you coming? Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

some might wonder what on earth am i doing in my profile photo. well, here's the answer: i was trying to crawl closer to a herd of wild horses in Cotopaxi National Park. that's until the leader of the herd explained to me in plain horse'ish how silly i looked... :)

general information: larger and smaller herds of wild horses (i guess, they would be called mustangs in the US) roam the paramo in cotopaxi national park. if feeling safe in their numbers they seem not to mind human presence, but smaller groups tend to keep their distance.

edge, avene, Charo, fulvio52, PixelTerror, mursaloglu, jhm, danos, plimrn, belido, trekks, gunbud, sagar, scobert has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

sagitarian (353) 2008-01-30 5:40 [Comment]

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ifanik (20540) 2008-01-30 5:41

Amazing photo Kristaps
Very well done
This is the MARLBORO COUNTRY?
Comgratulations
Best regards
Nick

indraajeet (1773) 2008-01-30 5:46

nice refreshing shot. i think you could have toned down the light a bit. otherwise excellent
indrajit

saxo042 (15680) 2008-01-30 5:59

Hi Kristaps,
An excellent POV, close to the ground to make the horses look even wilder. Very good light and a beautiful background with its bluish colour.
Greetings from Gothenburg
Gunnar

avene (11008) 2008-01-30 6:16

very nice, the low point of view creates a very interesting perspective. love the colours here, the gray is really elegant, and that's how I've always thought about the horses - they are elegant. the animal looking straight at you does make the photo more engaging, I like it a lot.
best,
K.

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fulvio52 (8314) 2008-01-30 7:03

Hi buddy,
the low POV provides for outstanding depth of field. Love the very subtle, almost subdued overall tones, they make those horses really stand out.
Excellent job!
Cheers,
F.

nirvana73 (8656) 2008-01-30 11:14

Hello Kristaps
i like pastel colours
i like looks of the horse on the left
nice shot and compo
TFS
regards
Ozhan

scobert (5333) 2008-01-30 15:16

Hi Kristaps,
Ecuador has a bit of everything doesn't it? This looks very much like the wild horse ranges in Nevada. This area looks a llittle dry and barren. I wonder if it is in a rain shadow. This is an excellent addition to your travelogue and you have a wonderful variety of subject matter and scenery. Keep on posting these interesting shots!
Stan

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danyy (68778) 2008-01-30 23:34

Bonjour Kristaps,
des chevaux dont les couleurs ressortent très bien dans cette végétation qui manque un peu de couleurs.
J'aime ce POV pris de très bas, qui augmente de ce fait la hauteur des talus de l'arrière plan.
Best regards.
Daniel.

PixelTerror (86124) 2008-01-31 3:11

Hi Kristaps,
This reminds me of old western series I used to watch, think the name was "Cimarron" or something like that, we're so used to see horses as domesticated animals it's a be strange to see them roasming freely as in your image, I think Iceland must be an other location where this is common. I see you impressed the left model looking at you !
Have a nice day JY

Charo (31671) 2008-01-31 3:20

Hola Kristaps,
Bellísima imagen de estos caballos que ponen una nota de dinamismo y contraste a la toma. Excelente luz, color y resolución.
Cordialmente
Charo

mursaloglu (5160) 2008-01-31 4:34

Hello Kristap
Great landscape picture with marvelous elements. The horses places are really well balanced. Best regards ihsan

jhm (82545) 2008-01-31 4:39

Hello Kristaps,

What a wonderful area with the wild horses middle of the nature.
Be these horses than never caught through the people?
Very well composition and nice of colours too.
Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

danos (32468) 2008-01-31 4:41

Hello Kristaps,
nice landscape view of Cotopaxi National Park with these wilds horses in it.As i see the leader watching you carefully,i don't know why.Excellent the colours and the POV.Informative your note.

Regards,Danos

baba_flies (7985) 2008-01-31 7:30

Hello Kristaps! This seems to be a free country for horses and I like to see these anmimals without a fence around them and that they just can go where ever they want to. I like that you included some of the grass land as your foreground and left the little herd in the back ... I mean you had to but somehow the distance shows how wild they are and this is what makes this photo. I have seen semi-free horses in Montana/USA but I know they have wild ones too but they do not just stand there for the tourists :)))) but have to be discovered as you have. Wonderful. Have a good day, Barbara.

plimrn (19656) 2008-01-31 9:07

Hi Kristaps,
The wonderful BG detail makes the perfect frame for this elegant herd of wild horses. That fellow certainly did give a look of disbelief; Avene has nailed it, the makes the photo extraordinary. It seems that not only can you capture the cooperation of people, but you are also a 'Horse Whisperer.'
HLJ, Pat

belido (16493) 2008-01-31 9:07

Hi Kristaps,

what a great shot. Very unusual to see wild horses and with that background. I can see the one on left looking at you. Good use of the tele to get this approximation. The land looks beautiful too. Tell me one thing: There is something on the left that looks like a small canyon. Is it? If so, don't tell me you didn't shoot. Great image!
Regards,
Carlos

batalay (20940) 2008-01-31 20:48

Hello Kristaps,

A very good title, for a compelling photograph. I wonder how these wild horses survive, but the sanctuary of Cotopaxi National Park must explain that happenstance. Excellent composition, colors, and resolution, the product of a great camera and talented photographer.

Warm regards,

Bulent

trekks (14314) 2008-02-01 2:44

Hats off to your keen passion for photography, Kris, and this is a fine result you get for it. I like the natural setting for these horses, such lovely view. It will be so nice to post your profile photo as WS here to see it clearly.

Superb work. TFS
bill
later

ayansadhu (1499) 2008-02-02 1:17

This is a good image & a nice note accompany it...

marietom (31944) 2008-02-02 3:39

Hi Kristaps,

Superbe composition, et magnifiques couleurs. J'aime beaucoup ces montagnes légèrement bleues.
Marie

chrisnet (20374) 2008-02-02 11:56

Hello Kristaps,
I like this shot with the wild horses and the arid landscape, well done.
Regards

crckt (7074) 2008-02-02 15:00

Hi Kristaps,
Lovely shot! I have never seen wild horses, must have been really a good experience for you. Beautiful composition too.
Well done,
Shaeri

ninaL (19516) 2008-02-03 2:03

Hi, Kristaps.
Great atmosphere in this one...
There is a beautiful no man's land...
Good composition.
Best regards. Grazyna.

DFilip (89) 2008-02-03 2:16

The muddy colors give to your photo a really "wild west" character and show boundless distance. Good job.
TFS
Filip

Polonaise (5636) 2008-02-03 8:24

One of the most beautiful creatures roaming our mother earth - aren't they ?

And everytime I see one - I want to run next to him as fast as I can...

Oh, well - it's too late now...
But - the dream is on...

Run fast, Kristaps...
Lose your breath

g.

gunbud (27879) 2008-02-03 22:34

Hi Kristaps,
Wonderful nature shot of these beautiful wild horses seen against the stark mountains. Excellent colors with fine details and sharpness. The one beautiful animal looking back towards your camera is a outstanding element to this fine natural landscape.
Regards, Tom

sagar (2307) 2008-02-04 5:55

Hi Kristaps,
Beautiful shot!!!!These horses seem to personify stamina and power. Lovely setting as a backdrop.
Great one
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Bluejeans (32293) 2008-02-06 9:56

Ola Kristaps ,
Que região tem uma vegetação bem rasteira , estes cavalos selvagens ficaram fantasticos em primeiro plano , gostei muito das cores, bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

capthaddock (28640) 2008-02-06 18:39

I like the very wild west atmosphere, nice mix of soft landscape and fauna. I've seen many lush green photos of landscapes around Cotopaxi, these scantily vegetated hills seem surprising, also considering that december is supposed to be the wet season in the Andes. I will try to go there this year, I'm always deterred by the crime stories, especially in Quito.

edge (468) 2008-02-10 10:26

After viewing your brook shot in the park earlier today, I took a look at some of your most recent shots. This wild horse shot is a calendar photo. Nicely done, and the horse turning to cooperate made the shot even more interesting. We have wild horses here where I live, but they are rarely seen. Moreover if you see them, they are gone. Unfortunately when I have seen them I have been sans camera. Another good one for sure.