Seven years ago, I stood in a small Colorado gallery staring at a photograph that wouldn’t let me go. It showed a line of horses charging straight toward the camera — manes flying, hooves kicking up dirt, eyes locked forward. I kept wondering how the photographer made it. Was it a local ranch? Was it staged? Or did they simply find themselves in the right place at the right moment?
That image planted a seed I couldn’t shake. I talked about it with every photographer friend I had, trying to reverse‑engineer the photo to create something similar. Eventually, a pilot friend who knew horses told me about a ranch in Westcliffe, Colorado run by an experienced wrangler named Elin. “If anyone can help you make that shot,” he said, “it’s her.”
I called Elin and pitched the idea — but with a twist. I didn’t want horses running in the dirt, I wanted them running in snow, framed by the mountains. She loved the challenge, but the ranch was her livelihood, so I had to find a way to make it work. That’s how a simple idea turned into a winter horse‑photography Meetup.
To build interest, I visited the ranch on a snowy January day to capture promotional images. Elin positioned me at the end of a corral and gave me one instruction: “When they get close, stand up and throw your hands in the air. Don’t worry — they’ll split around you.”
I knew nothing about horses, so I trusted her. Through my viewfinder I watched the herd round the corner and thunder straight toward me. I focused, zoomed out, and tried to stay calm — until Elin yelled, “Stand up!” I jumped, threw my hands up, and the herd split around me like water around a rock. The adrenaline was unforgettable.
The Meetup was a hit. Photographers loved it, and we’ve been returning every winter for seven years. Conditions change — fresh snow, fog, sunrise color — but the ranch always delivers. And over time, the day developed a rhythm that has become one of my favorite traditions.
The Sunrise Ritual
Before the horses ever start running, we meet on a ridge before dawn. A lone cowboy on horseback stands silhouetted against the first light of day. In winter, the sky often erupts in color — deep reds, golds, and blues reflecting off the snow‑covered valley. These quiet sunrise moments set the tone for everything that follows. They remind us that the ranch isn’t just a place for action; it’s a place of stillness, solitude, and the kind of beauty you only find when you’re willing to stand in the cold and wait for the light.
The Run
Once the sun rises, the wranglers bring the herd down from the ridge and prepare for the run. The energy shifts instantly. Snow flies, hooves dig in, and the valley fills with motion. Elin and her team run the horses straight toward us — now positioned safely behind a fence — and every pass is different. Sometimes the herd fans out wide; sometimes they bunch tightly together. Sometimes the mountains glow behind them; sometimes a storm rolls in and gives the scene a moody, cinematic feel. It’s controlled chaos, and it’s addictive.
The Barn Portraits
After the horses finish their run, we end the morning inside Elin’s barn. The window light in that space is perfect — soft, directional, and full of character. The wranglers step into that glow and suddenly the chaos of the herd gives way to quiet portraits that feel timeless. Their hats, ropes, saddles, and weathered faces tell a different side of the ranch story. These portraits have become just as meaningful to me as the action shots; they’re a chance to capture the people who make the whole experience possible.
The Image: Winter at the Ranch
Winter at the Ranch was created in February 2022 after a heavy overnight snowfall. I shot more than 4,000 frames that morning, but one stood out immediately — the alignment of the herd, the expressions of the wranglers, the backdrop of the mountains, and the energy of fresh snow. It wasn’t just the image I’d been chasing for seven years. It was better.
The photograph went on to earn PPA Diamond and 1st Place in Reportage/Photojournalism at the 2024 IPC — an honor that means a great deal to me because it recognizes not just technical execution, but storytelling. This image is the product of trust, collaboration, and a ranch community that has welcomed me year after year.
Capture Details
Camera: Sony A9
Lens: Sony 24–105mm f/4 (shot at 43mm)
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter: 1/2000
ISO: 320
Lighting: Natural
Support: Handheld
Post‑Processing
Edited in Adobe Camera Raw and Nik Viveza 5. Minimal adjustments: crop for composition, remove blue cast, subtle dodge and burn to lift the black horse against the snow.
Closing Thoughts
What began as a curiosity sparked by a gallery photo has turned into a long‑term creative relationship with a remarkable ranch. Every winter brings new conditions, new challenges, and new opportunities. But the heart of the experience remains the same: the partnership between photographers, wranglers, horses, and the land itself.
Winter at the Ranch is the image that finally captured everything I’d been chasing — motion, story, environment, and authenticity — all in one frame.
David Soldano offers workshops! Join him on a future workshop. Find out more here.
