Photographing Wild Horses

Photographing wild horses can be an amazing experience—the subject matter is compelling, beautiful and often unpredictable. You don’t need to be an accredited professional photographer to take on such a feat, but you do need to make sure you’ve got a few important facts in your knowledge toolbox. If you’re close to an area where wild horses roam or are planning a travel adventure to a particular location for this purpose, here are just a few things to keep in mind:

Bring a Good Zoom Lens…and a Tripod: It will take a bit of time and patience to get close enough to wild horses to photograph them, so a high-quality zoom lens will quickly become an important ally in making sure you can get close without intruding. The tripod will be important for stability and ensuring your images are as sharp as possible, especially when you’re photographing horses on the move.

Stay on the Traveled Path: Don’t venture off the main roads when traveling to the roaming grounds. Some areas can be damaged from tire tracks and vehicles, and that damage can take many years to repair. While we love the idea of traveling off the beaten path, this isn’t the time to do it.

Your Car is an Asset: Not only will it get you to and from your destination; your car can be the ideal place from which to shoot. Wild horses are often more used to seeing vehicles than people, and this can be a benefit because your car may help you get closer to the horses than you would be able to on foot. Make sure to move slowly and with caution and keep noise to an absolute minimum.

Take Your Time and Find Cover: Once you leave your car, you’ll want to walk slowly and find areas where you can crouch down low or remain behind cover such as trees, large rocks or other objects. Horses aren’t known to have exceptional eyesight but they can be easily startled so patience in your journey closer to them is important. You may also want to wear camouflage clothing to help you blend into your environment.

Remember the Word ‘Wild’: These amazing animals might seem approachable, but even so, remember that they can be unpredictable. Do not put yourself in harm’s way in order to get a few feet closer. They’re likely to keep a particular distance for their own comfort, and if you intrude upon that space, it’s possible they will spook and run, possibly causing a stampede. You don’t want to find yourself in their path if that happens. Always be aware of your distance from the subjects and your surroundings.