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One of 65 Million
That’s me. Just one of a huge number of people who suffer from epilepsy. Today is International Epilepsy Day, and typically this second Monday in February passes through my life as just another day. This year is a bit different, though, as I’m currently in the midst of working with a new neurologist to better treat my lifelong seizure disorder. I’m fortunate that my epilepsy is controlled through medication, and I haven’t had any major seizures for nearly 18 months, but, […]
Categories: Health • Tags: epilepsy, international epilepsy day, news, seahorse
Perfect Light
Earlier this year I was asked a very difficult question: What was your favorite photo of 2016? Well, at the time, I happened to know that I’d captured about 20,000 images last year between professional assignments, personal photography projects and my iPhone, because I’d recently organized my photo library to begin fresh in 2017. There were so many photographs that immediately came to mind, some of which were special because of the people in them, for the precise moment […]
Categories: Black and White, Horses, Photography • Tags: equestrian, equine photography, horse, Julie Winkel, Maplewood Stables, Nevada, photography, portrait, Reno
A Coincidence and a Story
I’ve always believed the universe works in mysterious ways, and recently I’ve found myself immersed in some experiences that defy simple explanations. Coincidences, yes, but almost beyond belief. Therefore, it was fun to turn on This American Life, one of my favorite podcasts, over the weekend and listen to their episode titled “No Coincidence, No Story!” Quite a coincidence that it popped up in my feed considering my current mindset. The podcast explored a variety of stories relating to unexplained […]
Categories: Horse Shows, Horses, Travel • Tags: #tbt, American Saddlebreds, coincidence, Hollywood Charity Horse Show, horse show, horses, show jumping, Throwback Thursday
Not A “Mourning” Dove
It seems happy endings aren’t always easy to come by these days. My Facebook and Twitter feeds are regularly filled with angry, sad and frustrated posts, with the occasional cute puppy or gorgeous landscape thrown in by a well-meaning friend to break up the mood. So, it was with much happiness and relief that over the past two weeks we had our own small miracle here when one of our resident birds was saved by my friends at the Blue […]
Categories: Birds, Nature, Photography • Tags: bird, bird photography, birdfeeder, Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Chickadee, Eastern Gray Squirrel, Mourning Dove, Northern Cardinal, photography, rehabilitation, rescue
A Clean Start
Happy New Year! I’m not usually one who sets resolutions at the start of a new year, although I do enjoy the concept of a fresh start. Maybe it’s the clean air and crisp winter weather here on the mountain in Virginia, when December ends and January begins, that inspires me to think about starting fresh new projects and bringing closure to those in the works. But after having a quieter than usual holiday season this year, I had more […]
Categories: Horses, Photography • Tags: bath, fresh start, Happy New Year, horse, Merriam-Webster, New Year's Resolutions, rejuvenate
A 2016 Recap
I never intended to drop the ball on my blog, but I guess that’s how most players feel when they miss a shot or a pass goes awry. With so many balls in the air during the second half of the year, my timing just wasn’t in sync with, well, myself, and I put my blog on hold while I fed those balls to others. This blog, which was started almost six years ago, has been a wonderful way to […]
Categories: Horse Shows, Horses, Photography • Tags: horse show, horses, Maplewood Stables, New Year, photography
Judging Upperville
Over the past 30-plus years that I’ve attended the Upperville Colt & Horse Show in Virginia, held the first week of June, my usual viewpoint has been from the back of a horse competing or through the lens of my camera. This year, however, I received a most remarkable opportunity to apprentice judge with my friend and mentor Julie Winkel of Maplewood Stables, an R-rated judge from Nevada who was one of four judges presiding over the seven-day horse show. […]
Categories: Horse Shows, Horses • Tags: hunter, judging, photography, show hunters, Upperville, Upperville Colt & Horse Show, Virginia
A Memorable Return
Before last week, it had been more than two years since I’d ridden a horse and almost four years since I’d jumped a fence in a ring. But I’m back now! After my pinto Teddy died in June of 2012 of Neurologic Lyme disease, I felt like I’d lost my best friend. Although my trainers and friends invited me to ride other horses at their farms and go out on the trails with them, somehow it made me feel worse, […]
Categories: Horses, Photography, Travel • Tags: Adult Ride and Whine Camp, Fuji X-T10, horse, Julie Winkel, Kevin Winkel, Maplewood Stables, Nevada, photography, Reno
Migratory Bird Day
On May 14, Migratory Bird Day, the Virginia Working Landscapes hosted a bird walk at Oxbow Farm in Front Royal, Virginia, a hay farm at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to the Shenandoah River. We had an amazing morning and saw exactly 70 different species between 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. Because I wanted to focus on soaking up knowledge from the more experienced birders who would be leading and joining the walk, I chose to bring […]
Categories: Birds, Nature, Photography • Tags: artistic, bird, Fuji X-T10, FujiFilm, landscape, Migratory Bird Day, nature, Oxbow Farm, photography, Virginia, Virginia Working Landscapes
More Birds
For days it’s done nothing but rain here in Virginia, with a few short breaks that may or may not have included a bit of sun. In between the showers and thunderstorms, we managed to tackle some yard work over the weekend, mowed the grass and planted some flowers. I also cleaned the bird feeders and dug up an old one that was still salvageable from the last bear visit. I decided to fill it and hang it outside my […]
Categories: Birds, Nature, Photography • Tags: birds, FujiFilm, Fujifilm 100-400, Fujifilm X-T10, photography, spring, Virginia
Flowers on Friday
It was a cool, rainy day up here on the mountain, so during a break in the showers I took a stroll around the yard. There are lots of spring flowers in bloom, including a variety of colors of Fuchsia. I added some of these plants to the garden beds the first summer after we bought the house, and they’ve now morphed into a variety of colors, from the original fuchsia to purple, pale pink and red. I’ve regularly divided […]
Categories: Flower, Nature, Photography • Tags: artistic, flowers, fuchsia, Fuji X-T10, FujiFilm, Fujifilm 100-400, photography, spring, Velvia, Virginia
Birds Are Back
The spring birds are back in full force, and my favorite little Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds arrived last weekend to enjoy the feeders I’d set up for them a week earlier. Having followed their migration online this year, I was ready, unlike last year when I was surprised to find them staring in the windows and hovering around the deck in mid-April, impatiently waiting for me to get my act together. While some of the birds of winter stay here all year […]
Categories: Birds, Nature, Photography • Tags: american goldfinch, bird photography, birds, Fuji X-T10, FujiFilm, Fujifilm 100-400, nature, photography, ruby throated hummingbird, spring, Virginia
Fun Soccer Moments
Last night’s Clarke County High School varsity soccer game against Strasburg High School in Warren County was super fun to photograph, and I had a great time trying some different angles and settings on my Nikon D810 camera. This season I’ve split my time between photographing and filming the games for the coaches and team members to use for training purposes. But with the bright lights of the Ram’s field and the backdrop of the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley, […]
Categories: Photography, Soccer, Sports • Tags: Clarke County High School, Nikon D810, photography, soccer, sports, Strasburg High School, Virginia, Warren County
Goal!
I had a great time photographing last night’s Clarke County High School soccer game against Warren County, with beautiful evening light highlighting the action on the field as well as a few of the spectators! I’ve grown to really love shooting the soccer games and trying to capture the intensity of the players and those acrobatic moments they make that come so unexpectedly and keep me on my toes. The past two games I’ve skipped using the monopod, which is […]
Categories: Photography, Soccer, Sports • Tags: Clarke County Eagles, Clarke County High School, goal, Nikon D810, photography, soccer, sports, Virginia
Spring Soccer Season
If it’s spring, it must be time for soccer! Cameron (No. 2) made the Clarke County High School varsity soccer team (in white) this year (he was moved up from JV during last year’s season), and it’s been a great season so far. They’ve played in the snow, gale-force winds and during freezing temperatures, and we’re still waiting for that game where the parents aren’t frozen in the bleachers by the end of the night. I’ve been recruited this year […]
Categories: Photography, Soccer, Sports • Tags: Clarke County Eagles, Clarke County High School, Nikon D810, photography, soccer, sports, Virginia
National Pet Day
I’m not one who regularly follows these special days that seem to pop up on social media, such as National Grapefruit Day or Wear Purple Day, but I couldn’t help but notice all of the cute pet photos that inundated Facebook, Instagram and Twitter yesterday. So, after I finished work, picked Cam up from school and shuttled him off to the golf course, I thought it might be a nice evening to take Peppermint out to search for bluebells. After […]
Categories: Dogs, Nature, Photography • Tags: artistic, bluebells, flowers, Jack Russell, National Pet Day, nature, Nikon D810, photography, spring, Virginia
Special Moments From Pin Oak
One of the highlights of my year is my annual trek to Texas for the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show just outside of Houston. This year marked its 71st year and my third year in attendance producing daily coverage in words and photographs. This is one of the few multi-breed, old-fashioned horse shows left in this country that’s still run by volunteers and for the benefit of charity. Pin Oak has now donated millions of dollars to the Texas Children’s […]
Categories: Horse Shows, Horses, Photography, Travel • Tags: artistic, horse, horse show, hunter, jumper, Nikon D810, photography, Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, Texas
Welcome Spring
Yes, spring may have arrived today according to the calendar, but if you looked outside this morning and up to the Blueridge, you’d believe you were in a winter wonderland. Up here on the mountain, we received about 3 inches of snow yesterday, although “down below” the snow fell but didn’t appear to stick when I drove down late in the afternoon. While the large snowflakes gently floated down last night outside the picture window, I sat by the fire […]
Categories: Black and White, Dogs, Photography • Tags: artistic, black and white, Blue Ridge Mountain, iPhone, Nikon D810, photography, snow, spring, Virginia, winter
A Winter’s Tale
Today in Virginia the mercury hit 80 degrees, and I’m feeling hopeful that the winter is finally in the rearview mirror. It’s been a challenging few months for me as I continue to recover from past illnesses, but with the warmer weather, spring flowers peeking out and horses shedding their thick winter coats, I feel like a fresh and vibrant start is just around the corner. Sadly, regular posts to my blog this winter were set aside while I focused […]
Categories: Horse Shows, Horses, Photography • Tags: artistic, Florida, horse show, horses, Nikon D810, photography, show hunter, WEF, Winter Equestrian Festival
Tricia Booker Photography 