Michelle Wrighton Fine Art and Photography

Today was a blast from the past, my first time at Orange Grove for many many years!  Only got time to share a few images from today:)

Orange Grove Official Gymkhana © South West Photography

Orange Grove Official Gymkhana © South West Photography

Orange Grove Official Gymkhana © South West Photography

Orange Grove Official Gymkhana © South West Photography

Orange Grove Official Gymkhana © South West Photography

All photographs from this and other equestrian and canine events can be viewed and prints purchased online at South West Photography.

After the Paint Horse Championship Show I popped over to have a looksie at the Cutting Clinic being held by Ian Francis.  I’ve never seen Cutting Horses in action before, but it certainly looks like fun as well as a whole lot of skill is involved in selecting the right cow (beast) from the group and then keeping it separated for the required time as it tries to return to its mates.  This is definitely something that I would love to have a go at someday!

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

Coolup Cutting Club © 2009 South West Photography

It was an honour to the be Official Photographer for the 2009 WA Paint Horse Championship Show held at the Murray Horse and Pony Club grounds in Coolup.  I must admit to feeling a bit sorry for the riders that compete in both the English and Western classes – the amount of gear that they need to drag along with them is incredible.  LOL and I wouldn’t like all the tack cleaning afterwards either!

There were some really stunning horses, and it was a really well organised event (especially conisdering the heat!)  The proofs from the show are available for viewing and purchase on South West Photography but here are a few of my favourites from the show.

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

Paint Horse Championship Show © South West Photography

All image proofs from the entire show are available for viewing and purchase on South West Photography.

The bright arena covering at the Peel Horse and Pony Club grounds and the dust that it created under the horses hooves was initially a bit of a challenge, but a little post processing cleared the dust away and I ended up with some shots that I am very pleased with.

The full set of proofs can be viewed at South West Photography but here are a few of my favourites from the day:

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photography

Showjumping © South West Photographyat South West Photography

Please visit South West Photography to view all proof images and to make print purchases for the Peel Horse and Pony CLub Showjumping day.

What a fantastic turn-out there was the the Summer Show Offs Horse Breed Show at Gosnells!  So many beautiful horses it was hard to know where to point my camera!

The full set of proofs can be viewed at South West Photography but here are a few of my favourites from the day:

Andalusian horse - © 2009 South West Photography

Andalusian © South West Photography

A bow for the paparazzi - © South West Photography

Black Andalusian © South West Photography

Bay portrait - © South West Photography

Clydesdale - © South West Photography

© South West Photography

© 2009 South West Photography

The full set of proofs for both the In Hand and Ridden competition at the Gosnells Summer Show Offs 2009 can be viewed and print purchase at South West Photography

A fleeting day trip through the south west.

Boyup Brook Farmland © 2009 South West Photography

Children's Playground - Donnybrook © 2009 South West Photography

Running from the mob © 2009 South West Photography

These images below show a tiny part of the devastation caused by the deliberatly lit bushfire that raged in the Bridgetown area in January 2009.  These images were taken out the window of the car while we were traveling at 110km per hour on South West Highway, so please excuse the less than perfect composition and clarity!

And no, I wasn’t driving *and* taking photos at the same time!

Bushfire devastation - Bridgetown © 2009 South West Photography

Bushfire devastation - Bridgetown © 2009 South West Photography

Bushfire devastation - Bridgetown © 2009 South West Photography

Bushfire devastation - Bridgetown © 2009 South West Photography