What is a Creative Eye? Part II

In the realm of art and creativity, I’ve always believed in the power of continuous learning and exploration, a philosophy that has guided me on my unique journey through equine photography. Without a formal background in art history, my education has been a diverse tapestry woven from the experiences and styles of the artists around me in my family and in my extended friendship circle. I'm a proud member of the Paard Verzameld Collective, a vibrant community of equine artists dedicated to exploring the vast expanse of artistic styles through monthly challenges. This environment has been instrumental in my growth, pushing me to delve deeper whenever a particular style sparks my interest.

My Patron membership with the Paard Verzameld Collective has exposed me to a more diverse array of creative works than I might have sought out on my own. Despite my love for art museums and galleries, the collective’s challenges have broadened my horizons, encouraging me to venture beyond my comfort zones.

Here is one of my PV Challenge entries from July 2022 using my own Lusitano Roucio as my model and transforming him to embody the word Archaic using the challenge color palette.

The advent of artificial intelligence in the art world, though controversial to some, has offered me an unparalleled avenue for exploration. By revisiting the masterpieces of famous painters through the lens of AI and integrating horses into scenes they were never originally part of, I’ve been able to expand my understanding of art history in unique ways. For those curious about this fusion of technology and traditional art, my AI creations are showcased on my Instagram account, Susan | AI Whisperer (@horse.ai) • Instagram photos and videos

Here is one of my generated images of Rodin's The Thinker as a horse. Sculpture is probably my favorite artform and The Thinker is a family favorite. I think that my love for sculpture comes through in my photographic style.

Observation lies at the core of my creative process. My long-standing connection with horses has taught me to appreciate their myriad of expressions, far beyond the conventional pose of ears pricked forward. This understanding comes from 50+ years of observation, learning to interpret their behaviors and nuances, which I believe is essential for anyone aiming to capture the true essence of these magnificent creatures. Even though I've been around horses most of my life I continue to learn from them and connect with them on a different and deeper level than I did when I was younger. I love to hang out with them. Soak in their energy and listen to them. Even a small thing like the way I used to pat them has changed. Instead of patting them enthusiastically like I would after a good round in the show ring, I very gently caress them now. It's an easy experiment to do for yourself. Pat them as you normally would and observe and then touch them with the softest of touches and see the difference in their expression - their eyes. Remember that these are animals that can feel a fly land on them.

The pursuit of the unique in a world saturated with ideas is what thrills me most about being in the studio. I'm drawn to the odd, the weird, the unconventional - a quest for freshness in the familiar. Yet, the journey of translating the weird into the wonderful is not without its challenges, and not all experiments conclude with success. However, each attempt, whether it lands flat or soars, is a valuable step in my artistic evolution.

Here is one of those odd moments captured in the studio. This is a tall lanky showjumper and as he reached for a fly I took the shot. I love how skeletal he appears. He almost gives me a human vibe.

When I look for inspiration, I do not look to other equine photographers or even photography itself most of the time. I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including dance, sculpture, music, fashion and mythology and folklore. My interest in these areas also leads me to combine them with horses as much as I can and learn from the experts in those fields. That's not to say I'm not inspired by other photographers because of course I am but I'm always looking for something unique in the equine photography world so I prefer to look outside it for inspiration.

With such large subjects, equine photography comes with its own set of guidelines, such as avoiding perspective distortion and capturing the horse in motion so it appears energized upwards rather than on the down stride. Yet, these "rules" can sometimes stifle creativity. A perfect example is how horses with long manes often display their most stunning 'flying manes' not while moving upwards but rather in the midst of landing, propelled by the momentum. By creatively cropping and adjusting the image, I strive to showcase this beauty without the constraints of traditional guidelines.

Here is our stallion Rio captured in just this way. This is absolutely the landing step of his canter and if I kept the whole image you might think it looks awkward but instead I twist it and remove some of the background cues so you can just focus on his beauty.

Embracing the risk of failure is a crucial part of my process. Not every shot is a masterpiece, and awkwardness cannot always be transformed into art. Yet, it is through these risks that truly unique creations are born. My journey through the world of equine photography is a testament to the belief that creativity thrives on the edge of tradition and innovation, a balance I continue to explore with every click of my camera.

Go forth and find your weird.