Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone

I've been doing this photography as a business "thing" for a few years now but there is always something I strive to learn or improve on. Every shoot I look at as a new learning experience to either try a different lens, a new concept, or a fresh angle.

My mother is a breeder of Friesian horses for Rainer Friesians (nested in the heart of Enumclaw), and although I only shoot families and children, she is ALWAYS asking me to take photos of her horses. Many times I have tried but my fear of getting to close to the large animals always held me back. Well this past month I decided I needed to harness my fear and just get out and try. There were three new baby foals this year to capture, so now was as good of time as any.

I headed over to the farm and took a spot out in the pasture. I laid down low on my belly and grabbed my telephoto zoom lens. Then my mom started to spook the three mothers and their three babies so they would run wild toward me.The sun was just settling and created a beautiful glow on their waving manes.

To be honest I nearly lost my lunch when I saw them start to charge at me. "What if they didn't stop?" "What if they ran right over me?" My heart pounded out of my chest, but I held firm to my camera and kept hitting the release of the shutter. I was assured they wouldn't run me over by my mother and so I kept shooting. Sure enough they went right around me, as if I wasn't there.

Success - I conquered my fear, tried some thing new, and got some pretty good photos. In the end I learned I really need to set outside my levels of comfort. Not only in my photography, but anything in life. Only when we experience moments of discomfort and fear can we aspire to greatness.

If you like these photos - check out more on the BLOG. or stop by and LIKE me over on Facebook.

-Angie

www.angiecoxphotography.com