APOGEE PHOTO MAGAZINE: Weldon Lee's Wild Horses of the West

“WILD HORSES of the WEST”—first, the words drew me in. I saw the horses in my mind’s eye--manes and tails streaming in the wind as the herd runs across the prairie, mares and foals grazing in the sagebrush that dots the prairie grass. I began to wonder about the man offering this photographic adventure.

Weldon Lee, wildlife photographer, writer, and photo tour operator, travels around the globe leading photography workshops to the world’s most exotic locations. Capturing the essence of the personalities of wildlife on film is his life. He has a special way of communicating with animals, and his images depict that relationship.

Lee’s work has been exhibited in the Denver Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. A University of Northern Iowa photography professor ranks Lee among the top five wildlife photographers in North America. Weldon’s images have appeared in numerous magazines including Mature Outlook, Backpacker, National Parks Magazine, Bird Watcher’s Digest, Outdoor Photographer, and Petersen’s PHOTOgraphic. As Assistant Editor of Nature Photographer magazine, his images and articles appear in every issue of that publication. In addition, his photos illustrate text and natural history books by Macmillan, Westcliffe, Falcon Press, and Roberts Rinehart--to name just a few. Lee’s work has been featured on all the major television networks including ABC, CBS, and NBC.

As Lee explains, “Wildlife photography, to me, is more than capturing an image. It is the opportunity to preserve on film the drama of a fleeting moment in the life of a particular species. When I am fortunate enough to capture one of those moments, I begin to realize that I am touching something greater than life itself. Many wildlife species are being threatened with extinction. If they are to survive, then we…as humans…must learn to coexist with them. Photography and writing provides me the platform I need to foster an appreciation for the uniqueness of my wild brothers and sisters which, hopefully, will lead to their survival.”

At last, I had an impression of Weldon Lee, his special knowledge, commitment, and ethics. The decision to join his wild horse workshop was made. It was spring, and we were off to South Dakota. We arose early to catch the light and drove to a 22,000 acre ranch owned by the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. As home to 2,000 bison and a herd of 170 wild range horses, the ranch will be developed into a northern plains park and native wildlife sanctuary.

The bison were easy to find--the big, black older bulls standing amidst the green grass, aware of their majesty. The horses were more elusive. We drove over short grass prairie that was sprinkled with yellow spring flowers and caught our first glimpse of the wild horse herd as it flowed over the hills in the distance. When we topped the rise, we could see the whole herd, led by a wily mare with her new foal. They were running through a herd of bison as the bison grazed beside their new red calves. What an unforgettable and incredible experience! The whole equine herd was clumped together and not scattered into smaller bunches. We knew that getting close to them without stressing them was not going to be easy. There were subjects aplenty, though, and the country was bursting with new life.

Then, we spotted a small band of horses some distance away. They weren’t as suspicious as the main herd. In fact, they were curious. We had found the bachelor boys. They lined up, watching us. Then, as we did nothing to threaten them--in fact, we sat down in the grass--they came closer to investigate. They stopped within ten to twenty feet of our position. We were now a part of their world, and they wanted to satisfy their curiosity about these funny-shaped, two-legged objects.

We stayed only one day on the tribe’s ranch, but that day was full of shots unique to both our minds and our cameras. Spring rain shed its blessing on the prairies, and wanting to avoid damage to a fragile environment, we spent the remainder of the week on land owned by the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros. They are presently maintaining three separate herds. The one we spent the most time with was the Gila herd. The Gila herd fits the traditional mustang picture in that they are dun (or grulla) in color with a dorsal stripe, black mane and tail, black stockings, and sometimes, black stripes on their legs. Their DNA tests closest to the original Spanish mustang.

The first day of our visit, the mustangs were cautious, but as we returned in the afternoon and each succeeding day, we gradually became accepted as part of the herd--a weirdly shaped part, but no threat. Each visit we were able to approach a little closer, until the youngsters finally came up to greet us when we arrived. Finally, it wasn’t just the youngsters that came to visit. A mare brought her baby to see us, and the stallions moved close enough for us to touch them (which, of course, we did not do). As each stallion neared, I was struck by how mellow the stallions were. The power they displayed when they fought for dominance was not evident when they approached us. They showed no aggression towards us at all. They seemed to be very different from domestic horses. To be face-to-face with these magnificent wild creatures and have them come to us without fear was an incredible experience. Our week with them was way too short.

In the mornings, we were out in the field before breakfast—which gave us a break at about 9:30. We traveled back to the motel after breakfast for sessions with Lee. He provided critiques of our work plus tips on photography and editing with Photoshop, answered any questions that might have come up, and offered us an opportunity to share some of his perspective of the world. We returned to the field to catch the afternoon light at 2:30 pm. All the participants in the workshop were impressed with our leader. Not only does he enjoy a bond with wildlife, he also has a special ability to interact with people. His vision and his contacts allow him to offer the variety of adventures that Rocky Mountain Photo Adventures presents. His willingness to share his knowledge of wildlife, its life and spirit, with the participants of the workshop made the adventure an unforgettable experience.

Check out www.RockyMountainPhotoAdventures.com. I did. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Would I recommend his workshops? Only if you want to become immersed in the surroundings and life of the wildlife, to become a part of their world for a brief time, and to share their experiences and allow them to share with you. Only if you want to take back more than a flat, emotionless picture--if you want to feel a kinship with this Earth and the life upon it, and you yearn for opportunities to capture that moment.

See more photos from this workshop.

Alice J Bauer
AJ’s Visions
Jeep841@earthlink.net