Seabreeze

Photographer

Zach Wharton

Category

Nature Photography - Wildlife

Company

Zach Wharton Photography

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2025

Country / Region

United States

This was a birthday gift to me from myself. I had visited Cumberland Island years ago and that trip was something magical. I did not take a camera with me on that trip as I wanted to fully immerse myself in the experience of these feral horses that I had heard of. Something I was able to do and even was able to approach three of the horses that had been avoiding others. They welcomed me and let me pet them. So, here I was years later, returning to attempt to capture that same magical moment through my lens. I began with a return to where I saw them on my prior visit, but they were not there. Next, I headed to the ruins where they sometimes congregate and while I saw a small gathering, they were very timid, and the energy was off. I was beginning to think that this trip would not yield the same magical feeling. However, as I approached the beach, I caught a glimpse of this beautiful white horse just peeking his head above the sand dunes and the ocean behind him, wind blowing in his hair and his eyes barely opened as he stood there in peace. Unbothered and undisturbed by the few people passing by, I found myself entranced and in the same energy field as I focused in to capture the essence of his soul in this moment. It was the best birthday moment I could have ever asked for and a core memory that I didn't want to end as I stood there for many minutes afterwards just observing and taking the moment in.

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