As I sit breathless, sweaty, and exhausted on my deck entranced by the two bucks butting antlers up the hill, I realize how much I miss going on trails with my horse.
A couple weeks ago, I decided that if I was going to quit the gym and of course, per usual, not have a horse to ride six days a week - I was going to get my butt in gear. I chose... cross country running. I live in a near perfect place for it, I cannot leave my front door without having to climb up at least a 300 foot incline, tripping over a rock, or dodge lovely animals such as rattle snakes. I felt like it gave me a sense of adventure that the Wii Fit did not.
Well, today I got lost (just a little), thanks to handy town trail markers I was able to get back on the path home. Usually, I rely on my mobile phone's GPS, but running on a trail or road and driving on it are two completely different things - not to mention 3G coverage is something unheard of around here (hello 2005). On a horse you would never get lost within two miles of your house - they have enough sense to turn tail and book it home when all else fails. Humans... not so much, same principle as men not wanting to ask for directions, I just want to find a cool new route home without asking or in this case consulting a map. After only a short climb I would be tired of going up, and would look forward to the down that was inevitably coming, right? Wrong, just some flat and some more hill. I can't believe I have done this with my horse. I have a whole new appreciation for him. He would always go up hills and very carefully take the steep downhills, not run full force downhill, like me. Shin splints are in these days in my house.
Last summer, during rehab stint number one we were working our way up to 10 mile trail rides (if you know my horse, this is a long way for him, he is no dainty Arab-like endurance horse, he is shaped more like a zeppelin with legs). I am just starting out at this at only a few miles at a time, and a few short walk breaks... maybe long walk breaks. Anyway, my point is, actually running/walking/hiking these trails is a lot harder without my trail buddy!
I am not belittling trail riders, if you are into it, you know that trail riding can torch just as many calories as a workout in the arena - I just think I incinerated my last few hundred and didn't leave any left to get dinner ready. I often take for granted what an awesome trail horse I have, yeah, he was bred for jumping big jumps, but he loves a trail. I miss trying new obstacles like bridges in gullies and taking on swarms of bike riders. I even miss the short bursts of adrenaline that are always present when you hear a noise in the woods - both your horse's and your ears perk up. Heck, I miss the crazies and the cases of "I want to go this way" or "Why don't I spook at that stump for the 43rd time for no reason". I guess I decided to take up cross country running to feel that again - to see the scenery (and not smell that gross sweaty guy over there on the elliptical). I like it. I just know I would be having more fun with my boy.
Here's to our trail buddies, and to their health, may they stay strong and inquisitive.
View From the Horse - Awesome
View From the Ground - Boring
A couple weeks ago, I decided that if I was going to quit the gym and of course, per usual, not have a horse to ride six days a week - I was going to get my butt in gear. I chose... cross country running. I live in a near perfect place for it, I cannot leave my front door without having to climb up at least a 300 foot incline, tripping over a rock, or dodge lovely animals such as rattle snakes. I felt like it gave me a sense of adventure that the Wii Fit did not.
Well, today I got lost (just a little), thanks to handy town trail markers I was able to get back on the path home. Usually, I rely on my mobile phone's GPS, but running on a trail or road and driving on it are two completely different things - not to mention 3G coverage is something unheard of around here (hello 2005). On a horse you would never get lost within two miles of your house - they have enough sense to turn tail and book it home when all else fails. Humans... not so much, same principle as men not wanting to ask for directions, I just want to find a cool new route home without asking or in this case consulting a map. After only a short climb I would be tired of going up, and would look forward to the down that was inevitably coming, right? Wrong, just some flat and some more hill. I can't believe I have done this with my horse. I have a whole new appreciation for him. He would always go up hills and very carefully take the steep downhills, not run full force downhill, like me. Shin splints are in these days in my house.
Last summer, during rehab stint number one we were working our way up to 10 mile trail rides (if you know my horse, this is a long way for him, he is no dainty Arab-like endurance horse, he is shaped more like a zeppelin with legs). I am just starting out at this at only a few miles at a time, and a few short walk breaks... maybe long walk breaks. Anyway, my point is, actually running/walking/hiking these trails is a lot harder without my trail buddy!
I am not belittling trail riders, if you are into it, you know that trail riding can torch just as many calories as a workout in the arena - I just think I incinerated my last few hundred and didn't leave any left to get dinner ready. I often take for granted what an awesome trail horse I have, yeah, he was bred for jumping big jumps, but he loves a trail. I miss trying new obstacles like bridges in gullies and taking on swarms of bike riders. I even miss the short bursts of adrenaline that are always present when you hear a noise in the woods - both your horse's and your ears perk up. Heck, I miss the crazies and the cases of "I want to go this way" or "Why don't I spook at that stump for the 43rd time for no reason". I guess I decided to take up cross country running to feel that again - to see the scenery (and not smell that gross sweaty guy over there on the elliptical). I like it. I just know I would be having more fun with my boy.
Here's to our trail buddies, and to their health, may they stay strong and inquisitive.
View From the Ground - Boring
Aug 23
Homestretch, Here We Come
One last day to get those votes in for the Sidelines Magazine Cover Contest.
(To vote, please see below blog post)
I have found myself obsessed with checking the contest every 10 minutes. This weekend was the hardest - first I found myself on a horse, then another without access to my computer, nor my iPhone. I was frantic to find out where my votes stood and panicking about posting yet another notification to my wall. Today, same, two horses, four hours, no net access.
Hey! At least someone snagged an A-ttractive shot of me getting on Miss M! Not. *note lack of Internet panic in face*
Then tonight at the boyfriend's parents' house where I was having a very hard time, well actually wasn't able to get on the Internet there at all. I grumped internally knowing I couldn't see the current votes - and then some more since I was there to help them with branding for their B&B (finding a font without Internet access is not so productive).
I confess to somewhat spamming my Facebook friends about it... ALL FB FRIENDS, I AM SORRY! I promise to stop after tomorrow, but hey what is Facebook for? (I do live with an expert on the subject). Anyway, I want to thank everyone who has voted AND thank Sidelines for holding the contest, I myself have gotten over 20 new fans on Facebook from the contest.
Now I am home, homestretch time, final furlong, and ready for tomorrow.
BRING.IT.ON.
(To vote, please see below blog post)
I have found myself obsessed with checking the contest every 10 minutes. This weekend was the hardest - first I found myself on a horse, then another without access to my computer, nor my iPhone. I was frantic to find out where my votes stood and panicking about posting yet another notification to my wall. Today, same, two horses, four hours, no net access.
Then tonight at the boyfriend's parents' house where I was having a very hard time, well actually wasn't able to get on the Internet there at all. I grumped internally knowing I couldn't see the current votes - and then some more since I was there to help them with branding for their B&B (finding a font without Internet access is not so productive).
I confess to somewhat spamming my Facebook friends about it... ALL FB FRIENDS, I AM SORRY! I promise to stop after tomorrow, but hey what is Facebook for? (I do live with an expert on the subject). Anyway, I want to thank everyone who has voted AND thank Sidelines for holding the contest, I myself have gotten over 20 new fans on Facebook from the contest.
Now I am home, homestretch time, final furlong, and ready for tomorrow.
BRING.IT.ON.
One of my photos is a finalist in the Sidelines Magazine cover contest. I would love it if any Facebook users out there could please vote for my entry (Entry #2), the horse with the black background. The winning cover will be featured on their October 2010 Issue.
To vote (follow links):
1. Please "Like" Sidelines Magazine on Facebook.
2. Please "Like" Entry #2 by Christina Gray.
Thank You!
And for those of you who cannot vote due to not being a member of Facebook, the below is the photo I submitted:
Photo © Christina Gray
To vote (follow links):
1. Please "Like" Sidelines Magazine on Facebook.
2. Please "Like" Entry #2 by Christina Gray.
Thank You!
And for those of you who cannot vote due to not being a member of Facebook, the below is the photo I submitted:
As any designer can attest to, building your own website is a challenge - between life, full time jobs, and clients, it leaves little time to get your own work done. A year ago when I purchased my domain and my hosting package, I had a different idea in mind. Now I have taken the influence of my blog and incorporated it into my website... well website to be. I have to thank my boyfriend for coming up with the lovely header on LivingInGray.com – I will take half the credit since I provided the font (for those who don’t know me as a designer, I have a severe font fetish, yes, I have 3000+ fonts in my archives).
Anyway, getting back to designing – life isn’t all photos and ponies, sometimes I have to buckle down and get to work. I am lucky enough to have someone in my household who will help with the CSS and backend of the website, I think I would pull out my hair, since I only know the basics, if I had to build the ENTIRE thing myself. But, it’s a mutual relationship – I help him with some of his design.
Most of my friends and readers know me mostly as a photographer, and I am having a hard time figuring out how to market both. I guess the website itself can act as an example of my design work. I will be building out my portfolio to incorporate my corporate clients that I have done both web and print design for. But, in the end the afterburners have been turned on to get this up and running. I will NOT let it be a splash page of disaster when I run a national advertisement in Sidelines Magazine for their October 2010 issue.
With most of the design laid out, I just have the portfolio to design, with my handy helper to build me my very own lightbox style viewer. I love not having to use third party vendors!
Sneak Preview
All designs © Christina Gray Designs
Anyway, getting back to designing – life isn’t all photos and ponies, sometimes I have to buckle down and get to work. I am lucky enough to have someone in my household who will help with the CSS and backend of the website, I think I would pull out my hair, since I only know the basics, if I had to build the ENTIRE thing myself. But, it’s a mutual relationship – I help him with some of his design.
Most of my friends and readers know me mostly as a photographer, and I am having a hard time figuring out how to market both. I guess the website itself can act as an example of my design work. I will be building out my portfolio to incorporate my corporate clients that I have done both web and print design for. But, in the end the afterburners have been turned on to get this up and running. I will NOT let it be a splash page of disaster when I run a national advertisement in Sidelines Magazine for their October 2010 issue.
With most of the design laid out, I just have the portfolio to design, with my handy helper to build me my very own lightbox style viewer. I love not having to use third party vendors!
All designs © Christina Gray Designs
Aug 13
Font Found, Header Done
Whee!
Aug 13
Working on My Website
FINALLY! Only took a few days to remember the header font.
♫ Madras - Global Experience
You can purchase regular format prints that I have taken of you OR you can order large formats through me directly and I will have them printed locally by my "Printer guy" Chris Hawkins at Hawkins Communications in San Francisco.
I will also be adding commercial images that will be available for purchase to the general public for publication or websites.
Check it out: Online Ordering
Aug 05
Fog Study Numero Dos
Still too much light to get a long long exposure like I was hoping... plus I have discovered that I need a better tripod. I was borrowing my boyfriend's and since my Canon is now rigged with battery pack and had the 70-300 on it, poor little tripod was a bit droopy - a ten second delay was barely enough to get anything.
I will keep trying though to get the waterfall fog "FALLING"!
Image © Christina S. Gray
I will keep trying though to get the waterfall fog "FALLING"!
Aug 05
Photoshoot FAIL!!!
This past weekend I was planning a photoshoot of my darling four legged friend, Creggan and his girlfriend, Miss M. This was all to get some images so I can start a little local advertising for my portraits.
Well... with near gale-force winds and the excitement caused by braiding ("OMG braids, we MUST be going to a horse show!"), my perfect photoshoot was cut short,
1. because, M took it upon herself to act more like a three-year old TB than ever (she is 15)
2. because I ran out of patience with both equines.
The outtakes are funny, but, I was so frustrated at the time!
THE GOOD ONES
Miss M standing still, what a novelty!
Creggan being a model
Braids!
Staring into the distance
Done for the day
THE OUTTAKES
HELLO!
I could not for the life of me get her to look at the camera
Or him
Aliens!
“Does this angle make my butt look big?”
THE END
Images © Christina S. Gray
Well... with near gale-force winds and the excitement caused by braiding ("OMG braids, we MUST be going to a horse show!"), my perfect photoshoot was cut short,
1. because, M took it upon herself to act more like a three-year old TB than ever (she is 15)
2. because I ran out of patience with both equines.
The outtakes are funny, but, I was so frustrated at the time!
Miss M standing still, what a novelty!
Creggan being a model
Braids!
Staring into the distance
Done for the day
THE OUTTAKES
HELLO!
I could not for the life of me get her to look at the camera
Or him
Aliens!
“Does this angle make my butt look big?”
THE END
Images © Christina S. Gray
Five years ago today I lost my very special horse Harold (registered Aquaflight). After a day long battle with fluctuating states of colic, he was sent to surgery and never made it through.
I will forever remember my dear boy, who was to be my big time horse. We made it to 4'3" in the show ring and I was ready to move up. My next horse has a lot to live up to.
In Memory of Aquaflight (March, 1995-August 3, 2005)
I will forever remember my dear boy, who was to be my big time horse. We made it to 4'3" in the show ring and I was ready to move up. My next horse has a lot to live up to.