Something different

[Elfin Yeti]

a collage...

[Mira]

1. When I see this

I have one overwhelming desire: To know how the excitement of the experience and the satisfaction of accomplishing such a photographic feat feel to you.

As Lee Marvin said in Cat Ballou: "You ought to see it from my side".

This may not make enough sense as a comment.

Your involvement in something so exciting, to the depth and with the perfection you are showing it, is clearly a huge peak experience that few have
the grace to experience.
I hope you are grateful.

[Elfin Yeti]

2. Thank you Mira for your thoughtful reply.

Grateful, yes! I feel so blessed to have my dream job which, although seasonal, allows me to attend events here all year long. I am so privileged to have been able to be a Zenyatta groupie during her stay at Del Mar! To be in the company of such an extraordinary horse was very exciting and to be around Mike Smith, her jockey, Jerry Moss, her owner, who is the "M" in A&M Records (she was named after The Police album, Zenyatta Mondatta), and her trainer, John Shirreffs (who tapped this awestruck photographer on the shoulder during Zenyatta's morning gallop to make sure I didn't miss the photo op!). Taking photos from the "Guinea stand" (an elevated track-side "bleacher" of sorts) with media, Shirreffs, Bob Baffert, and others just blows me away!! The folks on the backstretch are so friendly and the atmosphere is hard to describe... I mean there is the mystique of the Del Mar Racetrack where the spirits of co-founders Bing Crosby, Desi Arnez, and Jimmy Durante hang heavy in a metaphysical way (I work on Jimmy Durante Blvd.!) Suffice to say it's the only thing that could convince this night owl to get up at 4:30 to arrive in time for early morning workouts! The marine layer and emerging morning light, the sound of muffled galloping hooves, exercise riders speaking Spanish in soothing tones to their charges -- it's magic to this horse lover, absolute magic!

Race day was enormously frustrating for me as I wanted to be in two places at once! In order to get the Paddock shots (pre-race) I had to give up the opportunity to photograph her twice (coming and going) on the track where nobody else would be. I knew it was a trade-off and it was a bit painful as I had to watch most of the race on the electronic board but it was worth it in the end. I wish you could have seen/heard the crowd! There was nary a dry eye in the house as that horse crossed the finish line in her signature style (coming from way back in the pack, picking them off one by one, and never giving more than she has to to win -- by a head this time). It's a phenomenon similar to Seabiscuit's; economic hard times, a super horse, and we have a girl kickin' ass again and again! I worry about her challenge of two more races but her entourage listens to her and Zenyatta doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do! The hope is she'll end her career 20-0 which will put her into the industry stratosphere! Then it's motherhood!

Thank you again, you are a special friend!

[Mira]

3. Frankly - my arm hair is standing straight up.

Because you understood exactly what I wanted to know and be part of, and you bothered to take the time and energy to give it to me.
Thank you very much for that.

Please keep us informed about what happens in the future.
You are a jewel to bring something so special to us so beautifully and so exciting.