From Painted Hills Publishing
July 28, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wild Hoofbeats Gallops Into Every Horse Lover’s Heart
Wild horses: bold, elusive, independent. Above all, free. Or are they? Most of us consider wild horses honored emblems of our Western spirit, but some see them as a resource to exploit or even a pest to eliminate. Which are they? For Carol Walker, the photographer and author of Wild Hoofbeats, the answer begins not in abstract argument over symbols and statistics, but with the horses themselves. In images that move fleetly from the pages straight into our hearts, Walker brings to brilliant life the horses of the Adobe Town herd in Wyoming’s Red Desert, and we gain a priceless perspective on these graceful, courageous animals.
Walker gathered these dynamic images over years spent observing (sometimes at a distance, often within a mere stride or two) the bands of the Adobe Town herd. She emerged from her experience with a sense of personal acquaintance with the horses, a deep respect for their social allegiances and intelligence—and a heart fully engaged by their plight. As art, the photographs are elegant. As documentary, they are evocative. In every respect, they are indelibly memorable.
But Walker doesn’t rest with photographs. In quiet, spare prose Walker invites us to journey with her as she meets the horses in the initial blur of mass impression, then band by band, and eventually, individual by individual. We come to recognize each stallion and note as the seasons pass the new battle scars, the special attention each gives to a favorite mare. We understand which mare is tender, which is a disciplinarian with her baby. And of course, we grow attached to the youngsters, first as curious foals, finally as adults venturing into perilous independence. In the final chapters, Walker takes us on the roundup done by the BLM to control herd population, and we hold our breath. Which ones return home to their family bands, and which are separated forever? Ultimately, we are as invested in these horses as if they are our own.
So, travel with Carol Walker through Wild Hoofbeats, savor every painterly image and every poignant story, but beware: you cannot venture through this book and emerge unchanged.
Carol Walker’s passion for photography started at an early age, with animals as her favorite subjects. She studied literature and photography at Smith College, and continued after graduation to study portraiture and nature photography. For the past 28 years, she has photographed wildlife the world over; since becoming aware of the precarious situation of the wild horses, she has dedicated herself to educating people about them through her photographs and her stories.
In her business, Living Images by Carol Walker, Walker specializes in horse photography, illuminating the relationship between horses and their people, as well showcasing horses’ ineffable beauty in stunning images of them at liberty. Her commercial work includes on-site horse portraiture, catalog covers, and calendars; her fine art prints are available at www.LivingImagesCJW.com as well as in several galleries on the Front Range of Colorado.
Order Wild Hoofbeats now! The perfect Christmas gifts for the horse lovers in your life—including yourself.
AHP Newsgroup:
April 13 , 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carol Walker, Author of Wild Hoofbeats to Present at Upcoming EPNet Workshop
Carol Walker, author of the book Wild Hoofbeats, will lead a seminar during the upcoming Equine Photographers Network Workshop in Craig, Colorado that begins by telling the story of the wild horses in this country and the challenges that currently face them. She will also share tips and suggestions on photographing horses in the wild, as well as techniques that work for capturing the most captivating images. In the second part of the seminar, Carol will describe her journey in self-publishing with her book, and will give you ideas, suggestions and resources for you own self-publishing projects.
Carol will also be signing copies of her book at Downtown Books in Craig, Colorado on Thursday, May 7 from 4-6PM.
More information on the upcoming workshop and the book may be found at http://events.equinephotographers.net/col09/index.htm
Contact:
Carien Schippers
info@equinephotographers.org
607 865 5215