June 6, 2024

This is the beginning, or rather the start of something new with in something existing. Photography has been something that has slowly grown in the background of my life and in the past couple years become something I love, something that fills me, a way for me to create, something I can do on my own terms.

This "something new with in something existing" has been on my mind for a couple years now. My creative process has felt like it has been missing something. I have enjoyed the process of entering photos in competitions, having my photos printed, gifting my photos and while I have enjoyed each of those, there's been something missing. Entering in competitions often lead to discouragement, printing lead to not knowing what to do with them next, and gifting left me wondering where those photo's end up. While I enjoy each of these, there was still something missing.

The summer of 2023 I took a three day roadtrip up to my family's cabin in northern Idaho. This was my first time doing a trip like this and allowing myself to stop and take pictures when and where I want. This lead to me leaving my camera in the passenger seat ready to go at a moments notice and it made for some incredible moments that I cherish.

One of those moments was at a rest stop somewhere in southern Idaho at a rest stop. As I pulled up I noticed a figure up on top of a little hill just past the rest stop. I really had to go... so I didn't think much of it. After taking care of business and with an undistracted mind, I walked out of the building and noticed the figure again. At first I couldn't totally make out what it was, but as I got closer I realized it was a horse. A big horse.

Recognizing my opportunity, I quickly went back to my car's passenger seat and grabbed my camera that was thoughtfully covered by a straw hat so it was "out of sight". I walked back around the building and, trying to stay unnoticed by the horse, started taking pictures from a little ways off. After slowly working my way closer I realized the horse didn't care about me and made my way up to the barbed wire fence and started taking photos.

Most of the photo's I take I can guess if they really came out, but I usually can't tell if I really got it until I get it on my computer and start editing. This was different, I knew I was capturing something special. I instantly wanted to share that moment. I pulled my phone out and took picture of the screen on my camera and sent it to several people. After deciding the 50-100 photos I took was sufficient, I started to head back to my car. As I got around the building I heard someone trying to get my attention.

My first reaction was "oh no". I didn't know what to expect. I turned around and saw the lady that was cleaning the rest stop walking toward me. It took me a second to realize what she was talking about, but she started to tell me about how she's lived in the area for many years and she has known the owners of the horse for a couple years. She proceeded to tell me his name was Kong and that he was a Belgian Draft horse, a very large Belgian Draft horse. I learned that this type of horse usually has a partner that they work with and when they are out in a field, they stick together. After learning this she told me that his partner was named King.

King and Kong.

The lady continued to tell me that King had died a few years ago and that Kong was basically in retirement and spends his time standing on that hill looking out.

As I processed those moments, I began to realize that while the photo itself and using the camera was special to me, it was only me. Taking a picture of my camera screen and sharing that moment was just as special. The lady taking time to tell me her story and connection to Kong, was just as special.

What I realized is while the photo and the process is something I enjoy and fills me, the story is something I haven't explored.

Photos Taken August 18, 2023

Sony ILCE-7RM4A

FE 200-600MM F5.6-6.3 G OSS