A Meadow Missing A Horse

Outside my office window is a meadow that is missing a horse...

Shambhu has been some two hours north for the last month with his trainer Kim Leonard.  Along with a handsome border collie named Shiloh I was loaded up today in the big truck to make the drive with Carol to visit her horse. It was a big day. Shambhu had not been ridden since October. Carol had been bucked off by her normally quite calm horse - his way of telling her that he was hurting.

This equine world is all quite new to me. But they have begun to transcend the role I had perceived as merely majestic lawn ornaments... Strong personalities and stronger connections to their two-legged humans.

There are a plethora of different saddles to fit different size backs, one reason Shambhu was not happy last October. There is a science and an art to watching a horses gait as it moves, to a trained eye there are so many tiny nuances relating to muscles, tension, hidden injury or malady. Fitting is clearly no easy task. Jen, the specialist, was working her alchemy to best discern the right saddle by starting with the fiberglass tree, the basic shape that would be padded and then bound with leather.

Kim the trainer is certainly a horse whisperer. A connection born of years in a saddle, competing as well as being an instructor and training of horses. So much unspoken communication, in and out of the saddle. Horses ears are back to listen to her voice when riding but movement of the horse comes mostly from the seat bones, sitting erect. Then it seems the knees and finally the reins direct...

Miles was leading the horses in the arena. What a great name for a border collie that only has three legs. A nearby rancher shot Miles thinking he was a coyote. But you would never guess Miles knows he is missing a leg, still crazy able-bodied and perhaps the friendliest dog alive...

When Carol finally got on Shambhu's back it had been some 8 months. There was emotion for sure, a long healing journey. A couple more visits to get the perfect saddle, a few more rides with Kim and Shambhu is transforming into a much healthier and happier horse. Pretty cool to see this connection/progression... I can see why there are so many equine therapy places around, so relaxing around these horses... I look forward to Shambhu's return...

23 Years in 23 Hours

Was an engaging 23 hours over the last two days in Boulder Canyon with rain, thunder, insane amounts of loose rock and the frenetic clicking of carabiners...

Time for a bit of reflection from 23 years of selfish suffering - stringing myself out on cliffs from Yosemite to Tasmania. So much of who I am is tied up in my tired ropes and slings. Each metal nick lovingly gouged away from Camalot lobes, every fraying stopper wire tells a tale. 10,000 stories of desperation and exhilaration. Sweat, blood, tears - my DNA is heavily infused with these tools that are a means to an end, end to a means...

This curious collecting of metal and fabric bits I give my life to every time I step into the vertical, and they give it back, is a strange shared existence...

In some ways holding a certification now from the American Mountain Guide Association legitimizes the years of self-inflicted financial poverty, being selfishly obsessed with the next sojourn into the unknown often at the expense of personal and professional relationships.

There is a kind of balance that can come with a certification, and a responsibility. A power that comes with sharing a passion responsibly and inspiring others to engage the unknown more safely.

So much good knowledge to share, new information, awareness through this process - so many things to improve upon... a continuum of learning, growing, sharing. And perhaps best of all, a reason to be outside as much as possible, in wilderness, the wilds... Continually engaging the flow with stone and helping create a safer path for others to do the same...

iPhone shot from today's AMGA course...

Adventures in Storytelling Wrap...

Wrap party and critiques finished last night for Adventures in Storytelling workshop #1....

Serious void to navigate now that it is over. So much illumination and inspiration from John Dickey, Ethan Welty and Caroline Bennett and the students. Serious work-fun, or was it fun-work? Lots of amazing images, stories, and memories shared with everyone to bring with me as we forge ahead. So much great synergy to build with.

Truly blown away by Caroline Bennett's presentation on leveraging change with visual storytelling - using her ongoing powerful work in the Amazon as vehicle to provide intimate context and focus. Extremely valuable perspectives, connecting us all as humans, reminding us of what that means and the power we can leverage on our own journeys as we all continue developing as visual storytellers...

All three instructors brought incredible depth, diversity of perspective and passion - working tirelessly and selflessly to share without reservation their hard-won wisdom and creative vision. So honored to be a part of this workshop - and moving forward!

Sharing a bit from my eye and heart...

Capturing Moments - AiS Workshop day 2...

Generally the sign of a good day of shooting when your shoes look like this - Awesome to see so much intensity during the workshop... Pyched to see edits from everyone...

Adventures In Storytelling workshop Day 2

With visual storytelling intimate knowledge and perspective is key to not only engage the art of storytelling with sensitivity and authenticity - but to capture it. The students did an amazing job of living their storytelling "assignments" - aimed at describing visually aspects wrapped inside of adventure sport/event...

Workshop student Henna going for the shot...

The instructors, John Dickey, Ethan Welty and Caroline Bennett did an equally incredible job sharing wisdom and helping create a comfortable atmosphere to maximize learning...

      -modeling how to keep gear and oneself safe in extreme environments
      -sharing just how deeply one might delve to create perspective to get powerful images
      - subbing in as great models for the students to capture as well...

Instructor Caroline Bennett's rough day at the office - Incredible multi-tasking skills...

So much fun and so stoked to work with all these amazingly dedicated, talented and passionate  people!

Adventures In Storytelling Day 1

Wow. What a launch. Adventures In Storytelling has been birthed with Day 1 in the books. Awesome to see the skills and enthusiasm that John Dickey brings as lead instructor. Technician, artist, businessman... and quite capable of having fun for someone so accomplished.  Inspiring to see him flow with students questions and share his passion for storytelling in a very approachable/immediate way. Emotional moments as John brought to life his kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan with bullets and blood... The lighter moments with the guest presenter, venerable 86 years young John Hoskins bringing us back to occupation Japan, and then Devi and her camera yoga session were highlights for sure...

I couldn't resist getting a few snaps of the process...

And after all had left, I went on course to see the race run in action preview mode by the course director, his wife and kids, and Mark - one of the main builders...

Lots of laughter, lots of great exchanges throughout today, psyched for tomorrow to watch the workshop students apply their magic when all is in full-tilt with nearly 400 participants... Honored to be a part of this process...

and later... so fun to be running with the camera again...

Countdown to Adventures in Storytelling Workshop #1

Our first Earth-Centered Visual Journalism workshop is about to launch... May 9, 10, 14 at the Westin Hotel in Westminster Colorado...
 
John Dickey, Ethan Welty, Caroline Bennett... - truly awesome visual artists with an incredible body of work - truly inspiring in its scope and power - crossing so many borders/genres/media outlets...

©Ethan Welty

So blown away by the level of expertise and passion these three instructors possess.

We still have a couple more spaces if you want to share in some of the incredible mojo these individuals bring...