Strong Cold Winter Wind on Horses

[George McGovern]

Photo taken December 9th, 2016 around 8 a.m., with intense wind blowing out of the east and right at boarder horses Charlie Brown and Mystic. The wind did not, however, deter them from their hay.

[Karadeniz]

1. The colors are so rich, I thought it was a painting!

[George McGovern]

4. Thank You Karadeniz!

[stopdiggin]

2. I have to ask. is there enhancement here?

stunning in any event.

[George McGovern]

5. Yes there is, stopdiggin. In fact, I may have overdone it --

because it was such an unusual picture. Enhancement is a personal choice in post production. I usually increase lightening, some sharpness, contrast in order to present a more vivid, enjoyable photograph.

Went round and round in my head about producing a true-to-life picture of what I'd seen, or, to enrich the original to be more pleasing to the viewer. In the end I figured it's my art and my decision. Maybe that'll change. Don't know.

Nonetheless, I appreciate you asking about enhancement, because one wonders after all . . .

[stopdiggin]

8. you get no demerits for this

there are probably purists out there. you're not talking to one. to me -- the eye loves, what the eye loves. and this is -- moving.

[George McGovern]

10. Good Deal stopdiggin. I take pictures to show beauty, arouse emotion, make folks feel good.

The wind that morning was ferocious. I got my shot and retreated to the barn!

[japple]

11. It is beautiful. Because it is your photo, you can do whatever you like. I take a lot

of photos and I usually enhance most of them. Your artistic nature rules!!!

[George McGovern]

19. Thank You japple!

Have you posted photos on DU?

[japple]

27. I haven't posted many on DU. My internet connection is so slow here in Chicken Catcher Holler, GA

that it takes 2, 3, 4 min. to load pictures. I did finally get one loaded the other day of a stray cat that seems to have found a home with my sister and me. I don't think I edited this one except to crop out (most of) the litterbox. LOL

https://www.democraticunderground.com/116153368

[George McGovern]

28. After clicking on the link I remember seeing Rufus when you posted him.

Rufus' story is a very good one japple. I do believe you've saved his life. I love his coloring. He looks like a sweet fellow. Thanks!

[Laffy Kat]

3. Looks like a western painting. Wow. nt

[George McGovern]

6. Thank You Laffy Kat. It was quite a scene. Wind was blowing in my face --

so I took but a few frames and retreated to the barn.

[Diamond_Dog]

7. Two beautiful creatures and a dramatic sky....

What else could be more perfect? Beautiful photo George! That cloud formation is something else.

Can I ask what state you are in?

[George McGovern]

9. Thank You Diamond_Dog!

Washington State. Just sent you a PM.

[AllaN01Bear]

12. wow.

[George McGovern]

20. Thank You AllaN01Bear!

[CaptainTruth]

13. Beautiful! And tastefully enhanced IMHO.

[George McGovern]

26. Thank You CaptainTruth! I appreciate your "humble opinion."

[niyad]

14. Simply stunning. When I enlarge it, that one cloud above the horses looks like a sea monster.

[MLAA]

16. I was just about to type the same thing!

I guess we see sea creatures! Better than seeing dead people like that Bruce Willis movie

[George McGovern]

24. I agree MLAA - better than dead people and Bruce Willis!

[George McGovern]

21. Thank You niyad! Yes, it does! 'Twas a dramatic scene.

[judesedit]

15. Why aren't they blanketed? Just wondering

Beautiful pic by the way

[George McGovern]

18. Charlie Brown and Mystic were not blanketed --

because my wife, who runs the retirement farm, likes for the horses to grow a thick winter coat. Then, the further into winter we get, she'll throw blankets on the oldest retirees first when the weather turns nasty and on the younger horses if the bad weather continues.

Thanks for asking judesedit!

[MLAA]

17. You did a beautiful job!

[George McGovern]

22. Awww Thank You MLAA!

I recall taking hay out to Mystic and Charlie Brown that morning and concentrating on walking the short distance to their feeder. Then, after feeding, looking up and out and realizing the guys and the sky needed a picture.

[PatrickforB]

23. A special day!

This is near perfect composition. Really good.

Horses in the right foreground counterpointed by the fiery sun in the upper left, and the amazing, majestic cloud formations in the center.

[George McGovern]

25. Thank You PatrickforB!

It's normally a lot less dramatic when we go out to feed the horses!

I'm guessing you have an eye for photography. Do you like to take pictures?

[PatrickforB]

30. I love visual art. I used to paint in oils, and love art from all periods. Poetry, too. And myth.

Music. Stories.

But, no, I write, mostly. And right now my art is economics.

On here I post a lot in GD. But I love this photography group, and there is an Arts group I just found. Art has a special place - it can connect us to the great underground river of human consciousness. The pulsing heart of our species, and perhaps the vibration of all life on this earth.

I mean, think about this particular picture (not to mention others in this group). There was an event - two horses eating on a cloudy morning with a winter storm moving in. The sun in the east slowly being overtaken by a great Leviathan of mist, the feeling in the air as the pressure changes. And there, in the distance, a dirt road winding up a hill to some mystical destination on the other side.

Funny - such events happen all the time.

But then, there's you. You went out there and thought, yes, this would make a great photo, and you captured that moment.

The thing I like about photography is that it is real moments like this that are captured. It is a direct image, taken from your perspective, of the visual miracle that is all around us.

I guess that may sound kind of funny. Sorry if it did. But the photos the people in this group take and post here are a real gift. They are.

[George McGovern]

32. "The cats had taken several of the keys off my keyboard!"

Hello Patrick - I just read your account of getting up to feed the cats. Pretty funny. Glad your keyboard still works!

You are a very good writer. You have an eye for detail and a gift for seeing below the surface. I like the description of the big wind event and how my action preserved the moment for others to see. Didn't sound kind of funny at all. I think like you do. I think . . .

Do you write professionally?

Thanks,
Allan

[PatrickforB]

33. Oh, man, in my professional life I churn out all kinds of

research reports on labor force and economic trends. I'm fond of saying that people use my best work to line their gerbil cages. What has helped me get to be a better writer is all of the posts I have made on this site, the replies, and the ensuing discussions. Plus I journal. I have for many years. On a personal note, I have written two short books about the experiences of the first and second generations of my paternal ancestors here in the United States.

As to the gift for seeing below the surface, I have always been able to see patterns in data, and then deduce how the different sets tie together, and this very much helps in identifying trends. Anecdotes and stories also serve to help one induce conclusions by seeing those types of patterns. It is a wonderful puzzle, the stories numbers can tell us.

But then, there is the always the problem of writing up the analysis in a way that non-economists, or perhaps a business or academic audience can understand.

Someone much wiser than me once said that whatever gifts we are given are on loan, but it is what we choose to do with these gifts that makes for a life well lived. I like to think that my little corner of the world is a bit better because I have somehow made a difference.

I thank you for the nice compliment.

[George McGovern]

34. You're welcome.

I laughed at the line about lining gerbil cages. We had a couple gerbils growing up. Don't remember what happened to them, other than that we got tired and/or bored with them.

Are your two short books accessible?

[Duppers]

29. Wow!

No, really WOW❗ You're a masterful photographer.

Where do you live, btw?

[George McGovern]

31. Thank you Duppers!

I appreciate your comment, but in truth there is an awful lot I don't know about photography. But I suppose I know enough, plus modern digital equipment makes it relatively easy to take good pictures.

We live about twenty miles outside the small city of Ellensburg, Washington. On the east side of the Cascade Range and nowhere near the big cities of Seattle and Spokane.

And you?

[Duppers]

35. Great place.

The closest I've been to you is Mt. Rainier (climbed high enough to walk on the glacier there) & Seattle.

We live on the Virginia coast in Williamsburg practically on the York River. It's beautiful here yet the Appalachian mtns are calling us back. So a few yrs ago, we bought 5 acres of mountain top with a view right outside the GSMNP where we plan to build a home & move to the Walland/Townsend, TN area. Yep, like you, we love nature.

[George McGovern]

36. That all sounds good Duppers. Best wishes!