Characters

You know those places you return to again and again, where each time is just like the first and still better than the last? Saratoga is one of those places for me, and particularly the racetrack, where money and booze, thoroughbreds and jockeys, silk and leather, cigars and fancy hats rub shoulders and exchange nods like members of a secret society. The horses are sexy and strong. The women are perfumed and their rainbow colored hair meticulously coifed. Men look snappy and elegant if they're owners or regulars, and tired and intensely focused if they're handlers. Teller lines are long but fast moving and all faces are furtively fixed on video boards and CC TVs. Trackside, the atmosphere is electric and bright as thoroughbreds thunder by, sweating, gasping, veins and muscles bulging and covered in mud. Yeah. I like it. I hope I get to go back.

These are from a collection of photos on Flickr and were taken at a horse show in central New York.  It was a grey kind of day, and Creekside Photo was contracted to capture jumps & portraits for riders and owners.  They invited me to tag along and I was captivated by the atmosphere and characters and of COURSE the beautiful horses at the show. You can see larger images of shots in the slide show by clicking on them as they appear.  Check out the whole collection on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/melodyburri/sets/ Check out more of Creekside Photo's offerings on their website.  http://www.creeksidefoto.com/gallery/Portfolio