
Featured Image for June 2026
"Romeo"
I captured "Romeo" mid-run across a dusty open field. The dramatic cloudy sky and distant hills create a spacious, wild backdrop, while the horse’s motion kicks up dust and gives the image a sense of energy and freedom. The weather on this particular morning gave us beautiful light. We photographed him an hour after sunrise (with overcast skies).
"Romeo" is a Gypsy Vanner stallion available for breeding at the Making Pegasus Ranch in Lockwood, CA. He was a favorite at the Pegasus Equine Photography Retreat because of his features: striking coloring and coat, beautiful flowing mane, tail, and feather; all qualities of the Gypsy breed. His parents were "Tracy's Grand Finale" and "Moonlight Mist". He is six years old. He was photographed on the second morning of the Pegasus Equine Photography Retreat, May 13th, 2026 at 7:27 a.m.
Find all my favorite images in the Fine Art Gallery.
"Legacy"
In mid April I attended a Photography Excursion with Action Photo Tours, to visit the Onaqui herd in western Utah. Since it was my first time to photograph this herd, I wanted to go with a quide who has been there many times; Wendy Casey. We went out at sunset and sunrise, three times. We were short on sleep by the time we were done (it's an hour + drive from our hotel out to the desert and an hour + back, twice a day), but we had a glorious time and I captured over 11,000 images (only a few are great and will end up in my Fine Art Gallery).
I posted a few of my images in the Action Photo Tours alumni page in Facebook and was honored with "cover photo of the week" so I'm sharing that image as the featured image this month. It was taken our first evening out on the range; April 15, 2026, at 5:39 p.m. I edited the image to crop in on these three horses who were part of a larger band that were all running together toward me because I liked how the action was captured in this shot (I took 113 images from the time this group started running until they had completely stopped; running at me and then across from left to right as they passed me). To see the other images I created from this series, see the Wild Horses Album in my Fine Art Gallery.
Find all my favorite images in the Fine Art Gallery.
View past Images of the Month on Lori's web site.
"Horse in the Grass"
This is one of the horses at Return to Freedom. There were several horses running by and I was seated in the grass and tried to capture a few shots as they passed me. I decided to get a little ARTSY with this shot to make the image a little more interesting and unique.
This image was taken during the 2024 Return to Freedom Photo Safari at 9:35 a.m. on April 25, 2024. I chose this image to feature this month since we have our 3 day Safari in San Luis Obispo happening as this email hits your in box. I'll have more images soon! See the story below about the drama we all watched during the 2024 Safari.
Find all my favorite images in the Fine Art Gallery.
"Asher in the Snow"
In honor of stepping into the year of the horse, here's Asher in the snow.
This was taken on the last morning of my week in Wyoming last February. Several horses were trailered to a large open field so that we could photograph them running loose in the snow. The temperature that morning was -7° and was our warmest morning of the week!
This image was taken at the Hideout Guest Ranch and Lodge in Shell, Wyoming on February 14, 2025.
Equine Trivia ~ How Horses Stay Warm in Winter
Find all my favorite images in the Fine Art Gallery.
"Rascal on the Run"
This beautiful grey stallion "Rascal" and one of his mares had just crossed the river when their ears suddenly perked up. Something was emerging from the trees down river. A group of mounted riders on horseback! Oh no! They turned and ran back into the river and away from the group. This worked out excellently well for me, since I was standing in the river watching the whole thing and was able to get this perspective!
Cathy Wallace and I spent three days exploring the Tonto National Forest and photographing the wild horses there. We spent time along the Salt River and time in the desert hills.
This image was taken in the Salt River on November 9th, 2025.
Find all my favorite images in the Fine Art Gallery.
"Swish"
I was standing on a cat walk in a barn; the horse trotted by below me and the goal was to just get an interesting shot from a different perspective.
This image was taken at Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, California in May, 2019. The image has been added to the Fine Art Gallery.
"Golden"
The hills this past June had turned golden and made a
beautiful setting for photographing the mustangs as they moved about the land
at the Sanctuary. I like how this shot shows the freeze brand on his neck
and the number on his rump and conveys movement.
This image was taken at Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary
in San Luis Obispo, California during our June 2023 Equine Photography
Workshop. The image has been added to the Fine Art Gallery.
"Return From The Water Hole"
The setting sun is creating this beautiful back light that allows us to capture highlights on the mane, back, tail, and even lights up some of the mist coming from the horse's nose in the foreground as it blows some of the dust out of its nose. I've named this image Return From The Water Hole because of the visible mud on the horses! They've been to their version of the spa.
This image was taken at Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary in San Luis Obispo at 7 p.m. June 29, 2018. The image has been added to the Fine Art Gallery.
Featured Image for November, 2022
These are working ranch horses at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch near Sand Point, Idaho. In the evening they move the horses down to the meadow for the night, where they graze and live as a herd. I love this capture because of the motion in the mane of the leopard appaloosa in front and center and for the light and contrast. I converted the original color image to black and white because it gave the image more of a focal point. This is another image from my June 2021 stay at the ranch in Idaho. I also submitted this image for the Cowboys and Indians Magazine 2023 Photo Contest. It is my first time entering this contest, so I have no expectations, but I look forward to seeing the images they select to award prizes to.
This image has been added to the Fine Art Gallery.
This is “Lucky,” a working ranch horse at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch near Sand Point, Idaho. I love this capture because of the motion in the mane – how it’s wrapping around Lucky’s neck. It just makes me happy! Hope you like it, too! Featured image for October, 2022.

Copyright ©2026 Essence Captured and Lori Sortino. All rights reserved.