Photo Credit: Maria Marriott, Wild Horse Photography
“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us
all but the things that cannot be torn,
so that we see ourselves as we really are."
- Arthur Golden
I’m frequently asked if and when I will issue another wild horse image in color, since much of my current wild horse photography work is monochromatic. The answer is that my preference is for monochromatic images, since I believe color can often detract from the beauty, mood and story of an image - especially if overdone.
However, certain images do call for color.
This month I am releasing two such images to my ongoing series, In Living Color. These powerful images of a stallion from the McCullough Peaks area of Northern Wyoming not only impress due to the stark depiction of the wild, but benefit from just enough color.
Photo Credit: Maria Marriott, Wild Horse Photographer
On most ranges, wind is just a given - sometimes gently swaying the desert grass and vegetation; sometimes whipping up clouds of dust that blanket the Jeep and every exposed surface. But on the McCullough Peaks range, the wind can be described better as “omnipotent”; it gusts and whips with such violence that, at times, one’s hair remains parallel to the ground, and the resulting roar makes hearing anything else impossible.
On the day I captured Windswept I and Windswept II, winds were a bit more restrained - just enough to bring the viewer a sense of movement, create beautiful lines and emphasize the rugged manes of the horses.
Muscular bodies of rugged stallions, scarred from countless battles, and long, tangled manes blowing in the wind portray the wild - a part of our American history and so important to preserve for future generations.
A portion of the proceeds from every sale of Windswept I or Windswept II will be donated to one of the amazing non-profit organizations I’m proud to partner with.
Wild Horse Artwork
Wild horse photography has become for me a means of storytelling, advocacy, and preservation. I travel the untamed landscapes of the American West, capturing the grace and beauty of wild mustangs, with the hopes to instill in others the same sense of wonder and respect for these magnificent creatures and the beautiful creation all around us.
Contact us and let’s preserve the legacy of America's wild horses, ensuring that they remain forever free and wild.