annie libby photography | equine - sport - lifestyle imagery

2011 Best of Both Endurance Ride

2011-10-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Riders heading into the storm... in this case, pyrocumulus clouds. By mid afternoon on ride day of Best of Both endurance horse event, fire clouds were visible northwest of basecamp.

Event photos for 2011 Best of Both AERC Endurance are now online.

2011 Descanso Endurance Ride

2011-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

Editing photos from an event is by far the most laborious part of processing event photography. Depending on the number of participants and/or the number of days the event takes place, the image count can be quite high. Between me and my other photographers, Matt & Lorrie Benedict, I had to cull through over 1500 images from Saturday's AERC Descanso endurance ride. This number was actually fairly low compared to past events where I would photograph the basecamp pre-ride activities on Friday evening, the ride itself on Saturday, and then the post-ride dinner and award ceremony. This year was different as I decided to hire Matt & Lorrie so that I could ride the 15 mile "Fun Ride" on Faline with Jackie (on Alex).

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to show some of the images that were cut from the mix for obvious reasons. When photographing horses and people, it helps to keep firing that shutter so that you have a better chance of getting an acceptable image. Sometimes though, it really doesn't matter!

See the images that made the cut...HERE.

2011 Camp Pendleton Mud Run #2

2011-06-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

Camp Pendleton famous Mud Run (June 7, 2011) - Location: The Wall.

Some racers brought their own photographer...whether they knew it or not!!

Ella & Laila

2011-03-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

A young girl and her best friend!

Snowball Fight San Diego Style!

2011-02-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

Apparently, there was only enough snow in San Diego last weekend to do one thing...SNOW BALL FIGHT!

Christchurch

2011-02-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

The news coming out of Christchurch, New Zealand is just heartbreaking. These wonderful people living in this remarkable city are dealing with the horrible aftermath of a strong earthquake that did more than just topple steeples and crush parked cars. My heart goes out to each and every Kiwi today. May the darkness cast over the wrecked city of Christchurch be over soon...very soon.

Wall Flower

2011-02-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

Another gloomy day in Point Loma (San Diego), CA. Yesterday was sunny...go figure. Anyway, the gloominess was spreading into all things Annie so a change was in order...and fast. While waiting for Koda to do her "business" in the backyard so that the gardeners could move to the back and start their weekly rearranging of the leaves with the almighty blower, I noticed this wind swept flower sitting on the fence ledge. I connected emotionally with this fading flower so I captured this image before it was forever gone (big sigh)...

Gallery of fine art stills are here.

Revisit - Kusadasi

2011-01-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

Dog Beach

2011-01-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

San Diego's first real warm weekend in ages meant it was beach time! Everyone and their mother plus, of course, their dog packed North Beach (a.k.a. Dog Beach) in Del Mar on Saturday.

SCPHA - Camp Pendleton Open Show - 01/09/2011

2011-01-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

The SCPHA (Southern California Professional Horseshow Association) started 2011 out with a two day SCPHA/AQHA Kick-off Show. On Saturday 01/08 was the reining show and Sunday 01/09 was the Open show series (Western, English, Halter, Trail, and Reining). I wasn't able to attend Saturday's show as I was photographing the AERC endurance horse riders in Warner Springs but Sunday's event was a great day.

I like to photograph the horse shows but as you can probably tell, I do it in my own way. Sure, images of horses going around the arena and the line-up's in front of the judge are necessary but the best images are the portraits, candids, and lifestyle images. Sometimes, it is not about the riders at all...but rather canines, equines, and pig/pony tails!

2011 Warner Springs Ride

2011-01-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

I photographed the 2011 AERC endurance ride at Warner Springs on Saturday. The weather was on the cool side (high of 54 and low of 29) but overall the ride event was a success. I did have some fairly interesting basecamp neighbors this time!

The horse event ride photos are now online.

LGBT Imagery

2010-12-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

All LGBT images created by Annie Libby Photography can now be licensed directly through the main Annie Libby Photography website.

Desert Bighorn Sheep

2010-11-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. It's actually mating season for these bighorn sheep but I decided not to post the "educational" mating shot...but if you are interested, here it is.

2010 San Diego Tri Challenge

2010-10-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Triathlon Challenge was held last Sunday in La Jolla, CA. Every time I photograph an event where there are so many challenged athletes competing I wonder why I am such a complainer at times. These amazing athletes do more, give more, and achieve more than most people ever do in a lifetime.

My location for the bike portion of this triathlon was almost at the top of La Jolla Shores Drive just past the last S curve somewhat close to UCSD. The slower momentum of the cyclists enabled me to capture more images with the ocean in the background and even record quite a few smiles. This time, someone actually took my picture!

2010 Manzanita Endurance Ride

2010-10-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

The AERC 2010 Manzanita Endurance ride was quite a ride! It started under threatening skies with thunder & lightening (and a bit of rain!) and ended with warm (but humid) sunny weather. Needless to say, there were a bit more pulls than normal but overall, everyone had a great ride.

More Manzanita ride photos here.

Marine Bootcamp Challenge 2010

2010-09-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

Photographed the 2010 San Diego Marine Bootcamp Challenge over the weekend. It was LOUD, Hot, and very very sandy. It was screaming loud as I was stationed under the yard loudspeakers blasting military cadences & simulated warfare sounds while photographing obstacle #10 (crawl). I quickly realized that I brought the wrong ear buds for my iPod :(

This event was pretty fun overall. The two Marines stationed here to scream at the participants really put on a show and at times it got pretty comical!

Open Halter Class

2010-07-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

SCPHA - Open Show #5 San Diego on July 25, 2010.
Rail Class: Open Halter in Hand (Pattern)

The line-up and a winner!

Gallery link HERE

Parting Shot: Lake Tahoe

2010-07-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Partial view of Lake Tahoe near Tahoe City, California.

Beginning Days of Tahoe

2010-07-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

Tahoe: Day 1

Pictured: Emily (age 2) and Cyrus (9mo) on friendly terms.

Day 2
Not-Pictured: Emily done with being friendly and biting Cyrus on the back.

Kahlua

2010-06-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

Meet Kahlua. Canine extraordinaire. She is a chocolate lab who was nice enough to stay in one spot just long enough for me to focus my lens and press the shutter release.

I photographed Kahlua with her family (Dan, Sue, Rachael, and Erin with her horse Bear) last Sunday at Hazy Meadows Ranch in Lakeside, CA. The objective was to do environmental portraits of a dog, a horse, two teenagers, and their parents without missing a beat. Needless to say, it was a challenge! Thankfully, things turned out pretty well.

Thanks Kahlua!

Geothermal Mist: Beauty of New Zealand

2010-06-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

World Cup 2010: In honor of the New Zealand All Whites scoring a goal today that resulted in a 1-1 draw with the World Cup's defending champion Italy, I have posted an image I took last year of the beautiful geothermal mist at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, New Zealand.

2010 Descanso Endurance Ride

2010-06-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

The AERC 2010 Descanso Endurance Ride, held in the San Diego Mountains on June 12, 2010, turned out to be a wonderful event despite the rapidly changing early morning weather. This event held a 50 mile endurance, a 25 mile limited distance ride, a Ride and Tie short & long course, and a 13 mile "Fun Ride."

The ride started under a light mist with medium to heavy fog in various areas. The fog came in waves and it wasn't until later that the sun would make an appearance. For the riders who followed the longer course, the only break in the weather was at the highest elevation where the trail broke above the quickly passing marine layer and gave them a glimpse of the sun.

This year, Lorrie, my photographic assistant, and I were able to capture images of the horses and their riders in two different locations. The first position was just before the first water stop around mile 6. All horse and rider teams would be required to follow this part of the course until they reached Hwy 79, and after that the Ride and Tie short and long course riders and the Fun Riders went their separate ways. All riders would merge onto the same course again about 300 yards before Vet check #1, which is where I took position #2.

Position #1:
Image on left was taken 6 minutes before image on right!

Position #2:

Lane Positioning

2010-06-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

Cyclists during the 2010 Encinitas Sprint Triathlon.

Positioned in the middle of the street on the outgoing side of the bike course was a mixed blessing. Even though my angle allowed me to capture some nice action shots, I also had to be wary of the riders who weren't concentrating on where they were going. Needless to say, I did let out a mild scream one too many times!

Patiently Waiting

2010-06-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

Dog patiently waits for it's owner at the base of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

Ride & Tie: Riding in Shorts

2010-06-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

It's uncommon to see Ride & Tie competitors NOT riding in shorts and running shoes. This sport is unique as the ability to ride a horse (and this is my opinion) is secondary to the ability to run.

This image was taken during the 2006 Ride and Tie Championship in Santa Ysabel, California.

Little Redhead

2010-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

SCPHA - Temecula - Sunday, May 16, 2010

While waiting for the main show arena to be watered and dragged for the next set of horsemanship classes, I saw this little redheaded boy walking his dog and to me, he stole the show!

Santorini Donkey

2010-05-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Partial view of a lone Santorini donkey waiting on steps at bottom of old port harbor, Santorini, Greece

Trust Issues

2010-04-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

During the ACTHA event in Griffith Park, half the challenge of the Drag obstacle was just getting to the rope. Considering that a horse is a fight or flight animal, it is essential that trust issues between horse and rider are firmly established. It takes time and is definitely easier said then done.

My Pretty Pony

2010-04-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

This gentleman and his "My Pretty Pony" horse at obstacle number 3 (Drag) at the ACTHA Los Angeles Horse Council ride at Griffith Park last Saturday.

Ride photos from this event are now online.

The Bag Drag

2010-04-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Horse and rider teams during the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) The Horse Club event in Lakeside on April 3. Teams are required to negotiate various timed obstacles on the trail while being judged. Points are for their obstacle performance.

Obstacle number 1 - Drag. In this case, a rope tied to a bag of cans. The requirement was to drag the bag of cans from one cone to the second cone, pivoting their horse halfway so that the horse backs the rest of the way (pulls) to the second cone.

The ride photos of this event at the Tumbleweed Arena in Lakeside, CA are located here.

Working Dog?

2010-03-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Koda the "non-Working" Boxer taking a nap.

Doggles

2010-03-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

This guy rode in on his Harley (true story).

Morning Nap

2010-02-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

Nap Time

Bath Time

2010-02-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

After his first trip to the beach (Ocean Beach, San Diego) it was definitely bath time for Cyrus.

Pretty in Pink

2010-02-22T13:06:00.000-08:00

Profile view of a young girl holding her Dachshund dog while attending the SCPHA horse show in Vista, CA.

Balboa Dog Park

2010-02-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

While we had a long 6 hour break from the rain, I went to the Balboa dog park to hang out with the pooches (sans Koda).

Shooting Boxers!

2010-02-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Close-up profile view (animal) portrait of my dog Koda, my Pony-poo Boxer canine.*

Shot with Canon EOS 7D with EF15mm f/2.8 Fisheye outdoors in natural filtered light.

*Ask me privately why her nickname is currently Pony-poo.

Close-up

2010-02-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

I've been reading the manual, testing and trying to get used to the new camera for over a week now. It's going to be a slow go as I just don't have time to dedicate the hours needed to really get this thing down. There are new custom features to learn, a more robust AF system to master, and I need to remember to really stretch my thumb over to active the AF-ON button (rather then the * button I'm used to on the 5D). And this is just for the still images - the video features on the 7D is another story!

There is no way I can use this as my first body on my next equine/sport event without a lot more practice. I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend!

Anyway, it seems I have at least locked down the non-moving one-shot images! Actually, I got lucky. The horses in the pasture were just standing around looking pretty (I wish I could be like that) so I came away with this nice shot.

Dognap in San Diego

2010-02-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Why does a catnap refer to a short sleep while a dognap means to steal (a dog)?

No matter...this golden lab is indeed dognapping (stealing) a few moments of sleep under the warm 66F San Diego sun. In winter.

More canine images are located in my Dog gallery.

The Farrier's Buddy

2010-02-09T15:32:00.000-08:00

Buddy was at the ranch today waiting for his mom, the farrier, to hurry up shoeing Ranger and Liberty so that he could get back home to his warm bed.

Keywords: close-up, cropped view, dog, canine, animal, eye, nose, pet, color image, outdoors, fur, one animal, no people, nobody

Do Backgrounds Matter?

2010-01-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

YES.

The whole bit about making lemonade out of lemons doesn't really help when the lemons are bad to begin with. The Ace Brown Rodeo Grounds in Camp Pendleton is my bad lemon. It's host to a few horse shows every year and sadly, its appearance has been getting ~~pretty~~ bad. Case in point: On the south side of the grounds facing the main arena used to be large white wooden bleachers. It wasn't the best looking background but I could work with it. Now I can't. Sometime between last September and last weekend the south side looks like it was used in a Marine bomb training exercise.

The bottom picture is an example of the new background. The halter class gave me next to nothing to work with. Since shooting on the opposite side was a no go, I tried to get in close to shallow out the depth of field. Nope. Still to far back. My only option was to crop it real tight and hope for the best.

Most of all the other classes were on the rail so I was able to avoid the south side when I could. Below is the best background I was able to work with. Oh yeah, it was maybe 8 feet long.

Lead Line - 8 & Under

2010-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

The SCPHA open show schedule for 2010 has begun! The horse show was held at Camp Pendleton, CA on Sunday, Jan 17th under sunny skies in the morning and wet rainy weather in the late afternoon. It was a long show that must have ended an hour or two after I left the grounds at 5:30pm. I would have stayed longer if the arena was adequately lit but the sun was setting behind dark gray rain-spitting clouds (I had the camera set to almost its highest ISO and I still couldn't push the speed up over 60th of a second).

Besides all of the weather drama, it was a fun show. My favorite part is always the lead line class. Here kids under 8 are dressed in their finest riding attire while mom/dad or "significant other" parades them in a line around the show judge. Like always, every kid is a blue-ribbon winner!

More images from the Southern California Professional Horseshow Association Camp Pendleton open show event are located here.

Seasoned Riders

2010-01-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

Guess which rider is a seasoned AERC endurance/limited distance rider?

If you guessed the 6 year old you would be correct! This is her 4th ride. To contrast, for the two rider/horse teams at the top Warner Springs is their first endurance ride.

Warner Springs 2010 Endurance Ride

2010-01-10T23:09:00.000-08:00

I just finished editing all the ride photos from the Friday/Saturday Warner Springs endurance ride event. My assistant and I shot just under 900 images and it took most of Sunday to edit and process them down for online gallery upload.

We arrived at Warner Springs Ranch (about 40 minutes NE of Temecula) on Friday afternoon so that the spot could be scoped out before dark. Back at ridecamp, the riders were busy checking in their horses and getting ready for the morning event.

Despite the cold morning temperature of 34 degrees and the fact that we had to stand and wait 65 minutes (yes, I was counting) for the first 50 mile rides to pass by me, we managed to capture every Warner Springs endurance rider without missing a beat.

Stanley

2009-12-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

Stanley: Age ~2yrs, Chihuahua mix, incredibly smart, loves tearing apart the same stuffed toy (and waiting patiently for it to be repaired), has a nickname of Squirrel, and is one lucky adopted dog!

Little Cyrus

2009-12-25T23:33:00.000-08:00

Little Cyrus gazing out the kitchen window.

Trip to Oz

2009-12-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

The Australia images are complete except for the few iPhone pics that for some reason won't import. The areas include Sydney (Harbor, Botanical Gardens, Paddington, Manly Beach) Cairns, Port Douglas, Great Barrier Reef, and Kuranda).

The gallery is here.

Kiwi Trip

2009-12-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a wonderful trip to New Zealand and Australia and have just finished editing the Kiwi images.

Areas include Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier, Hokitika, Punakaiki, Arthur's Pass, Christchurch, and Akaroa.

Enjoy.

Stepping out

2009-11-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun being a San Diego dog photographer today. It's a new project I'm working on and I'm letting the creativeness go anywhere it wants to.

Equestrian Open Show Photography: Rhythm

2009-10-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

When I'm photographing an equestrian open show, where one class slowly leads to another, I find that the event almost has a certain rhythm to it. The morning English classes go first and they have the wonderful morning light, so I typically work fast trying to capture all the riders & mounts before the sun begins its furious pace of bumping up the contrast. Next comes the lead line and handling classes where I really start to see people having a good time and this is where I start to slow down and look for emotion. In the English classes I almost never see anyone smiling as most are too nervous to think of having fun. In the halter classes it's different as they point their smiling faces at the judge(s) hoping that it's their horse that has the award winning composition.

After lunch comes the Reining classes and WOW, are they ever long. Each class (usually two) can last over an hour so I try to conserve my energy and go for the money shots (the slides). After Reining comes the Western and Western Pleasure classes. My day can last from 6:30am to 4:30 pm (or longer) but I always try to stay to the very end no matter what as it is usually the rider in the last class that ends up buying the large prints or licensing every one of their pics from the day.

Below, a handler adjusts her horse ever so slightly so that his feet are in perfect conformation before being judged. As I'm lining up the shot, if the horse's ears are not alert, I will sometimes make a slight whistling sound to help perk up the ears. I wonder if silent dog whistles would work? Hmmm...need to research that!

Early Morning Tranquility

2009-10-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

In ~~Competitive Trail~~ NATRC*, riders are released from the start line in 30 second intervals (unlike Endurance and Limited Distance rides which normally have either a "shot-gun" start or a controlled start where many riders are released at the same time). I was hoping this amount of time would adequately separate each rider for me as I did not have a "Rider Up Ahead" sign in place like I normally do to inform riders of my presence. I was more or less pleased as it did provide some amount of spacing between each rider.

Rider number 44 passed through a grove of pepper trees and stood briefly in the clearing before advancing my way. The sun was just starting to rise over the hilltop and when I saw this scene present itself I thought how tranquil it was. I tried to get everyone's portrait from this vantage point but not everyone stopped to pose like that. Within 5 minutes the sun just overpowered the scene so I was forced to find another location to shoot from in order to avoid dealing with a nasty backlit shot.

* I assumed Competitive Trail was the same as NATRC (North American Trail Ride Conference) but I found out today that I was wrong. So, it is my mission now to learn more about Competitive Trail and hopefully get some great photographs!

Lunchtime Nibbles

2009-10-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Horse snacking on grass at a lunch "hold" during a NATRC event. The event riders (and mounts) were given 40 minutes for a needed energy and rest break.

Tassel

2009-10-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

In detail: western saddle with decorative horsehair tassel.

NATRC Region 2 - San Dimas

2009-10-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) - Region 2 held their event at the Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park in San Dimas, CA. I forgot how beautiful this park is and even though I used to board my horse less than 5 miles away, I have no idea why I didn't ride these trails more often.

This was my first experience photographing a NATRC event and I had a lot of fun. The ride managers, the competitors and all the volunteers were so friendly and welcoming that I can't wait to photograph the events in 2010. As for being a competitor, sadly, I know that my crazy Arab/Welsh "Faline" aka "Pony" would never be a decent mount for this event. Given that both the horse and rider are judged in NATRC, Faline is simply too neurotic to compete in this sport.

Gallery images from this NATRC Region 2 event are now online.

Dressage Markers

2009-10-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dressage markers on the side of an equestrian arena.

The markers let the dressage rider and the dressage judge know when a particular movement or action should be performed. The dressage rider must memorize and follow the correct path for a particular dressage test.

The number of markers depends on the size of the arena - 20x40m for preliminary and novice, and 20x60m for advanced novice and grand prix competitions.

Trio of Corgis

2009-10-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

It's not always about the horses. Many people bring their dogs to horse shows and endurance/competitive trail rides. Here I spotted a trio of Pembrokeshire Welsh Corgis hanging out and seemingly having a good time.

Stop!

2009-10-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

Rider asks her reining horse to slide into a complete stop. Dirt goes a fly'n!

SCPHA - Temecula 10/11/09

2009-10-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

The SCPHA (Southern California Professional Horseshow Association) held their year-end show at the Southern California Equine Center in Temecula, CA on Sunday, October 11, 2009. When I arrived in Temecula at 7:30 the clouds were threatening and a light breeze had kicked in making the morning somewhat chilly. The weather kept switching from cloudy to sunny, which made photographing the morning classes somewhat challenging. By 10:30 this unpredictable weather quickly gave way to sunny skies (which isn't my favorite as it increases the contrast and makes post-processing much more laborious).

My fun really begins when I am in illustrative photography mode. I enjoy capturing moments when my subject is at ease. This tends to be the moments when they are NOT being judged! The image below, from left to right, was captured within a few minutes of each other. I was delighted when she turned my way and gave my 70-200mm (1/200 s at f/4.5) a wonderful smile.

The SCPHA Temecula horse show event images are available for prints and digital downloads (perfect for blogs, Facebook, or other social media).

2009 Manzanita Equine Endurance Ride

2009-10-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Photo: A 25 mile Limited Distance junior rider who can ride and blow bubbles at the same time!

The AERC Manzanita equine endurance ride (plus Ride and Tie) was held on Saturday, October 3, 2009 in Boulevard, CA (about 60 miles east of San Diego). With approximately 150 riders entered in either the 50 mile Endurance, 25 mile Limited-Distance, or the 15 mile Fun Ride, the day started out almost picture perfect. The weather stayed mostly in the '70s with light winds to help keep the riders/horses cool.

I normally photograph from the 8-12 mile mark so that I can be off the trail by 9:30 AM to start photo processing for on-site print sales. This year, being my first time photographing the Manzanita endurance ride, I opted to shoot from a marked position (titled Photographer) as stated on the riders map. This location was at mile 17 (or so) and had me waiting for riders to get back on the trail after finishing their mandatory 20 minute hold at Vet check #1. By the time I finished photographing all the riders (I hope - and my apologies if I missed anyone), it was after 11:30 AM and much too late to start the print processing. Normally, I need to be off trail by 9:30 (or 10:00 the latest) so that I can get back to my mobile studio and start to download the media cards, cull the images down to one print per rider, edit all RAW images, batch process the images to appropriate size and THEN start the 4x6 dye-sub printing...yes, I could save time by shooting Jpgs but that's not in my workflow or how I create images.

It just wasn't in the cards to offer prints at the event this year. Hopefully, next year if I photograph this event, I will find a new location that puts me in a better position to create images of all the riders before the 9:30 cutoff time as I know how much the riders appreciate seeing their images at ride camp.

Gallery of all the images from the Manzanita endurance ride is here.

SCPHA Open Show Camp Pendleton - 9/27/09

2009-09-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

Sunday's SCPHA (Southern California Professional Horseshow Association) event held at Camp Pendleton on September 27th was full of excitement. Adjacent to our arena (held at the Ace Brown Rodeo Grounds) is a paintball park and yes, it was in full attendance on Sunday. The firing rounds of paintguns sounds like the real deal and it was a bit unnerving to both horses and riders as they started each round of games.

BAM BAM BAM...POP POP POP...

Our event was a success and I had fun shooting the reining class as I decided this event isn't properly photographed unless it is in motion blur. Panning the riders with a slow shutter speed creates great movement, especially when the riders take their horses into a fast slide.

Click on the black and white image to go directly to Annie Libby Photography gallery of this event.

Orcas Island: Trip Images

2009-09-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

The images of the Orcas Island/San Juan Islands trip is now available for viewing.

Orcas Island: Trees

2009-09-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

The trees on Orcas Island are so beautiful!

All three of these images were taken in Moran State Park.

Orcas Island: Moran State Park and Beyond

2009-09-09T21:34:00.000-07:00

Our holiday in the San Juan Islands continues. Even though it rained for most of the day today, I was able to capture a few images in different areas around Orcas Island that didn't require significant rain apparel for either myself or my gear.

Tomorrow's adventure takes us to another Island and even though I really love the rain, I'm looking forward to sunny skies!

Top: An early morning view out the breakfast window of our "Tree House" rental. The window overlooks Upright Channel and the Olympic Mountains, Orcas Island.

Middle: Close-up of some vegetation nestled below the trees as light rain falls all around us - Moran State Park, Orcas Island.

Bottom: Portrait of a black-tailed deer standing under the trees, Rosario's, Orcas Island.

Orcas Island

2009-09-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

I am thoroughly enjoying a "girls only" holiday on Orcas Island with my mom, sis, niece, and sister-in-law. We flew to Seattle, Washington on Sunday and then drove to the ferry landing in Anacortes on Monday morning to catch the afternoon ferry to the San Juan Islands.

The house we rented on Orcas Island (near Eastsound) is called "The Tree House on Orcas Island" and it is not only beautiful with an amazing view of the channel and Olympic Mountains, but also comes with two resident cats (Gator and Geeza)! - Pictures coming soon.

Today us girls enjoyed a picnic lunch at Mt. Constitution and then hiked to the numerous waterfalls in the area, we went shopping (window for me) in Eastsound, and then followed it up with a drive over to Deer Harbor before heading back to the house.

The next few days will be action packed: horseback riding (Tennessee Walkers), a biplane plane ride (can't wait to wear the leather cap and goggles), a kayak tour to hopefully see some Orcas, and then a trip to Friday Harbor (planned for Friday of course!). Should be fun!

Photos:
Top - View of Rosario Strait as seen from the shore of Doe Bay.

Middle - a freshwater marsh nestled amongst the Douglas Fur trees.

Bottom - A decorated tree greeted us as we drove up to our rental house in Eastsound, Orcas Island.

SCPHA - River Valley Ranch 8/23/09

2009-08-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

SCPHA Open Show held at River Valley Ranch on August 23, 2009.

Gallery of images from this event are here.

Another Reason (for me) Not To Use eBay

2009-08-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

John Harrington has a great blog post on eBay's new practice of exploiting seller's photography. It is bad enough when other eBay users steal photos and use them as your own but this new "convenience" by eBay is over the top.

Update on the Duc

2009-07-31T08:10:00.000-07:00

I pick it up on Tuesday after I get back from Henderson, NV!

For Sale: 2006 CBR1000RR Asking $7500 obo.
Pics coming soon.

June Bugs in July

2009-07-30T07:04:00.000-07:00

Normally, I don't have an interest in bugs unless something unusual comes my way or vice versa. This big guy (or gal) was resting on the window screen at my old house. My first thought was that it was some sort of "June Bug" crossed with something rather exotic.

I was correct.

Ten-lined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata)

2006 Multistrada 620

2009-07-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Nice looking bike - too bad it's in yellow as I've "been there done that" already. I'm giving this a serious look over anyway as it fits me like a glove and is priced fairly decent for a used Ducati with only 3118 miles. This would be a night and day comparison to my CBR1000RR but I'm ready for a change (and a few more years added to my life most likely). Besides, try saying Ducati out loud and see what happens to your face.

Yep, a smile. Maybe not like Swiss but still a smile.

Thoughts?

All About $$$

2009-07-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well, who is NOT surprised by this announcement?!

"Michael Vick was reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday and could play in regular-season games as early as October."

It is a pity that the NFL, just like our armed forces, has lowered its standards.

Vineyard Gardens

2009-07-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

One can't be in Sonoma county and not go to a winery. Silly thing is, I didn't even taste any wine as I was apparently too busy photographing vineyard gardens.

Vineman 70.3 Recap

2009-07-26T05:38:00.000-07:00

A week has already passed by and I have neglected my photographer duties by not sending or at least posting pics of my friends in the Vineman 70.3 held on July 19, 2009 in Windsor, California.

Slideshow images of this event are HERE.

Fog on the Trail

2009-07-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

I seem to prefer the Lolo setting on the CameraBag app! This is a pic of the backyard of the "retreat" house. The fog on the trail really helped cool down my morning hike.

Summer's Hippo

2009-07-24T08:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted a snapshot of Beau the golden retriever and his football dog toy. Today I'm posting a shot of Summer's favorite toy...a hippo. Summer (who looks almost exactly like Beau only slightly skinnier) picked up her hippo and left it in the middle of the gravel pathway outdoors. It just looked so cute sitting there staring out at the xeriscaped landscaping that I couldn't help take a snapshot of it with my handy camera phone and then playing around with the CameraBag app (I used the Lolo setting).

Meet Beau...and His Football

2009-07-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

I just got back from house-sitting a friend's house for a couple of days. They have one of those secluded homes in the back country where the sight (or sound) of people or their autos is practically non-existant. It really is like going to a retreat but without the credit card bill to deal with later. I took care of two dogs (Beau and Summer), a pond full of Koi fish and small turtles, a large tortoise who is an impressive power cabbage eater, and many assorted wild birds (they needed bird seed and the hummers needed nectar).

This is Beau who, as a retriever, seemed to always have a toy in his mouth ready to play fetch with. I took this snapshot during one of his ever so brief still moments.

Canon 5D MKII - Viral Video

2009-07-22T14:18:00.001-07:00

Just another reason to buy the new Canon 5D MKII - its HD video capability. If you haven't already, check out this "Kuroshio Sea" video by Jon Rawlinson.

Stranded

2009-07-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

I attended a lecture at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) this evening. The speaker was Amy Stein and she presented her "domesticated" and "stranded" photographic project series to a group of perhaps 50 (or a bit less). I enjoyed her imagery as her chosen subjects are a bit moody and slightly on the outer edge of what some call "the norm." Bravo!

At the end of the lecture was time for the dreaded Q & A. Okay, I HATE Q & A as 9 out of 10 times the questions people come up with are completely stupid. I looked around the room and saw the typical San Diego evening lecture crowd: mature (as in +60), white, retired military, way-right-leaning conservative, and mostly privileged. And...my low expectations were again spot on and it was just as cringe worthy as I expected.

Questions regarding Amy Stein's "Stranded" series, where she documents motorists stranded on the side of the road, one older gentleman wanted to know why Stein chose to photograph subjects in the lower class bracket and if she had some sort of prejudice against more affluent people? Amy Stein paused for a moment and tried her best to answer the obvious - that mostly the people who tend to break down on the side of the road do not have fancy cars, cell phones (smart or otherwise), or even AAA. And, no she didn't have anything against people in BMWs but that she rarely sees them (except an older one or two) on the side of the road with the hood up.

Another man thought he saw a pattern in her choice of locations - red over blue states (or was it the other way around). Again, Stein had the long pause (for her about 2 seconds) and then shook her head and told him that she goes to random locations - stretches of highways where motorists are typically stranded.

Same man different question (but really it was a statement), "...you don't shoot on two lane highways." Ummm, no not really Stein replied and she reiterated that she sticks to larger highways where there are more motorists.

This went on for a few more minutes - a question about model releases (Stein doesn't get them) and another from a woman up front who was so soft spoken that only Amy Stein heard the question.

And after that, I quickly retreated to the cool gentle breeze of the great outdoors!

I Caved In

2009-07-08T18:05:00.000-07:00

and bought an iPhone. Yes, yes, yes, I know. I said I would never buy an iPhone while they were exclusive with AT&T (unpleasant history). When my Verizon phone when splash into the water and I wasn't on the list for a new upgrade, I knew something had to be done and quick!

So, I bought a new 3Gs because you know, I might need the video to work with (grin).

In spirit of Chase Jarvis, here is my first real photo taken while walking back from the grocery store.

Shot with native iPhone apps.

As Chase says, "The best camera is the one that's with you."

Croc of...?

2009-06-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Google search words: Needle-nosed, zipper-toothed, giant crocodile...

Indian Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).

To say I'm learning a bit about wildlife while working with Roy Toft of Toft Photo Safaris is an understatement. I have just finished keywording, captioning, and writing descriptions for over 500 images of Botswana and am now working on Roy's images of Florida.

Most of the time I vaguely know what kind of animal I am looking at, or at least I can figure it out within a few minutes (thanks to Wikipedia) which makes tagging each image take under 3 minutes. Now, I knew this animal (which I photographed yesterday and was similar to the one I'm researching) was related to the Crocodile. That was the easy part. It became a bigger issue trying to identify its common and scientific name. Roughly 30 minutes later I came really close. It was either an Indian Gharial or a False Gharial. Great, now I'm down to two options. Luckily for me, I live within walking distance to the San Diego Zoo, which quite nicely has Gharials on exhibit. And even more lucky for me, I was given a free admission pass while next in line to purchase my ticket from a nice young man in a group of people who conveniently had extra tickets. It took me another 30 minutes to find the Gharial exhibit as summer tourist season is in full swing and, #@!*^&$#, all those damn strollers make getting ANYWHERE fast a challenge.

Below: my other "Croc" image taken while in a rare moment of (somewhat) privacy.

Going to the Dogs

2009-06-26T15:47:00.001-07:00

Dogs are fun to photograph as they are not self-conscious as we typically are. The top image is Wheeler (aka Bubba) who is about to flip the piece of fortune cookie that is resting on his nose and catch it in his mouth. It is a funny trick he was taught and his success rate must be around 95%. Wheeler is part: Boxer, Hound, and Blue Healer (am I forgetting anything else??) but it is the hound dog in him that prevails, which is evident when he barks.

I forget the other dogs name (Petey?) but I do recall him having a not so nice nickname.

Pet photography is a big business and if you are great at capturing amazing images of animals, this is not a bad specialization to get into. One requirement though...you MUST be patient!

Emily's First Birthday Party

2009-06-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

Emily Elizabeth had a birthday party - her very first one - and all sorts of her friends (and their parents/owners) showed up. We had a great time and have pictures to prove it!

Here is the Gallery of pictures.

or

View the images in a Slideshow.

Wildlife Photography

2009-06-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

My appreciation of wildlife & conservation photography increased dramatically when I met Roy Toft (and Robin) of Toft Photo Safaris last week. To say Roy is a talented nature photographer is a complete understatement as his images of wildlife in Botswana, Costa Rica, Japan, and many other exciting places are truly remarkable. Roy also leads tours and workshops to his favorite photographic destinations, with his next workshop centered on capturing images of bears in Katmai National Park, Alaska.

In addition to overseeing outLOUDstock, outLOUDedit, and Annie Libby Photography, I am proud to announce that I am joining Toft Photo Safaris & Gallery team as a producer. I am looking forward to working with Roy and more importantly, helping advance conservation efforts globally.

Boy

2009-05-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

Text message just came in and it read, "A boy!"

Someone in the family just found out they are having a boy. May your new bundle be happy and healthy.

Vendor/Client Relationships

2009-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is really making the rounds right now but if you are an independent creative or even involved in creative processes for a living, AND have not seen it, please do so. The vendor/client relationship can be so much fun!

A Mane Mohawk or Horse Behaving Oddly...

2009-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

While on my way to an AERC endurance ride in Ridegecrest awhile back, I came up behind a vehicle pulling a horse trailer. When we got to the light, imagine my surprise when the gray Arab horse poked his head out from the back of the trailer. My first thought after "oh no, the horse has gotten himself loose in the trailer" was "is that horse sporting a mohawk?" I learned later (the horse and rider were an endurance team) that yes, he does have a mohawk mane and yes, this horse is never tied down in the trailer as he prefers to stick his head out like a dog out a car window.

Arabian Stallion

2009-05-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

An Arabian stallion galloping in a turnout pen on Windfall Ranch, Alpine, CA.

I was called out to photograph this stallion for stud advertising but when I got there (I did arrive about an hour early), the owners still had him running around in the turnout pen. Someone (unfortunately) thought turning him out would be a good idea to do just after he was given a bath. Minutes after he ran around with his tail held high he dropped down to the ground and rolled!

Palm Trees and White Puffy Clouds

2009-05-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best times of year here in San Diego. The temperature hovers around 72 degrees with a nice breeze coming off the ocean. This shot of two palm trees against a blue sky with puffy white clouds just about sums up the season here.

Giant Boxer

2009-05-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Giant ~~Robot~~ Boxer!

I was playing with our little point and shoot outdoors awhile back and decided to shoot some images of Koda looking like a big giant Boxer. She allowed me about a minute of fun before she stuck her big nose in my lens and quickly decided I was too boring and took off for some other "fun" in the yard.

Western Pleasure

2009-05-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Man and horse in motion: practice time between Western Pleasure class events at the SCHPA horse show in Camp Pendleton, CA

New Wheels

2009-05-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

My new car! 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium with black paint and black interior (yes Christine, I most likely will have a hot car during the summer but at least I now have working A/C!).

Accessory wise, I'm getting the hitch and iPod connector this week, cross bar roof rack sometime next month, and depending on my off road duties this year (so far I have two more off road endurance rides lined up) perhaps the front bumper under guard.

Manzanita Take II Ride & Tie

2009-04-26T07:50:00.001-07:00

There are many sports that involve horses and there are many sports that involve running but there is only one that combines them both into one, and that is Ride and Tie.

Ride & Tie combines trail running with endurance horse riding (and plenty of strategy). Teams of two people and one horse compete on courses ranging from 20 - 100 miles with runners and riders alternating running and riding roles every few miles or so. Riders will either tie the horse to a tree or other sturdy item and then start running with the horse waiting for the original runner to catch up, mount, and ride up to catch their team member. Sometimes runners and riders do the switch in a leap on - leap off motion.

Seen here is Rufus Schneider and Diane Casey (winners of the long course) displaying how to jump on and jump off while barely even stopping.

San Diego Pleasure Driving Show

2009-04-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

I attended the San Diego Pleasure Driving Show at the Tumbleweed arena in Lakeside, CA yesterday and had the opportunity to photograph the horses, mules, and ponies with carriages.

The horses ranged from large draft to petite Arabs. The mules were particularly interesting to watch because (as some of you already know) mules are known for being slightly stubborn (understatement) so when the announcer asked for a "working trot" all the horses promptly assumed the required gait while, to the amusement of the crowd, one of the mules (Willy) just kept walking.

More images from the SDPHS can be seen here.

Herding

2009-04-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I got an opportunity to check off an item on my "must do before you go" list. Faline and I (with Jeff and his horse Sadie) herded some cattle that got loose at Windfall Ranch and got them headed back to Jeff's ranch where they belonged.

Faline was shaking like a leaf but she managed to keep from going absolutely nuts. It was a challenge handling her as she was just about jumping out of her skin. But, my neurotic pony came through with flying colors! And the cattle? Well, they slowly made their way back to Jeff's ranch just in time for dinner.

OT: Sunday Funnies

2009-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Comments made during a recent Glenn Beck 9-12 Project Tea Party event:

"Burn the books!" she yells from off-camera. The surprised camera man asks if she's serious, and which books she'd burn. "The ones in college, the brainwashing books, like the evolution crap."

Hunter Jumper Show

2009-04-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Paint in Action

2009-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Iowa?!

2009-04-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

Exciting news coming from a middle state! DesMoinesRegister.com

Like Horse Like Rider

2009-03-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

If you look closely you can see that both the rider AND her horse are sticking their tongue out. Talk about connecting with your horse!

I find it interesting that as the riders in this equitation class go around the arena none of them are smiling. I remember when I used to show horses as a kid I always had a fun time. I guess these shows have gotten so competitive that all the fun goes right out of the ring when the judging begins.

E.C.H.O. Horse Show Series - Lakeside

2009-03-29T19:06:00.001-07:00

Attended the East County Horseshow Organization horse show series today at Pillsbury Ranch in Lakeside, CA. We enjoyed weather in the low 70s as the riders went through their paces in this GSDHJA (Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association) sanctioned hunter/jumper horse show.

Web gallery of all the images from today's event are here.

Off Topic: Garage Sales

2009-03-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

About two hours into our neighborhood garage sale, a man walks up and asks if we have any guns for sale (what???). Seems he bought some sort of collectible field & stream catalog from this residence about ten years ago and thought we might now have guns. Again, what???

Before I could answer "no" I heard a comment from behind me, "even if I did have guns I wouldn't be selling them since Obama is going to outlaw them."

With a roll of the eyes I walked away and wondered if 10:30 was too early to start drinking.