Mary Ann Carrasco
August 2026 - Resting Foal
Original
About the Image(s)
I took this image while on the wild horse photo workshop in June. Settings were ISO 900, f/11, 1/1600 at 230mm using the Nikon Z9 with 28-400 lens. I had it set on auto ISO. This was taken late in the day and I liked the way the sun was hitting this foal. I took several photos of this scene. I actually took 4,000+ images during this three day workshop and struggling to get myself to go through the images...overwhelming! Any tips to overcome my resistance to delete images? I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
9 comments posted
Why did you decide to leave "Mom" out of the image? Your original is a great shot!
Your focus on Mom and baby is spot-on! And the horses in the distance are properly blurred. This is nice.
(Regarding your inability to delete photos...are you a hoarder? You can tell us!) Posted: 08/04/2026 20:12:07
Your focus on Mom and baby is spot-on! And the horses in the distance are properly blurred. This is nice.
(Regarding your inability to delete photos...are you a hoarder? You can tell us!) Posted: 08/04/2026 20:12:07
Paul, I appreciate your comments! I got caught up in the way the light came in on the colt and just focused on that. I agree that leaving in the mother and other horses will work much better. P.S. No, I am not a hoarder, but I do tend to save "sentimental" things...working on purging! Maybe think of photos the same way! Posted: 08/09/2026 22:51:17
Various topics:
1. The picture
I like the eyes of the foal. Opened with light, just great. The crop allows to see clearly and sharply all its body, namely the month, the mane, its fur ...
However, the attitude of Mom was interesting (almost closed eyes). We can also see shadow of other animals without seeing them. We "miss" something...
But it is your choice and I analyze the final result. I really like the foal.
2. Technical
Why did you use shutter speed of 1/1600? 1/400 was more than enough. You would have a lower ISO, but with the Z9, it doesn't matter. Just a technical question...
3. How to sort & select pictures
Make (always) a back up of all the pictures. After, use LR with the "P" and the stars to sort and select the best ones (high ***). After be ruthless and keep Max 10 % both all the pictures, delete the other ones. Easier to write than to do it. I know that...
Have fun.. Posted: 08/05/2026 13:31:20
1. The picture
I like the eyes of the foal. Opened with light, just great. The crop allows to see clearly and sharply all its body, namely the month, the mane, its fur ...
However, the attitude of Mom was interesting (almost closed eyes). We can also see shadow of other animals without seeing them. We "miss" something...
But it is your choice and I analyze the final result. I really like the foal.
2. Technical
Why did you use shutter speed of 1/1600? 1/400 was more than enough. You would have a lower ISO, but with the Z9, it doesn't matter. Just a technical question...
3. How to sort & select pictures
Make (always) a back up of all the pictures. After, use LR with the "P" and the stars to sort and select the best ones (high ***). After be ruthless and keep Max 10 % both all the pictures, delete the other ones. Easier to write than to do it. I know that...
Have fun.. Posted: 08/05/2026 13:31:20
Vincent, thank you for your comments. In looking back on this, I became fixated on the light in the foal's eye and lost sight of the story! Lesson learned. My shutter speed was high as I had been photographing horses in action and didn't change the setting for this one...was trying to be ready for any action! Thank you for the tips on sort/selecting images. Appreciate your comments and advice. Posted: 08/09/2026 22:54:17
I am with Paul on this one. I think your horse picture is good but the horse picture with the other horses is a good story picture too. The individual shot is good too, but I prefer the group shot. On your black-and-white image, have you tried one copy with more contrast and perhaps more clarity? It might be interesting to see how that would look. This might help you get some more clarity on the horses mane.
In terms of going through a bunch of images, that's a very personal decision. One thing I have noticed is that I have been taking fewer images and thinking about my photos, a lot more upfront. For your situation with so many images, I generally go through the images several times and choose using one through five stars each time. That allows me to make a rough cut with one star and gradually get to the best ones. In my case, I generally use lack of in focus eyes or something similar as the reason to cut images. Posted: 08/05/2026 20:32:55
In terms of going through a bunch of images, that's a very personal decision. One thing I have noticed is that I have been taking fewer images and thinking about my photos, a lot more upfront. For your situation with so many images, I generally go through the images several times and choose using one through five stars each time. That allows me to make a rough cut with one star and gradually get to the best ones. In my case, I generally use lack of in focus eyes or something similar as the reason to cut images. Posted: 08/05/2026 20:32:55
Bob, yes, I see now! I got fixated on the light in the foal's eye and wanted to focus on that but I lost the story in the process. I will go back and redo this image. Thanks for the advice on sorting/deleting. I really try to be more deliberate in what I photograph and had my burst on the lower setting. I didn't want to lose any action images! Lessons learned every time I go out. Thank you for your comments. Posted: 08/09/2026 22:58:36
You are right -- always better to have too many images and get the shot rather than save on the images and miss it! Posted: 08/10/2026 11:39:44
Mary Ann - it will be hard choosing which of the 4,000 to delete - I always see options differently looking later - so only delete obvious out of focus ones etc.
I'm not sure this foal only shot works, particularly in mono. I think if you had wanted this on the day, you'd take it differently (lower, for example). Its colour tones in the late low sun will be lovely if developed with that in mind. As a mono, I find the shadows distracting and wonder if their impact can be lessened by selective lightening.
The shot as taken of mum and foal is a more natural story. But the legs of the horse immediately behind her as well as the shadows add to the complicated scene. Far from easy to get clean scenes from a group of animals - requires much moving around, again not easy if there is a group of photographers Posted: 08/10/2026 20:35:00
I'm not sure this foal only shot works, particularly in mono. I think if you had wanted this on the day, you'd take it differently (lower, for example). Its colour tones in the late low sun will be lovely if developed with that in mind. As a mono, I find the shadows distracting and wonder if their impact can be lessened by selective lightening.
The shot as taken of mum and foal is a more natural story. But the legs of the horse immediately behind her as well as the shadows add to the complicated scene. Far from easy to get clean scenes from a group of animals - requires much moving around, again not easy if there is a group of photographers Posted: 08/10/2026 20:35:00
Looking at the colour image you have posted I would have thought that you would have spent quite a while to get a clean shot of the Foul and its mother as the other horse seem to have been a bit nervous and mother does not look that friendly that you are near her foul. I don't think it is that bad an image of the Foul and the owner if they had one would love it. The only shame is the foul is not the other way round. I like it as an image. Posted: 08/12/2026 09:40:25