who was adopted

Chance, available for adoption from Helping Hearts Equine Rescue

Simon is a man of few words…

One of the most striking examples of the hard work of volunteers and the strength of the equine spirit is Zodiac, a Thoroughbred currently living at Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Maryland. He was a victim of severe neglect, and over the past 18 months, I have been able to document his progress from standing in his sling to frolicking in his pasture. Zodiac is a farm favorite, and many volunteers have remarked that just saying hello to him in the morning can brighten a gloomy day. He is a horse with the heart of a lion, and he’s also a symbol of the spirit of rescue.

Zodiac at Days End Farm Horse Rescue (after photo)- read more here

Zodiac (before photo)

Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice

Fly like a Wizard

Black on Black

Cathy and the wish lantern

Jonathan Andrew

Sophia, future mouser of America

Kris and Philly

Flying

Kat and Chip, her Tennesee Walking Horse

Wizard wants to be an eventer when he grows up (me too)

Curves

Abstract: fly spray

Draft board meeting

The fabulous flying Wizard

MOR at Kaboomfest- Marine Park, Red Bank, NJ

Bright eyes

Taste

Smell

See

Touch

Hear

Stiletto Slim, available for adoption at Scarlet Rose Farm Horse Rescue in CT

The everyday care of rescue horses is something so inspiring that it begs to be photographed. The selfless devotion that these people have for their equine friends is beautiful.

Percy at Scarlet Rose Farm Equine Rescue

Percy at auction

The Big Mare

Cosmo, Ponytales Rescue in PA

Little bubbly green cocktail at the Haskell

Chaps

Coil and Martin Garcia win the 2011 Haskell

Haflinger Hugs

The Dog Days of Summer

“Is that MY pedigree?” Whippendeal (Unbridled’s Song x Dream Supreme), Hip #111 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale

Rajiv Maragh and Tizway- Whitney winners

Curious

Creature comforts

Shackleford’s workout

Saratoga morning

A 5 o’clock shadow and swishy tail usually end up in the photo cull pile, but they are key elements in this one…

One, Two, Three

Sunny, adopted from Helping Hearts Equine Rescue- Wizard’s new neighbor

Real Men Wear Pink

Wizard, prepared for Hurricane Irene

Valentine

Will this hideous watermark prevent this Havre de Grace portrait from ending up on eBay? Probably not

Larry Jones, trainer of Havre de Grace

Silhouette

Hopping hay bales with the Wizard

Do you hear what I hear?

Gatsby’s calendar photo

Jonathan Andrew and MOR at Buddie’s Tavern in Sayreville, NJ

FOG

THE fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

-Carl Sandburg

Between the bars

“Hello, Mo!” Havre de Grace eyes Uncle Mo at Belmont Park

Portrait of a Mule

Friends

Combined Driving at the Horse Park of NJ

Galileo- Friesian stallion

“I’ll lean on you and you lean on me and we’ll be okay” -Dave Matthews Band

Mr November

“The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights.” Giotto di Bondone

Wistful

Slade vom Marinik

I get by with a little help from my friends

Wizard’s whiskers

Wizard and me

Zodiac at Days End Farm Horse Rescue

Penny, Charm, and me with the calendar check

Playtime

Indian Delight: from Camelot Auction to Kentucky

Indian Delight at auction

Zorro, a Camelot graduate

Zorro (before)

Silver Gem at Horse Rescue United

Attentive

Sophia

Boys will be boys- Zehpyr and Mini Cooper at Helping Hearts Equine Rescue

Dragon Fire

My volunteer work started as a way to carry on the legacy of Alibar, my beloved first horse. It has shaped my philosophy as a student of the horse and a photographer. A “horse in need” can take many forms, from a horse standing in a feedlot, to a free pony on Craigslist, to an abandoned pet, to a critical case at a rescue. The face of equine photography is changing faster than you can imagine. I find myself photographing less frequently at the racetrack, where there is a line of a dozen photographers all trying to get the same shot; I find myself more often at a unique location, taking a unique picture, trying to make a change.

Next time you are feeling frustrated, I challenge you to take some time and give back to your community. Photographers: craft your own style. BE DIFFERENT. You may think that you only have a little skill and time to donate, but as you continue to give, you may find that you are able to give more and more. The horses will thank you.

In memory of Homeward Maryland, aka Mary