FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH INDIAN RELAY RACES

Having seen my first Indian Relay race yesterday, the first notable thing that I learned (aside from the bright racing colors which I love), is the high energy they bring to their races and with that high energy comes some interesting moments and reactions.

#1 OF MY TOP 10 FAVORITE IMAGES SO FAR IN 2019

Last but not least, here is #1 of my Top 10 favorite images so far in 2019.

We've all heard the term that a picture says a thousand words and this specific image most definitely achieves that.

This is currently my #1 of 2019 because ever since I was a little kid, I've always had a place in my heart for individuals with disabilities, whether it's mental or physical. I've also been through the everyday struggles of having had a disability and a disorder myself, and when you spend endless hours and years of your life learning how to cope with what you've been diagnosed with, it hits you on another level in realizing just how much of a burden disabilities can have on anyone.

Unfortunately not everyone is able to beat their disabilities depending on the nature of them but speaking from experience, conquering a disability (or even reaching a new stage of positive progression) is the best feeling in the world. Not only does it lift a huge weight off of your shoulders but you truly do have your life back. So I've always had the natural tendency to reach out and connect with people with disabilities (individuals or groups) on a more personal level to give them my support.

So many of these little kind gestures in life go a long way and I feel that at times in today's busy and social media crazed society that they can often be overlooked.

114TH MILLARVILLE RACES

For the Millarville Races on Canada Day (July 1st), I will no longer be photographing the event, instead I will be filming it.

And what I mean by filming is not a straight forward video of all the races from start to finish of me just panning the camera back and forth, but rather a short documentary shot in the format of what you would see in a movie trailer, just longer.

Movie trailers are so effective because they suck you in. They keep you on the edge of your seat, they get you excited - they immediately draw emotion. That is exactly what I have planned with this video. I will portray the intensity of horse racing, the emotions that it creates and the energy that an event like this provides. It's going to be moving, it's going to be full of emotion and it's going to draw you in. Even though I have yet to start, I already know how I want the finished product to look.

Why the switch? It's simple. You all have already seen what I am capable of in terms of photographing an event like this both on and off the track (example: Dubai World Cup) but nobody has seen what I can do on the video side at such an event and this is a core component of my business that I've been wanting to exploit. Pictures are great and all but video is something else, as it is far more engaging and more powerful.

I will still have one of my picture cameras with me to take a few pictures here and there, but there won't be many, as my primary focus will be video. I can't wait for this!

Cassidy Meston will be assisting me for the day as the extra set of hands will be much needed.

#2 OF MY TOP 10 FAVORITE IMAGES SO FAR IN 2019

Here is #2 of my Top 10 favorite images so far in 2019.

Going back to Equine Portraiture and why I love capturing the connection between horse and human so much is because it allows me to provide a unique and fun experience to my clients.

Having pictures taken of you with your horse is not just about collecting memories to cherish for the rest of your life and share with your friends and family. It's also the experience that comes along with it:

1) The smiles in perhaps discovering another side of your horse that you have never seen before,

2) The goofy moments that may come about.

3) The fun times from just getting a very social, flight first animal to work in front of the camera.

It really is an experience in it's own, especially when I am in unfamiliar territory like in this image here.

#3 OF MY TOP 10 FAVORITE IMAGES SO FAR IN 2019

Here is #3 of my Top 10 favorite images so far in 2019.

Very similar to my #4 picture, I knew my time at the Dubai World Cup was going to give me these emotional but monumental moments to document, simply because of the magnitude of the event and how this event is photographed year in and year out by the media from all around the world.

One thing that I do very often at shows is that I work from locations that nobody else shoots from, this allows me to snap moments that very few others (if any) get and if it is a moment that others do get, I capture that moment in a much different style.

#4 OF MY TOP 10 FAVORITE IMAGES SO FAR IN 2019

Here is #4 of my Top 10 favorite images so far in 2019.

I've been itching to capture a moment like this for awhile now, I just had to be in the right situation that would give me this opportunity. Going into the Dubai World Cup, I had no doubt that I would finally be getting it.

My position on the track rail was quite far from the finish line, so I wasn't able to get more of these celebrations because my angle from the finish line was not ideal or up to my expectations but at least this one is a start. Thankfully, the one jockey that I was able to capture in this specific type of celebration was the winner of the event, Thunder Snow.

#6 OF MY TOP 10 FAVORITE IMAGES SO FAR IN 2019

Here is #6 of my Top 10 favorite images so far in 2019.

This is one of my happiest images to date and last week I mentioned how the subject's (person's) mood will show through your pictures. This jockey (XY Jet) is beyond happy after winning his race and his body language says it all.

But what makes this picture extra special is the fact that it was taken as the sun was just about down, so the contrast between the dark sky and the track lights make the image more dramatic. Intimate celebrations like this one is what we all cherish in the show world, especially for those who are really into horse racing.

Boy does that front line on the track ever get crammed when you are out there with over 200 other photographers fighting for every inch of space, in an attempt to get the best shot you can of the winner from that race.

I actually took this while standing on my tippy toes from the very back of the pack because my position along the track rail was quite far and photographer's who have spots closest to the front line on the track, have a huge advantage in being able to make it to this location after each race quicker, therefore giving them the best prime spots for their pictures.