Capturing wild horses isn’t any simple feat, however one photographer has spent seven years perfecting her craft, taking pictures lovely pictures of the majestic creatures.
Susan Goudge dodges rattlesnakes and offers with the extreme Arizona warmth to seize wild horses operating, combating, and loving.
“Being a wild horse photographer provides me a motive to get outdoors and revel in nature whereas doing one thing I really like,” she tells PetaPixel.
“Being with the horses and watching their interplay with each other is magical, and I study one thing new each time I’m out with them.”
Goudge turned excited by wild horses after transferring to Arizona the place she found they lived alongside the Salt River.
“I used to be intrigued, and commenced studying all I may about them, and the way and the place to see them,” she says.
“Alongside the best way, I met different wild horse photographers, who shared their information with me, and I quickly turned hooked.”
Goudge says that respect for the horses is a should and so is giving them loads of house, making a protracted lens important.
“One of many first items of recommendation I used to be given was to remain behind a tree if potential, particularly if the horses are sparring, and it’s been good recommendation,” she explains.
“I simply wish to observe and {photograph} them with out disrupting them, as any moral wildlife photographer does with the animals she’s taking pictures; I can spend hours simply watching and photographing them, and it’s fascinating.”
Getting a Good Shot
Goudge makes use of a Sony A1 or A9 with both a 100-400mm or a 200-600mm to seize her pictures however she tries to journey mild.
“Since I’m typically mountain climbing three to 5 miles throughout a photograph shoot, I solely carry one physique and one lens, as a result of weight,” she says.
Goudge has to climb up rocky hillsides, duck underneath bushes, stroll by means of cobwebs, wade by means of rivers, and keep away from rattlesnakes to get a very good shot.
“It’s useful to have a excessive clearance, four-wheel drive car because you typically should seek for the horses on two-tracks,” she explains.
“Binoculars are additionally a should, because the horses can shortly journey nice distances, and it might require a little bit of looking to search out them.”
This summer season, Goudge was bitten by a snake whereas photographing the horses. Thankfully, it was a “dry” chunk however she has worn snake guards ever since.
Identical to their tame kin, some wild horses are okay with individuals round whereas others will not be.
“Discovering the horses, after which getting shut sufficient to {photograph} them with out disturbing them, is a part of the problem of photographing wild horses,” explains Goudge.
“Understanding their habits can even allow you to put together for a shot.” Goudge provides an instance of a band of horses heading towards a water supply.
“You need to hope you’ve guessed the best water gap to go to to get the dramatic shot of tons of of horses operating for water, enveloped in clouds of mud,” she says.
“Some days you guess accurately, different days you sit ready for them to crest a hill solely to search out they’ve gone in one other course.”
Goudge says that she hopes her pictures assist individuals perceive the advanced social networks that wild horses have.
“The excessive motion moments, corresponding to horses sparring or operating, definitely get your adrenaline pumping whereas photographing them, however it’s the tender moments, corresponding to a mare loving her foal, or two stallions who’re outdated pals greeting each other, that stick with you and pull at your heartstrings,” she provides.
Extra of Goudge’s work may be discovered on her Instagram.
Picture credit: All pictures by Susan Goudge.
