Had the pleasure of writing April's feature story for Points North Atlanta magazine. An article covering Atlanta's varied horse country. I talked to people from show barns and horse rescue non-profits, and met lots of lovely horses along the way. Camera in-hand at every stop, I took all the shots to support the story, and you know I wanted that cover too!
The image PN's editor chose for the cover features a simple moment between a child and a horse. A sweet-natured equine named Lily and my son Hoffman. Before this session, the two had never met. I had sent over many images for cover consideration, and the deadline was quickly approaching. She asked, "These are all great, but do you have anything with a child?"
Well, I thought...I can get it.
I grabbed my camera and my kid.
How hard can it be to find a last-minute horse?
Forcing Hoffman to change out of his Under Armor shirt and into a grey sweater was the greatest struggle. We ran over to a neighbor's house that I had never met, but who had horses on her property. Coincidentally, she was headed to the barn. What timing! Generously, she let us tag along. For an hour Hoffman and Lily played around together inside the pasture. Guess it didn't hurt that we'd brought a bag of apples.
If Hoffman jogged, the horse trotted two steps behind him. Following at his heels like a puppy. I'd never seen anything like it.
Hoffman stopped for a break. Lily stepped up beside him, and put her head down to his. A perfectly, wonderful moment between two soft-hearted souls. They connected as if they'd grown up together. Below are some photos that didn't make the cover. And I like them all. But can't disagree with the selected image. It's what horse love and connection is all about.
