My photography primarily focuses on horses to capture the raw and potential strength, yet quiet beauty of these majestic creatures.  Wild or domesticated, horses represent freedom and spirit.  This was as much about exploring myself as it was about horses. It is intimidating to approach such large animals, to gain their trust, and to capture their movements unnoticed. My perfectionism had led me to landscapes over the past few years, but this held me back in developing a relationship with my subject matter and stretching my skills and creativity. This portfolio has been an impactful and major change for me as a photographer.  I didn’t just see a horse, I saw each horse’s individual grace, beauty and unique personality through my lens. 

While some of these horses were photographed in fenced fields, I was also fortunate to gain inside access. The first time I was up close and personal, a horse approached me,  stood there blissfully, and joyfully greeted me as if I was a guest at his home and a friend to play with. Their power was pure and did not distract them from their ability to develop a relationship with me or others. From this I decided to capture parts of some horses to focus on their subtle strength and beauty in their physical characteristics while others I approached further away showing their relationships, broad resilience, and tranquillity. I hope for people to explore the world in search of the freedom to feel alive such as these horses and to embrace standing in one place at a time and accepting solely their own potential and elegance.

Watch Ellie's Portfolio Video