For the fourth consecutive year, I am submitting photos in the 2018 Corolla Wild Horse Fund calendar contest. I have been so honored to have had photos chosen for the three years that I’ve participated.
Each year, I also hold a little contest here on These Days, offering my readers a chance to select which photo they think may be chosen by the judges to appear in the calendar. Here are my three that I submitted for this contest:
Picture # 1: This photo was taken on May 25, 2016. It was the most amazing day we’ve ever experienced on the Carova beach. The wind was from the west, which, sadly, causes the flies to be horrible for the horses. To get relief, the horses head for the beach, and we lost count that day after seeing over 70 of them along the water’s edge. In this picture, I like that you can see splashes of water from the waves. And the beauty of those sleek black stallions against the blue of the ocean…..
2.) Picture # 2: this photo was taken the same day as the first picture. As you can imagine, with so many harems down by the water, several of the stallions had little…..disagreements. They were all resolved rather quickly, but sorting it out involved a little action and quite a bit of whinnying and snorting.
Picture # 3: taken December 26, 2015. I can’t say exactly what it is about this photo that I find so striking: the dark colors of the horses among the otherwise drab background? The long white blaze of the black horse?
Imagine that you are a judge for the calendar: which photo would you select?
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
Gosh, this is hard, but if I have to pick, I’d go with #2. As I’ve said before, they should do a calendar with only your photos for the year. Good luck!
These are ALL amazing!! My favorite is the first:) The bright blue, and black color contrast is so striking and most of all the fact that the one horse is so far out in the water with a wave approaching. #3 next due to the bright horse colors with the background browns and green. Then #2 with the all the black horses against the beautiful blue, the two running and then one brown one in the mix. Would not be surprised if all of these are chosen!!!
Great photos! #1 is my favorite but I would select all 3!
I choose ALL 3!!! Oh my goodness! The horses in the water are amazing, and I sighed when the 3rd picture came up – the contrast makes the horses seem like a breath of fresh air coming out of a light fog – well they are a breath of fresh air.
In order of degrees of love—#1 (incredible, looks like a huge wave behind the one in the water. THE black is so shiny a d unusual to see horses in the water. Really love this picture ). #2 The action is fantastic! I can almost hear the furious squeals and grunts. I beat the beach was torn up. #3 A more artistic version of the horse shot and it is beautiful. THAT first one has my heart!
Gosh it’s hard to pick one…..they’re all beautiful – but I like the last one the best and it’s for a reason you didn’t mention – – – that mist/fog kind of looks magical with the horses coming out of the mist like mystical, magical creatures “allowing” their photo to be taken.
Pam
I’d have to say # 3 ..
It’s the subtlety of all the different colors ..
there’s a LOT going on in this one that might not be noticed right away ; )
I totally agree with Marshall re #3. There IS a lot going on.
The diffusion of sunlight giving a bluish hue to the vegetation, the “pops” of green grass, the horses choosing “lanes” in the sandy roadway, the black horse with the brown mane…. And is the brown horse a pregnant mare?
Of course they are all beautiful and it’s possible they will choose more than one!
….and as usual, they are all beautiful and I won’t be surprised if more than one is chosen.
I love #1 however, I think #3 is beautiful too. I choose #3 as the winner.
They are all calendar worthy, that’s for sure. But #3 has my vote. It appeals to me the most. The horses stand out as the stars they are in that background.
😃I am for the 3rd one.
My favorite is #1 – the color of the water, and the horse in the water – is so unusual – and I think not a photo many people have an opportunity to take or see! Good Luck!!
All are favorites but I think they will pick #3 for being so unique. Love the colors.
#2!!!! I can’t resist the shot where you have captured the last horse with all four off ground. At least I think all four are off ground, it is hard to see with this picture but it sure looks like it on the Reader. Love the action in this shot. I think it will be hard for them to pick just one… 😀
#3 for the calendars October or November page. Very Fall-ish! Good luck!
I believe #3 will be a photo for October or November in the calendar. I love the colors. I love the horses on the beach as well.
I have to pick #1 the horses against the back ground of the ocean is breath taking. All the pictures as usually are wonderful.
All are special but I am choosing #3.
All so beautiful and special, as usual! The third is more intimate, perhaps, personal. What absolute beauties.
torn between first and third but think third gets my vote by a smidgen.
My pick would be the last one. I love the colors and composition. Best of luck!
~d.
I like the third one. But do not put me in for the contest as I won one this year.
I’m not much of a judge because I couldn’t decide between them. Your photos are all gorgeous. I love them all. 🙂