Lori Azevedo
October 2026 - Man and Horse
About the Image(s)
Sorry but not sorry for another ranch photo shoot. This young man had just finish saddling his horse for our roping photo shoot. I turned around to talk to him and saw the gentler side of a man who loves his animal.
What impressed me upon further review of the photo were his hand. They were the hands of a rancher. This boy/man is only about 18 years old but his hands spoke of someone who knew how to work.
10 comments posted
This is an impressive image that shows the relationship between a rancher and his animal. The man with his hands wrapped around the horse, either looking down or with his eyes closed, and the horse subdued, the viewer can feel that intense relationship between the two which makes for a great story. The hat and the silver belt buckle help tell the man is a rancher which is an important part of the story.
Sky is very moody which you did a great job with.
Great use of Black and White.
I kind of want to see the rancher's eyes, but it doesn't bother me too much.
This is a real winner! Posted: 10/06/2026 20:24:42
Sky is very moody which you did a great job with.
Great use of Black and White.
I kind of want to see the rancher's eyes, but it doesn't bother me too much.
This is a real winner! Posted: 10/06/2026 20:24:42
Thank you so much for your comments. This was not a staged photo. It was just a lucky one. Right time and place. Posted: 10/06/2026 20:37:08
I agree the hands help contribute to the authenticity and story this image tells. IT is a very powerful image. As you already noted, it is clear the rancher genuinely loves his horse. As Pauline noted, the relationship between the two is also very evident... the horse is visibly very at ease and has complete trust in the rancher.
Excellent composition and exposure. Very well done. Posted: 10/11/2026 22:52:29
Excellent composition and exposure. Very well done. Posted: 10/11/2026 22:52:29
Thank you, James for your very kind comments. I also love horses very much and could often be found resting in the stall with my horse. Posted: 10/11/2026 23:15:03
They can be gentle giants, for sure. And also at times prone to finding every possible means of getting themselves in trouble! I still remember working on my cousin's farm when I was in my teens and showing up one day to clean and change the water in the troughs and wondering where the gate to the pasture was ... not that it was open; but completely missing, with several of the horses standing just inside the pasture staring at me through the hole in the fence where the gate should have been.
When I went into the pasture and around the back corner of the barn to grab the hose, I found one of my cousin's prized Arabian horses standing near the door to the barn ... wearing the gate over his head! Posted: 10/25/2026 00:50:13
When I went into the pasture and around the back corner of the barn to grab the hose, I found one of my cousin's prized Arabian horses standing near the door to the barn ... wearing the gate over his head! Posted: 10/25/2026 00:50:13
Very evocative image! Can a horse have a peaceful and loving expression? Looks like it can! All of the elements come together here to tell a story so well described above. The cowboy, horse, hands, belt and clouds make it one of your best photos. Do you do anything special with your great images of the American west? Posted: 10/17/2026 19:28:32
Hi Alec: Maybe someday I will put a book together. Mostly for just my family. I have shared photos with the rancher. His wife is also a photographer. So I'm sure he has many. Posted: 10/20/2026 13:59:53
Lori, another wonderful ranch shot. Why not a series of them for your wall or the ranchers walls? Black and white is perfect for this, I think color would be distracting. Composition is so nice with the dark horse taking the foreground. I like the wispy clouds surrounding the cowboys hat lightening the top of the image. There seem to be several stories within the image - the relationship between them, the way he's holding the horse, his rough hands and the soft horse hair…just another lovely image. Posted: 10/19/2026 01:50:16
Thank you. I love the simplicity of the image. It just warmed my heart also. Posted: 10/20/2026 14:00:41
Great image. Nuff said! Posted: 10/26/2026 20:38:06