My husband and I spent a few days in July off the coast of Virginia and Maryland at Chincoteague and Assateague. I wanted to photograph the wild horses on the beach, but this proved impossible. In Virginia, the horses are fenced in the marshes and my views of then were at a great distance. In Maryland, the horses roam free, but they seem to prefer the marshes and roads, the beaches being too crowded with people.
Challenges aside, here are a few of my non-landscape “keepers”.
Challenges aside, here are a few of my non-landscape “keepers”.
The two horses in the foreground caught my interest. The stallion is the leader of about 10 horses. A harem is usually composed of mares and their young. He led the group as they move through the marsh as well as when they crossed the road. The mare facing the stallion appeared to be the lead mare in the harem. Here she nuzzles the stallion, maybe whispering sweeting nothings in his ear. Looks like a loving couple to me. DISCLAIMER: Anthropomorphism run amuck! Having little knowledge of horse behavior, my interpretation is purely subjective.
Here the same two graze together near the edge of the road. Are they on a dinner date?
Finally, the stallion chews his dinner. I think he is a vegetarian.
He is a handsome fellow!!!
The Assateague Island National Seashore site tells a realistic story about the present life and history of theses beautiful horses.
True to my nature, here a few additional photographs from our trip. Note that they are low light landscapes; my all-time favorite genre.
Assateague sunrise in VA
Even at this early hour, I shared the beach with birds and other humans who just passed through my frame.
Assateague Lighthouse in VA
I sacrificed my legs to overwhelming numbers of mosquito bites to capture this lighthouse photo. Lesson learned; never go into marshy area at dusk wearing shorts!!!!
I sacrificed my legs to overwhelming numbers of mosquito bites to capture this lighthouse photo. Lesson learned; never go into marshy area at dusk wearing shorts!!!!
Assateague Lighthouse at night in VA.
This is the same lighthouse later in the evening taken from the beach side of Assateague Island. It was a lovely sight, but the sweeping light wrecked my plans to capture the Milky Way from a dark beach.
Sunset over the Marsh in MD
This my favorite Assateague photograph. I was just off the road at this marshy area armed with long pants and insect repellant. I love the light on the clouds here.