This was the 10th anniversary of Cowgirl Yogatography, the brain child of Margaret Burns Vap and myself. Annually, we have gathered a handful of voginis that are students of photography for this amazing retreat that combines yoga with photography studies and time on this beautiful ranch. My daughter Jennie Lynn co teaches this retreat with me and I could not do it without her!
Here are just a few images that I pulled off my camera card this morning. Enjoy the view!
Larry Stanley
I have come to LOVE my outdoor studio here in Montana. I spent the early years of my photography career in big, dark, well equipped studios with a team of pro’s that make food magic. Any light that I used had to be set up and carefully modified and controlled. Often one set would involve 4 to 6 lights. Yes, shooting food was meticulous and challenging. I liked it but I didn’t love it!
(FAST FORWARD to the present) For the last 15 years of wedding photography it’s been a very different experience. Shooting on the run 95% of the time and learning to quickly and efficiently use some flash on or off camera to handle any and all lighting conditions.
Lately I have had a number of shoots at sunset and I find that I love it! The light is continually changing until it is gone… and it all happens in about 15 to 20 minutes. So you have to get it right or go home without… or possibly to a crap load of post production and photoshop work. Luckily my years of lighting experience pays off every time I walk out the door to shoot!
MY OUTDOOR STUDIO…. One main light source (THE SUN) that is on a big dimmer switch and it is slowing going, going, gone. Other light sources are battery powered flash with some subtle color gels to help match the color of the sun at dusk. These have to be continually adjusted, down, down, down in order to gently finesse the light.
LAST NIGHT…  Last night was different. The sun was setting gently in and out of smoke from local forest fires and some low hanging clouds. The smoke offered a big soft box effect that was surreal and soft. There was no need to add any flash. We were in a cloud of sublime light!
YOGATOGRAPHY… I was working with my friend Margaret Burns Vap, head yogini at Big Sky Yoga Retreats. We were working on some creative ideas for the Yogatography (see the video) retreat at the end of the month. If this interests you we have two seats left in this creatively fun and challenging yoga and photography retreat for women.
For this photo shoot, our beautiful models were Morgane Vap, Emma Olsen, Margaret and our equine beauties Love and Skywalker. What a work out! And in the end I was very pleased with what came off the card this morning.
Tomorrow it’s weddings as usual, but last night was an exciting time in MY OUTDOOR STUDIO – Montana!
Well, I hope words serve me well at this late hour, but this is the hour that I have. I will say again that it was an honor to spend time with you courageous and beautiful souls. Personally, I have no idea of what it must be like to walk the path that you have trod. However, I can see it in your eyes, I can feel it in your hearts and hopefully I captured some of this in the images that I made. Heather and I totally enjoyed spending the afternoon and evening with you all. The dinner was fabulous, Kate and crew. Jessica the music was moving! Nicole you were amazing in serving every momentary need and in bringing Rem to the party. Lisa, your loving presence and happy heart is a pure gift. Margaret your unicorn cake was something from your heaven world! smiles… and David, the most gracious host! Molly and Henry your kindness shined brightly in assisting Karen in getting upon that horse so she could have that meaningful experience! My only regret is that I didn’t grab that tent by the river for the evening and shared the campfire hours into the wee morning light.   And now a few images. My camera does not lie… you are all SO beautiful!
Can I get an Amen?
A year ago I met and photographed with some very special women. It was the Cowgirl versus Cancer Retreat put on by Big Sky Yoga Retreats every summer. It was there that I met Mary Ann Wasil and captured some of her inspiring moments in Montana. I’m proud to be a part of this project and the big hearted work that Margaret does.
Life is too short! Mary Ann Wasil passed on after a valiant fight against breast cancer. Mary was the Founder and CEO of Get in Touch Foundation. Now her daughter Betsy Nilan has taken over her mother’s position.
Mary Ann so loved her experience here in Montana that she took it back to her family in Connecticut. This week her three children Mary, Betsy and Eddy visited Montana to walk in the foot steps of their Mother. I met up with them at Montana Horse Sense ranch in Bozeman. Janice and Ron hosted them for a very special evening with the horse that their Mother loved. With loving reflection upon their Mother the three spread Mary Ann’s ashes under a dramatic sky and toasted her with Pink Champagne!
The valley was graced with a beautiful double rainbow. Tibetans view this as a sign of a soul liberating this mortal realm and the finish of the cycle of karmic rebirth.
Here’s to Mary Ann! May your eternal soul be liberated and free.
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Every year at this time I team up with Big Sky Yoga Retreats to do something really special for breast cancer survivors. It was such a pleasure to photograph with these 8 amazing and lovely women! Many thanks to the Double T River Ranch, Kate Huston, Tara, Henry and Mollie and their wonderful horses. Gratitude, most especially to my dear friends Margaret and David Vap who have created and conceived of this gift retreat. And, to Jessica Lechner who shared her voice and the music of her soul with all of us.
It was quite the party! Lot’s love, joy, tears, and ….. dancing!
As I photographed with these souls, I witnessed the strength and authenticity that these cancer survivors own. They own it. They have been down a dark road of facing their own mortality and emerged with a new lease, knowing that the life that we have does not last forever, it is temporal. It was such a heart opening experience. My prayers are for their continued good health and most importantly JOY, JOY, JOY in every day we have!
Oh… yes… a special note of thanks to these remarkable horse spirits that show such loving kindness. I witnessed the love and compassion that horses have within them for these women. See for yourself in the images that follow.
The Double T River Ranch was alive with creative thought at the recent Cowgirl Yogatography Retreat. Our first Yoga and Photography retreat was a complete success. Cheers to Big Sky Yoga Retreats Margaret Burns Vap to whom I am indebted for this brilliant experience.
Each moment unique unto itself. Here are a few of my images of this retreat experience and the fine women who attended.
