This was a big project alright but it is complete...for this winter at least. I can't say that I will go shooting again in this specific area in -40C weather mainly because if you get stuck or stranded up in this area of Sundre, AB you are walking. Well I was incredibly fortunate to not have anything bad happen - huge sigh of relief.
I was on the road for 6:30am yesterday to arrive in Sundre AB Wild Horse Country for 9am. I went to my original spot where I've had luck spotting wild horses in the past but they were not there when I arrived so I drove off another road and not long after, out of nowhere was a complete herd right at the road eating. I wasn't expecting them to be there so I carefully parked, got out and thankfully I did not scare the herd away. It was just deadly cold so I had to work as fast as I could, there was no time for pretty shots.
Even being covered in thermal base layers from head to toe, several layers of sweaters, two jackets, a neck warmer and my winter hat, I lasted no more than 8 minutes at a time before I had to get back in the car to warm up for a 1-2 minutes. I was able to get three solid 8-9 minute sessions out in the cold before I nearly I just about got frostbite and had to hit the road. After each time going back out, I had reduced mobility because I warmed up for no more than a couple minutes in the car in case the herd was to leave. I knew I had to make the most out of every second that they were in my presence. It was one of those times where I just had to tough it out with the conditions to get the end result.
In my first time out, I did manage to go quite deep into the field and trekked through enormous amounts of snow, bushes, but I also had to remember just how cold it was and to not get too far from the car. I could literally feel my fingers and bones freeze as each second passed. Near the end my ability to operate my camera took a huge hit so I missed some shots that I was bummed for not getting.
The good news is that I was still able to get a few shots of one member dancing around but unfortunately my ability to operate my camera and track with it took a huge decline since I've been already out there for 6 or 7 minutes when this happened and I was getting quite frozen again haha.
I will say that it got quite challenging working and stabilizing my telephoto lens and it quickly got increasingly more difficult as time went on haha.
I will be back in the Spring of 2018 to get shots of these guys playing and galloping around.
The herd was mostly eating but at one point they did start playing and running around but it unfortunately was bad timing because I was in the car warming up. Just as I caught the final act of two members of the herd rearing up, I was grabbing my camera and was just seconds late of nailing that shot. Had I had full mobility in my hands, I would have gotten it. That would have been an incredible shot had I not been half frozen in the car.
The foal was the star of the show. He was oh so curious about my presence and I guarentee that he will win your heart after you see his photos. Hope you guys love these photos!
All photos can also be viewed on my website in the "Wild horse" section and also by clicking HERE.
All photos are also up for purchase in my online store.