When you have entirely surrendered,

everything you do will be meditation.

~Yogaswami

It doesn’t matter what is going on in my life – good, bad, happy, sad – all I have to do is be in the presence of horses and instantly, all is right in my world.  Not sure what it is about them that is so soothing to me, but whatever it is I am grateful for.

I love to groom them.

I love to watch them eat.

I love to sit quietly next to them as they sleep in the sun.

I love their smell.

I love their energy.

I love how soulful they are.

I love that they are in my life.

We all hunger for the enigmatic,

the veiled unexplainable which is beyond human understanding.

Some of us satisfy this appetite with the archetypal majesty and power

of the horse. ~ Melissa Sovey-Nelson

A myth is far truer than a history,

for a history only gives a story of the

shadows, whereas a myth gives a story

of the substances that cast the shadows.

~ Annie Besant

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

I have finally finished editing the rest of the pictures of Lea and her horses.  I decided to create a gallery rather than put them all in a post.  For anyone unfamiliar with these series of pictures I have been taking of Lea since last November, you may want to know that none of our time was rehearsed.  All images are candid.  My intention is to document her relationship with her horses, all the little moments that create a story.

If you would like to read the posts from the beginning, here is a link to the first one.

And the second one.

The third one.

Here is just a taste of what is in the gallery. . .

And now here is a link to The Red Streak Warrior gallery.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

Life is a circle, a continuous cycle of seasons.  When I rescued Autumn, she was in the “Autumn” cycle of her life.  Her lack of care was evident in her emaciated body, her dull coat, her vacant eyes.  She was riddled with rain rot from head to hoof and her tail and mane was covered in burs.  But there was something about her that said “she’s the one for me.”

With love and proper care she rebounded beautifully and thrived on my little farm for nearly five years.  However, in these past couple of months she took a turn for the worst.  More and more I noticed that she was spitting partially chewed hay.  After the equine dentist came he confirmed she could no longer chew hay well enough to swallow.  Her teeth were worn down too far.  I began to feed her softened mash, which she ate contentedly, but she still wanted her hay.  It was frustrating for her to be hungry, to have the food in her mouth, but in the end to have to spit it out for fear of choking.

In my heart I knew the right thing to do was help her gracefully move on from this life on earth.  Her work was over and her body was tired.  She became beautiful over the years.  Her coat shone and you could see her spirit in her loving, kind eyes.  Her final years were good and it gladdens my heart to know that I was able to give them to her.  I can’t say enough wonderful things about Autumn, so I’ll let the following pictures do the talking.  Oh, one more thing.  All this time I thought Autumn was 20-something.  Turns out she was between 30-35.  Wow!  That made yesterday a whole lot easier for me.  In fact, it made me smile.

Winter of 2008.  She loved closing her eyes towards the sun during the winter.

This was her 2nd winter with us.

The dogs loved to come out when she was fed so they could eat the scraps.  This is Sonny waiting patiently.

Spring of 2008.  I love to photograph horses eyes.  They are so soulful, and as you can see, her spirit is fully back.

Every day I walked her up the road to a friends house so she could graze on the grass.  It was her favorite thing to do.

What a happy girl.

Dandelions were her most favorite thing to eat.  She couldn’t get enough!

May 2008 in our pasture.

This is a rare moment.  She hardly ever laid down to nap.

Autumn always insisted that the grass was always greener on the other side of the fence!

June 2008.  Now tell me, does this look like a 30-something year old horse!?

To keep her within the boundaries of my front yard, I just put rope up between trees and fence lines.  Such a good horse!

And then along came Muffin in October of 2008.  This was his 2nd day and she was still unsure of him, but much more accepting than day one.  By day 3 she was his “mommy.”

Once she realized the goats were no longer afraid of him she calmed down.

After the initiation, they became inseparable.

She was never alone and seemed to enjoy her status as Queen.

She grew a thick, beautiful coat and even the frigid cold of January didn’t bother her.

This is one of my favorites of her.  I love the colors and frozen lashes.

Basking in the January sun.

Of course there were times when Autumn had to scold Muffin, but she did so with her gentle authority.

And he would reply with “I’m a baby, don’t hurt me.”  And Autumn never, ever did him any harm.

After a good roll in the snow before breakfast, Autumn would occasionally become frisky.  I love their expressions!

Priceless!!

With Muffin around, you could say she was always entertained!

Feel the love

Another frisky moment in the freshly fallen snow.

And there always seemed to be a conversation afterward, in which Muffin realized she was bigger than him!

Heavily snow-laden maple branches = winter treats!

You can’t beat that late day February sunlight.

She even had to tolerate her little stallion, but as you can see, she wasn’t worried!

Summer 2009

Autumn’s last snow storm.

She loved to stand in her stall and look out.

Her final days of eating her mash.  The chickens picked at the bits she dropped.

Her closed stall door signifies where Muffin had to wait while she ate her portions of food.

This was the last picture I took of her, standing in the morning light, eating her breakfast, the beautiful glow of life in her eyes, where once she held a vacant stare, one I thought could never be penetrated.  But her brief time with me showed me that love is all you need.  I will always cherish my time with her and I will miss her sweet nicker whenever I came into her space.  She had a kind, big heart and I will be continually blessed because of her.  Her spirit runs free now, no longer chained to the failings of her earthly body.

I will always love you, Autumn.

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Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgment wage war against your passion and your appetite.
Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody.
But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements?

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.
For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;
And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.

I would have you consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house.
Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both.

Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields and meadows — then let your heart say in silence, “God rests in reason.”
And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky — then let your heart say in awe, “God moves in passion.”
And since you are a breath in God’s sphere, and a leaf in God’s forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion.     – “On Reason and Passion” by Kahlil Gibran

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Emotions. Life can be summed up as a series of unending emotions. What I strive to capture in my work as a photographer are the emotions of my subjects. It doesn’t matter if I’m shooting people, animals or plants. Emotion exists.

The following images portray a variety of emotions.

Sadness. Letting go. Adoration. Contemplation. Bliss. Joy.

What stirs your soul?

Post inspired by the Shutter Sisters.

The four images above were taken an hour or two before their beloved horses had to be laid to rest.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

It is so easy to get comfortable with a certain way of doing things. In regards to photography, post processing in particular, I have found myself seeking new ways of bringing to life the images I take. I visit hundreds of blogs. I sample hundreds of tutorials. I read hundreds of “how to’s.” But in the end I found myself slinking back into a familiar way of presenting my work. Maybe it’s my “style” or my “signature” – a way for people to recognize my images. For them to be able to say, “yep, that’s Darlene.”

But I want to grow. I want to feel expressive in a multitude of ways. I don’t want my post processing to be my signature. I want the emotion conveyed in the images to say “this is Darlene’s work.”

The following images are from a session I did towards the end of November. I’m still working on them. The good thing about taking so long is the images and I are evolving together. I am stepping outside my “photography comfort zone” with the intention of being open to many forms of expression. These images below have been treated with a vintage look. The hardest part about this change is when I put the original image and the vintage image side by side. I have to let go of the fact that the colors are different, especially skin tones. But what I’m loving is the energy shift. It really brings to life the feeling of the moment.

The direction of this post was inspired by the latest post on Shutter Sisters.

This image represents such a sacred moment.  I just love the synchronicity between Lea and Spartacus.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

My miniature horse, Muffin, is so photogenic and he seems to love the camera, too.  Couple that with incredible morning light, and the results are quite pleasing.  I hope all who are in the Northeast are staying as warm as possible.  Minus 6 due to a wind chill factor is on the extreme end of winter.  And it’s NOT even winter yet!

To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice. – Kahlil Gibran

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.  – Kahlil Gibran

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

What is this magic that exists between horses and the feminine ? How do you describe their interaction, their natural curiosity of one another? How do you weave respect and trust into genuine play, especially when your playmate is a 1,000 pound animal who lives on instinct and can react in a millisecond? The images below will answer these questions for you.

I spent the day with Lea this past Sunday and I continue to be awed by her way with horses. I hope you will see as I do that there is nothing more sweet than Lea’s relationship with her horses, except for maybe the wisdom she is passing on to her 8 year-old apprentice. You will see how every moment is a spontaneous response to an internal call for delight; how scarves and movement, a tall hat or pink boa can enlist laughter and thundering hooves. You will see a young girl learning the art of leadership and the delicate balance between strength and a gentle heart. You will witness a woman’s heart flowering with mystery as she weaves her way through a timeless dance. You will see that the elements of play are vast and simple, yet full of enchantment and wonder.

Have you ever played dress up with your dog or cat?  I know I have!  But have you ever played dress up with your horse or horses?  If not, and you have a horse, you might consider it the next time you wonder what fun thing you could do together.

Lea says it’s a good idea to dress strangely for your horse so they become desensitized to unfamiliar things.  So get out the costumes and have fun!

Now doesn’t Spartacus look dashing in his top hat!!

Really, Xena doesn’t mind at all getting dressed up for the boys!

“Awe, what a good girl” approves mommy Lea!

As you will see, the energy of the day shifts in many directions, creating an ever changing mood.

Many of the fantasies young girls have about horses are not only full of potential that the horse/woman relationship promises, but are also tremendous symbols for personal growth in leadership, courage and empowerment.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself.  – Havelock Ellis

Life is art and even a horse can be the canvas upon which you express your creativity.

We journeyed through the woods to a pond.  The light in the forest was fantastic.  In fact, the light of late fall throughout the winter months are among the most extraordinary forms of ambiance I know of.

Some blurry pictures tell stories anyway.

It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive.  There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them.   -George Eliot

Could it be, that the horse as messenger, is such a profound teacher because once upon a time when we listened to all healers, all creatures who, in one way or another, inspired us to remember what we already knew, the horse persuaded us to believe in ourselves?   As long as we do not ask the horse to forget who he is, he will remind us of who we want to be.  – Melissa Sovey-Nelson

Thank you, Lea, for an extraordinary day.  I cannot wait for our next “play date!”

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For several years now I have known that one day I would photograph Lea playing with her horses.   The thought would come and go, there was no dwelling as to when and where.  I just knew it would come to pass when the timing was most significant.  About two weeks ago I knew it was time, so I contacted her.  Last Sunday I arrived at the farm she is care taking and for the rest of the day it seemed a magical spell was hovering.

There are many people who own horses, but sadly there is a scarcity of true partnership between human and horse.  As you will see unfold in the following pictures, partnership and a deep, unconditional love permeates from Lea and her horses, Spartacus and Xena.  Please notice the sweet contentment in Lea’s face in all these images.  None of these are posed or rehearsed.  There were few words spoken between us.  We were both in the midst of what is most passionate to our souls, and so there was no need for words.  I hope you enjoy this beautiful dance as much as I did.

And Lea, for you I gift you with a look through the window I spent hours peering through on that day.  It was an honor to witness the beauty and the pain.  I shall hold this day forever in my heart.  I was deeply touched.

Spartacus

Xena

Lea

People can talk to one another about all these things and remain distanced and lonesome.  In partnership with a horse, one is seldom lacking for thought, emotion and inspiration.  One is always attended by a great companion.  – Charles de Kunniffy

Horses afford us the luxury of enchantment.  They fuel the imagination of children and nurture the youthful souls of adults.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

I am not only free to be myself with a horse, I am encouraged to find my brilliance.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

Our youth is raw, wild, both fearless and fearful, and fiercely independent while secretly in need of contact.  Horses are ageless and non-judgmental companions who teach me responsibility yet help me find my wings.  When it is difficult to express my feelings, I’m still okay when I am with horses, all I have to do is just be.  I love them and they know it.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

We are spirit, the horse and I . . . vital and animated, essence and substance, specter and apparition, boldness, enthusiasm and ardor.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

We are sprites, the horse and I – mythological figures empowered with magical gifts and the stuff of childhood tales.  Often diaphanous or forced to be in the shadows, we appear with deliberate intent when messages need to be delivered.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

Forever choreographing in daydreams whenever music stirred me, my visions have changed to the percussion of hooves and of rolling muscles lifting and pushing in cadenced performances together.  We are dance partners even when we are apart.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

We all hunger for the enigmatic, the veiled unexplainable which is beyond human understanding.  Some of us satisfy this appetite with the archetypal majesty and power of the horse.  -Melissa Sovey-Nelson

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

. . . that’s what photography is all about – light.  You can take the most simple, everyday subject and turn it into an extraordinary work of art.  It doesn’t matter what I am doing – driving, sitting by a window, feeding the animals, cooking dinner – I am always aware of the way sunlight is affecting my surroundings.  Couple light with freshly fallen snow or dew on the grass or the morning after it has rained and you will see a completely different world.

The following images are the result of capturing the light at just the right moments.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits