Our trip to Eminence, Missouri to see the wild horses there turned out to be very to productive. Any time I travel to photograph wildlife, I have to keep in mind that I may not see any at all! I was very happy when the first day we arrived there, we went out that late afternoon and found one of the herds right away. Most of the horses in this band were white. Their manes were terribly matted and many had sunburned muzzles. I was so pleased that we found them that first day that I decided if I was unable to find any others, I’d leave happy. Part of the fun is in the searching anyway! But it only got better after that first day. I found a different herd a good little drive away. This herd was a bit more skittish and would retreat out of sight into the woods if I moved too quickly. I started out about a thousand feet away from them. Sat in their field where they were grazing until they were accustomed to seeing me. Then I moved in closer, and predictably, their heads would pop up and study me, as if trying to assess if I was a threat. If they didnt go back to their grazing I froze my position and sometimes I turned my back to them. I continued this strategy until I got close enough to get some decent shots, but not too close to make them feel threatened or to endanger my safety. One curious little colt marched right toward me. I backed up. He approached boldly. I backed up. We kept up this pattern until his mom came after him and I turned around and walked quickly away. I have respect for wildlife. I have to remember if my presence causes them to change their behavior then Im too close and possibly in danger.
I had many days of finding the herds and photographing them. But the best day of all was when my husband and I went back to the field where we had seen them that first late afternoon. We were disappointed that we didnt see them. The field was edged with woods so we decided to walk through the woods and try to find our way to the river in hopes that we might find the horses in the woods and near the water. Well, we got in the woods and found the water but no horses. We were enjoying exploring when we saw the herd entering the woods and headed straight toward us! We kept moving out of their way. I had taken my camera off the tripod and one of the horses cautiously but curiously approached it and nibbled on it until it fell over, scaring him away! We had the best time that day, taking selfies with the horses, photographing them, studying them, and being entertained by how they would follow us as we hiked through the woods.
Another highlight of our trip to Eminence was the elk! I got up around sunrise just so I could catch sight of them and hear their bugling! I sat in my car, watching them come out of the woods into the open field and listened to the bugling. It was a wonderful way to spend a morning!
There is a lot of beauty to be enjoyed in Eminence. The Alley Spring Mill is one of the most photographed mills there is. I think it is this mill that is often found on puzzles. We also searched for other mills, creeks, and waterfalls.
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