Teton Pony

Some photos are the result of planned timing, careful study of the landscape and several other factors, not the least of which may be what equipment to use. Other photos can just be a matter of being at the right place at the right time and making quick decisions. Such is this one.

We were enjoying a wonderful, sunny morning taking photos at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park, and having wrapped up that session, were on a hurried drive to get to Schwabacher Landing to get some other photos before the morning sun had turned harsh. On the drive over, we saw a group of cars pulled over and a number of people trying to photograph bison on the east side of the highway, but on the west side there was a group of horses still grazing, being ignored by those more interested in the bison, and one paint pony in particular that really stood out. Carrie took out toward the fence with her camera while I had gone ahead of her but had then realized my longer range lens might do better, so I had turned back to our vehicle. She ended up getting the best photo with the “paint” segregated from the other horses and the angle of the shot placing the horse right in line with the Grand Teton in the background along with beautiful, glowing cottonwoods. We love this photo because it brings together two iconic images of the west, America’s Mountain, the Grand Teton, and the horse, integral to the Native American Indian culture and essential to the exploration of and expansion into the west. 

Photo taken 9/24