August 2020 Breyer Photo Show Results

August 2020: Fun in the Sun

Judging by Amanda Brock

Summer is here and there are so many fun things one can do outside with your horse: camping, going to the beach, or maybe just cooling off at home; the possibilities are endless! It has been an honor to judge this month's Photo Show themed “Fun in the Sun”!

With so many entries in both age categories (over 200 in the 17 and Under class alone!!), picking the top 6 for each of them has been a fun challenge, as there are so many creative entries! For this theme, I was focused on picking photos that really imbue that feeling of summer. Entries were also judged on accuracy of scale, as well as the creativeness behind it. Thank you all for giving me so many wonderful photos to look at!

17 and Under

1^st place:

Caroline H., SC

I absolutely love this photo for a number of reasons; the composition just kept bringing me back to it. I love the rider’s hair blowing in the breeze while her other furry friend follows along. The tack fits nicely and doesn’t distract from the beautiful beach backdrop! The lighting is also wonderful, great job!

2^nd place:

Deysi S., CA

There’s just something so beautiful about a summer sunset at the beach. The composition and lighting of this photo is lovely, and I adore the added detail of the hoofprints in the sand. The unique angle of the horse is wonderful too, great job! I can almost smell that salty beach breeze.

3^rd place:

Shaina F., FL

Keeping cool in the Summer is a necessity for both horse and rider! This lovely photo depicting a horse getting a bath has so many goodies in it, I had to keep coming back to look at it! I love the overall composition and the attention to scale and detail, from the bubbles in her little bucket, to the bottles of soap by her feet! I also love that the rider’s pants are also wet - nice touch!

4^th place:

Ashley L., AZ

Growing up, I often found myself out splashing with friends at a local lake, so this picture really spoke to me! I love the overall position of the two models, and how they seem to really be interacting with one another. The splashes are also a wonderful touch, and the background being blurry also helps make this photo pop!

5^th place:

Madeline M., KS

Who doesn’t like crafts outdoors?! This photo is so cute. I love that the horse is holding the paintbrush to the canvas, with the little palette in the lower left. What a unique idea!!

6^th place:

Emilie F., WI

Pony camp! A little girl’s summer DREAM! Friends, fun, and of course, ponies! I love this setup of two young riders painting a stable pony. I think the masks are accurate to the current times.

Honorable Mentions:

Madeleine B., MA

The simplicity of this picture is really what makes it beautiful. It gives a feeling of being so calm and serene, and I absolutely love the reflection on the water. Stunning!

Parker E., VA

This herd galloping through a summer shower was so neat! The horses all work really well together and I love the addition of the little foal running alongside. The rain effect that was achieved was so cool!

18 and Over

1^st place:

Maddie M., FL

Oh, how this photo made me feel when I saw it! For Breyer collectors and horse lovers alike, BreyerFest is what’s on all our minds when we think of summer! I really like all the little details added into this photo. The Mini Whinnies painted to look like the larger horse in the photo, with lots of horses in the collectors' shopping bags, are just too cute! Wonderful job!

2^nd place:

Kayla L., ME

This lovely beach scene really gives you that “Fun in the Sun” feeling! I love the composition of this photo, and the lighting is wonderful!

3^rd place:

Sheri C., NC

II really love the selective focus in this picture. It really makes you focus on the girl in the photo and helps really give a sense of a realistic scale. The halters in the front are also a nice touch! Such a lovely composition that gives that warm summer feel! Great work.

4^th place:

Lauren M., FL

This particular photo is such a unique concept, and I love it! When traveling during summer vacations, I’m sure most of us have seen those lovely painted animal sculptures, often sprinkled throughout different tourist destinations! I love the selective focus of this photo!

5^th place:

Morgan L., SC

How fun! Nothing like kicking up your heels and having fun at the beach! I love the energy of the model, and the kicked up sand is a wonderful touch. Great composition!

6^th place:

P.J. R., OR

This is SUCH a fun idea!! I too have experienced riding on the trail during the summer with friends and coming upon a little bit of water, only to find out your horse is a little overexcited about it! OOPS! Great work, I love the splashes too! The only critique I could give would be to adjust the angle slightly so you don't see the little rope around the horse's tail. Great job!

Honorable Mentions:

Katie A., OR

What a stunning scene! I love the scale of the horse with the landscape. The placement makes it look like the horse is really trotting along a trail. I also really like the unique angle at which this photo was taken.

WIllow C., WA

I love this scene! Great work! Nothing like a race with a friend. The only thing I would offer for improvement is to change the angle at which you take the picture - I think taking it from a view level with the models would help you really focus on them.

Thanks to all of our participants who made this our biggest Photo Show yet - keep smashing those records! Sit tight for our October Photo Show... want to guess our theme? We're sure it will "lift your spirits," if you know what we mean...