Photographer Spectacularly Captures the Wild Spirit of Horses

We spoke with Aga Karmol, a UK-based wonderful artwork equine photographer, to discover how she combines classical wonderful artwork methods together with her love of horses to create her placing signature pictures.

Equestrian and award-winning photographer Aga Karmol has constructed a profession that spans wonderful artwork, journey, and equine images, incomes recognition for her distinctive method to capturing horses. Her work blends technical precision, persistence, and inventive imaginative and prescient, leading to pictures that convey each the bodily magnificence and the spirited persona of her topics.

Over the years, Karmol has obtained a number of accolades for her images, together with awards from international competitions and recognition in distinguished equestrian publications. She has exhibited her work in galleries and on-line, showcasing her mastery of composition, lighting, and coloration, all knowledgeable by her background in classical portray, a mode which she has effortlessly translated into her images. Her profession displays a dedication to storytelling, capturing the magnificence and energy of horses whereas elevating equine images to the extent of wonderful artwork.

From Trail Rides to Professional Photography

People typically ask how Karmol obtained into images, and the reply is a mixture of likelihood and keenness.

“For years, I spent as much time as possible on long trail rides across the world. Mongolia, Patagonia, Morocco—you name it—I was there, in the saddle, usually covered in dust, and usually armed with a camera. I didn’t set out to be a professional photographer; it really happened by accident as I kept documenting my travels and experiences with horses. Those images gradually became the stories I wanted to tell,” she explains.

Those adventures led to writing journey items accompanied by her images. When National Geographic Traveller revealed her article on Mongolia, it opened the door to a correspondent position with Koń Polski, Poland’s main equestrian journal on the time. Initially, her work targeted on storytelling with phrases and pictures, however over time, the pictures themselves grew to become central to her work.

The pandemic provided an sudden alternative to focus fully on equine images. Travel was halted, however Karmol nonetheless had her horse and time to dedicate to her craft. What started as a private outlet throughout lockdown shortly grew to become her principal skilled focus, permitting her to refine her type and construct a physique of labor that mixes technical ability with inventive expression.

My Style: Old Masters Meet Feisty Stallions

With a grasp’s diploma in classical portray from the Academy of Fine Art in Gdańsk, Karmol attracts closely on the methods of the Old Masters. Her background in portray informs each side of her photographic method, from composition to paint and tone.

“I love dramatic light, strong compositions, and painterly tones. My background in classical painting really informs how I see the world through the camera. I’m constantly thinking about how light falls, how shadows interact, and how color and texture convey emotion in a single frame,” she says.

Her objective is to seize not solely the fantastic thing about the horse, but additionally its spirit. Horses are her final symbols of grace and energy, and she or he strives to replicate that in each picture. By rigorously balancing mild, tone, and composition, her images obtain a timeless, painterly really feel whereas remaining true to images.

“Think of it as Rembrandt, but with a Canon instead of a paintbrush. The horses themselves are my models, and I try to capture not just their appearance, but the energy and spirit they carry into the scene,” she notes.

Through her type, Karmol bridges classical artwork and fashionable images, producing work that’s as emotive as it’s visually placing. Her pictures are rigorously orchestrated but really feel pure, providing viewers a way of the horse’s persona and motion.

Working with Horses

Capturing equine topics is rarely easy, and it requires persistence, statement, and a deep understanding of horse habits.

“People sometimes imagine I can just ask a horse to turn a little more to the left and hold that pose. Yeah, no. Horses are prey animals—they don’t follow scripts, and that unpredictability is both the challenge and the beauty of working with them. My role is to guide and observe, to anticipate moments that will translate into compelling images while keeping the horse calm and safe,” Karmol explains.

Her workflow blends cautious planning with flexibility. She selects places, units up lighting, and prepares the setting, however as soon as the horse is current, she lets it transfer naturally. Often, these unplanned moments end in extra expressive and genuine pictures than initially envisioned. Safety is at all times a high precedence, notably when working with stallions. Thin security halters, electrical fences, and gradual introduction to studio gear are all a part of her cellular studio method.

Shooting requires capturing a whole bunch of frames to make sure that fleeting gestures, delicate tilts of the pinnacle, or the right curve of a neck are recorded. Horses are always shifting, and the very best moments typically final simply fractions of a second. For Karmol, staying alert and open to those spontaneous moments is as essential as any technical ability.

Editing: Where the Magic Happens

Post-processing is an important a part of Karmol’s workflow, notably for her wonderful artwork pictures.

“In equine portraiture, editing is essential. We often have to use smaller paddocks or thin safety halters for practical reasons, and those things need to be adjusted or removed in post. Beyond that, my fine art training guides every choice I make in color grading, composition, and atmosphere. Editing isn’t about changing the horse—it’s about refining the environment and enhancing the mood, bringing the vision I had in my mind to life while respecting the animal and the setting,” she explains.

Her a long time {of professional} expertise in Photoshop permit her to make intuitive changes that refine backgrounds, improve lighting, and produce painterly results. For documentary work, Karmol retains modifying minimal, counting on primary Lightroom changes to take care of authenticity. This ensures that each last picture is each technically glorious and emotionally resonant.

Favorite Subjects

Karmol has a deep appreciation for all horses, but when she may select one sort to {photograph} eternally, it could be Iberian horses from Spain and Portugal.

“They are the definition of equine beauty: powerful necks, elegant curves, expressive movement, and endlessly fascinating character. Iberian horses, in particular, have this innate elegance and willingness to connect with humans that makes them incredibly rewarding to photograph. I feel fortunate every time I get to work with them,” she says.

Their mixture of grace, energy, and responsiveness makes them perfect topics for wonderful artwork images, permitting Karmol to seize each dynamic movement and intimate persona.

Gear That Makes It Possible

While Aga Karmol emphasizes that the photographer is extra essential than the digital camera, having dependable and succesful gear is essential for capturing fleeting moments and the wonderful particulars that convey her equine topics to life. In equine images, the place motion is unpredictable and situations can change quickly, the correct gear permits her to remain assured and targeted on composition and timing moderately than technical limitations.

“One of my best images was taken years ago on a humble Canon Rebel with a kit lens. It proves that creativity and timing matter more than gear, but reliable equipment becomes essential when capturing horses in motion,” she recollects.

Currently, her major setup consists of a Canon R5 Mark II paired with a 70–200mm f/2.8 lens, which covers roughly 80 p.c of her work. This mixture offers the pliability to {photograph} horses each at a distance and up shut, with the quick shutter speeds, reliable autofocus, and high-resolution sensor required to freeze dynamic actions.

She additionally dietary supplements her principal package with wider lenses for environmental portraits and occasional prime lenses when she needs most picture sharpness or a shallower depth of discipline. Lighting modifiers, moveable strobes, and reflectors are used judiciously to reinforce pure mild with out startling the horses.

“For me, gear is a tool to support my vision. It needs to be dependable, but it’s not what creates the photograph—the creativity, patience, and understanding of the animal are what make the image work,” she explains.

By combining technical reliability with inventive perception, Karmol ensures that every second she captures displays each the horse’s vitality and her personal photographic intent.

Challenges and Rewards

Equine images presents distinctive challenges, from climate and lighting to managing animals and their handlers. Despite this, Karmol finds the work deeply rewarding.

“When a photo shows not just the horse’s beauty, but their personality, that’s when I know I’ve done my job. It’s not just about capturing a pretty picture. I want viewers to feel the horse’s energy, to sense the movement and emotion, and to be transported into that moment,” she says.

The skill to seize motion, emotion, and character in a single body is what motivates her. Each session challenges her to adapt, anticipate, and reply in actual time, which makes the ensuing pictures all of the extra rewarding.

What’s Next

Looking forward, Karmol is engaged on two main tasks. One is a fine art book that collects her equine portraits, showcasing the horses she admires most. The different is a documentary undertaking highlighting the often-overlooked professionals who make the equestrian world operate: grooms, farriers, veterinarians, and saddle makers.

“They’re often overlooked, but without them, the equestrian world wouldn’t function. That book is going to be a tribute to them,” Karmol says.

In the meantime, she continues her day-to-day work of spending time with horses, capturing fleeting moments, and refining her pictures in post-production.

“Because at the end of the day, that’s what it is: art built on patience, trust, and a deep love for the horse. Every shoot, every edit, every frame is part of a process that combines discipline, observation, and creativity. I’m constantly learning, constantly seeking to capture the fleeting moments that reveal the soul of the animal in front of me,” she displays.

For Aga Karmol, images is greater than capturing lovely pictures, it’s a solution to honor the spirit, energy, and style of the horses she works with. Each session calls for persistence, empathy, and one eye on fleeting moments, however the rewards are profound: images that inform tales, evoke emotion, and join viewers to the facility and magnificence of those magnificent animals. By mixing conventional artistry with up to date strategies, Karmol transforms fleeting equine moments into timeless artworks, inspiring fellow photographers and admirers alike to see the world, and its equine inhabitants, with higher consideration, surprise, and respect.

Image credit: Photographs by Aga Karmol