Carolina Wild Photo (the blog)

On our third and last day of the trip we headed out around noon for Rachel Carson Reserve. Sunshine and near 70 degree temps would make for a very pleasant day, though the breezes were up from the previous two days. It turned out that the wind actually served to keep us from getting too warm, and was no problem for us. Like the previous days, the horses proved to be elusive.

We soon found the horses widely scattered on the marsh in small groups of two to four, requiring long treks in slippery, muddy muck to get closer to some. Others were beyond channels too deep to cross on foot. Relocating by boat would have been time consuming, only to get closer to one group while putting us much farther from any other group. There was nothing to be gained by chasing back and forth among them. We decided to try finding other groups in more easily reached areas.

To make a long story short, we spent the afternoon looking in places on the island where I’d never been before without much luck. Late in the afternoon we did find a lone Great Egret searching for food in an immense sea of golden grass, which made for an interesting photo.

But though the weather was unbelieveably wonderful for December (or most any other time actually), it looked like the day would turn out to be a bust for wild horse photos. We had seen only one stallion altercation the whole trip, and it was so far away that the photos were no use for anything. There had been no gatherings of family groups in the afternoons as was common other times of the year.
Even the interactions between parents and young colts had been missing this time around. Yet, I was still hoping for something special. By now the shadows were getting long, and we needed to be heading back. So we turned around and motored slowly back up Taylor Creek into a setting sun with pretty much nothing to show for our afternoon. But then we spotted a group of horses feeding next to Taylor Creek.

Better yet, the low sun was providing that magical glow of the “Golden Hour”, illuminating the horses and grasses with the warm yellow light that can make even a so-so photo into a glowing gem. Capt. Monty put the boat into shore just past the horses and we hopped out. We had to maneuver around boggy wet areas to work around to the horses and pick positions with the sun to our backs. Then we began happily clicking away, shot after shot.
This was certainly a lucky break. With the daylight beginning to fail us, we had pretty much given up. But it now looked like we would get some great photos after finding so little all afternoon.
We could tell these horses had crossed some deep water to feed here. Their coats were patterned where the hair had been wet and bunched into streaks before drying in place, leaving behind an abstract pattern.

These horses were being most obliging. They were moving about, heads up and alert – just the sort of action and poses we needed. It would certainly make far more engaging images than when their heads are down, just eating. It was almost as if the horses knew what we wanted them to do. We couldn’t have asked for better subjects if the whole encounter had been scripted.
We spent at least twenty minutes shooting, moving about for better angles and fresh shots, eager to make the most of our luck before the light failed us. Eventually though, the horses moved from the open grass and wandered into the trees and brush where there were more shadows and less golden light. We realized the light was getting weak too as the sun continued to drop lower.

So finally it was time to give it up and head back to the boat. At the last minute we had found what we were looking for all afternoon. All the walking and looking had eventually paid off, and just when the light was the best it could be. So, yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus.

Oh, well, I don’t actually mean the man pictured below. Yes, he does have a red suit, and has something of a beard, and he did deliver on the goods, but that’s actually our guide, Captain Monty of Seavisions Charters. And he doesn’t do this just in December. He does it all year long – lucky for us.