Monument Valley, Utah
Funny story about this shot. We had just left Monument Valley (this past Saturday) and out of the corner of my eye, I see a beautiful wild palomino stallion standing solo in a field of purple wild flowers. I hurriedly jump out of the car and get closer but also keep my distance so I do not interfere with what he was doing.
Everything is going wrong. I have my ND filter on to help with the bright sun but the focus was not there so I take it off.
I'm making my usual animal noises to get him to look up, but no dice. Finally he lifts his head and my memory card starts blinking FULL.
I'm standing there, formatting my card, while simultaneously watching for rattle snakes and trying not to step in what I think are prairie dog holes?
I finally give up on trying to get his attention as I am circling around him to position him between myself and the incredibly iconic backdrop where Forrest Gump declared "I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now".
He stood there, completely unbothered by me as I snapped away.
I walked back to the car absolutely ecstatic & convinced I'd just captured a stunning wild horse framed by one of the most recognizable landscapes on earth.
Fast forward to right now, mid-edit… and I notice this "wild" horse is wearing a halter.
He or she may not be wild but just imagine that freedom.
