Chasing Shadows: Unique Wild Horse Photography Moments
- Maria Marriott
- 41 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Six weeks ago, my husband and I went out chasing something a bit different than wild horses. We stood in the quiet hush of early morning, cameras in hand, watching the first golden rays of sunlight thread their way between two stone formations to illuminate a towering monolith. It was one of those rare, perfect alignments—light, subject, timing—all converging to give a photograph that felt magical. One image captured that morning still lingers in my mind, not just for its beauty, but for the feeling it evoked: presence, awe and the thrill of witnessing something fleeting.
This morning, we returned to that same spot. Same location. Same time. Same intention. The goal was to recreate the scene, maybe from a slightly different angle. We waited for two hours, watching the sun slowly rise until it crested the surrounding mountains, anticipating that the golden light would once again illuminate the monolith from top to bottom. But it never came.
By the time we realized what had changed—the angle of the sun, subtly but significantly different from six weeks ago—the soft morning glow had vanished, replaced by the harsh glare of mid-morning. The magic was gone.
And with it came a quiet reminder: no moment can be duplicated. Not in life. Not in photography.
A Sliver of Time
We often try. We chase the highs of past experiences, hoping to relive them, to feel what we once felt. But time is a moving canvas. The light changes. The shadows shift. The world turns. What was once perfect at a certain point in time becomes impossible to replicate— that moment belonged to a specific sliver of time that no longer exists.
Wild horse photography and photography in general teach this lesson in the most visceral way. Photography demands presence because every single moment is unique and will never happen again. It rewards spontaneity and creativity in the present. And it punishes hesitation or nostalgia with missed opportunities.
This morning I was so focused on recreating a past image that I failed to see what was unfolding around me. While I stared at the monolith, waiting for the golden light that would never return, the landscape was alive with new possibilities. Golden light danced on other rocks; it illuminated peaks that I hadn’t noticed before. Shadows carved fresh textures. I was offered a new story—but I was too busy chasing an old one.
Each Moment It's Own Masterpiece
It’s a humbling reminder to focus on the present, not anchor ourselves to the past. And while it’s tempting to revisit scenes (or experiences) that once moved us, we must remember that each moment is its own masterpiece, never to be repeated.
Next time I return to that monolith, I won’t be looking for the same light. I’ll be looking for new light. New angles. New stories. Because photography, like life, isn’t about recreating the past—it’s about discovery and living in the present moment.
About Maria Marriott
Maria's equine artwork has been recognized for its emotional impact and intimate portrayal of wild horses.
Maria works closely with several non-profit organizations focused on the benefits of equine therapy and preservation of the mustangs on US Western lands.
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