Arabian Horse Photographers In Focus by Christy Egan November 2009 DARRYL 1
If anything in this life is as certain as death and taxes, it is change. Human nature faces all of these concepts with fear, and instinctively avoids them. Change and transition have been constants within Arabian horse photographer s life and career, but with innovation and vitality she has embraced them as partners rather than enemies. This unique courage regarding each of life s turns in the road is an admirable quality that has brought her the opportunity to work closely with the horses she loves. In the beginning, like many horse lovers, her passion was kindled by her family and a special book. When I was a child, I fell in love with the horses in The Black Stallion, says Darryl. My grandmother also loved horses and encouraged me. Later in my life I met the author Walter Farley at the horse shows. We wrote to each other, and he encouraged me to follow my dream. When the opportunity arose in the early 1960s, I became involved with horses hunter-jumpers and Saddlebreds at first. Late in that same decade, I bought my first Half-Arabian horse. His name was FF Luckett (Reymage x Ladina Clover Sugar Babe). He was bred by Four Fillies Farm. When he won his first class at a horse show, I became infatuated with everything about the Arabian horse the traveling, the competition, the showing, and the people. I loved all of it. At our first U.S. National Championship Show, FF Luckett and I came in 14th. The following year we took the national championship in Half-Arabian western pleasure. Darryl had found her life s passion: the Arabian horse. Darryl and her sister, Sherryl, were able to lease part of the Four Fillies Farm facility and together they opened a public training stable in Miami. Though my father was very busy with his medical practice, he was supportive of our venture into horse training, says Darryl. He painted and helped and was there for our grand opening, but he died the following year. My sister was an amazing horseman. She could get on a horse for the first time, bond with it after a short warm-up, go into the show ring and come out with a blue ribbon. In 1973 Darryl left Miami for the horse-oriented world of Ocala, Fla. It was to be one of many major changes in her life. Shortly after her move she discovered and purchased the legendary Saddlebred broodmare Denmark s China Doll, and became a respected breeder of Half-Arabian show horses overnight. From Denmark s China Doll, she bred four national champions SF Khesha (by Reymage), SF Desideroda (Bay Rod), SF Monty Python (Mon Ta Basko), and Spring Affair (Fyre Basque). Most won not just one national championship, but several, in a variety of disciplines, both halter and performance. Soon there were others, providing Darryl with impetus and a new partnership in her Saddlebred mare with one of America s top Arabian horse breeders, Roxann Hart. In late 1983 I began working for Rohara Arabians, riding, working with foals, foaling and handling the breeding horses, says Darryl. In 1987 I started shooting marketing videos of their horses for Rohara, and it simply changed my life. After departing the farm in 1988, Darryl often returned to create videos for Rohara Arabians and their clients. Soon other farms were requesting farm visits, and Darryl added still photography to the mix. 2 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 3
I realized that there was something inside me struggling to come out, something that I really wanted to do, explains Darryl. I knew that I had to take responsibility for the opportunity. I put my real estate career on hold and concentrated on what I loved doing. I learned even more about the process by working with photographers and film crews in south Florida during the early 1990s. In 1996 Darryl moved to Mount Dora, in central Florida, and began creating videos and still photography for Silver Maple Farm, Mike Wilson, Talaria Farm and others. It all required a great deal more traveling. In the latter part of her life, I was fortunate to have my mother live with me, says Darryl. She was a great help in so many ways. She loved being a part of the excitement of a growing business, and was there to help keep things organized during a time when I was seeing too many airline gates. Following her mother s passing, Darryl s video and photography business achieved even greater national notoriety. Darryl began to travel extensively in her motor home. In 2004 Silver Maple Farm moved to California and Darryl found herself visiting that state each year, initially for Henry and Christie Metz and then for other farms and clients. California held great appeal for her, so in 2006 she sold her house in Florida and moved to California. Though I miss everyone from my east coast days, the move west has been very good for me, says Darryl. In November of 2007, I was in Scottsdale for Thanksgiving with David Cains and Scott Bailey. One thing led to another, and I leased a house from them and moved to Arizona. Scottsdale is an amazing hub of Arabian horse activity. People come and go through that area all year around. If you had told me that I would be working outside taking pictures every day of the hot Scottsdale summer, I would have said you were crazy, but that s exactly what has happened. Like most good Arabian horse professional photographers, Darryl begins her shoots very early in the morning. This regimen holds doubly true during the Arizona desert summer. She begins shooting at 5:30 a.m. and quits at around 8 a.m., then goes home to edit, make calls and take care of bookwork. Though she is kept constantly busy in her backyard, she is also in demand elsewhere. Her life in Florida was instrumental in developing an east coast following, her time in California brought her loyal west coast customers, and her business has grown to include an international clientele as well. I m always just amazed that I ve been able to live my dream, she muses. I ve been to Egypt three times now, and I went to Poland to follow Piaff PASB as he competed for the title of Polish National Champion Stallion. Janow Podlaski Stud was an extraordinary place to visit. The history, the respect that they have for horses, and the unique horse culture there, as well as Poland s struggles over the years, was all brought home to me as I saw it myself for the first time. What a journey and an amazing adventure the last few years have been! I ve traveled all over Europe, to Dubai, Jordan and Sharjah in the Middle East. 4 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 5
While at Al Khaled farm in Egypt, we were working to set up a shot with Shabura HP and her foal. The foal was not impressed. She showed her hind end to the camera more often than her lovely face. All of a sudden the farm s dog picked up one of our props and went bounding about it did the trick we got this shot. We were all able to break a little early for lunch even the dog. Working on a stallion video for El Thay Khemal Pasha at Al Khaled Farm outside of Cairo was a thrill. For one shot goats were herded over to a dirt road lined with palm trees to add to the mix. Some of the shots included Khemal Pasha herding the goats (of course, the bit of dust generated by the goats enhanced the shots all the more). I couldn t resist taking a few still photos. However, the real shot of the day was the video clip of all our helpers getting in the act by stomping their feet and helping the goats create the right amount of dust. For the Kentucky Horse Park Arabian Horse Museum project I traveled across the country gathering footage. One of my stops was Kehilan Arabians. Knowing that it might be a bit difficult to shoot around Becky Rogers with her red hair and bright blue eyes, we decided to dress her for the part. The video footage was beyond sensational, and I decided to try for a few still shots. After Marquis I (or Marky to his friends) realized it was his friend Becky beneath all that fabric, he seemed to show off even more and the duo made a very special shot. 6 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 7
Years ago, I went to visit my friends at Hunting Horn Stables in Florida. Jessie Roth came out to greet me accompanied by his Florida Panther on a leash. I happened to have my camera and felt a moment coming. I look at the fellow with me and demanded that he drop to the ground and growl. You would have thought he heard that request all the time, because he didn t hesitate for a second. He dropped and growled, and the panther dropped to the ground too. The light was working with us, and I got this shot. Later this photo was used in a tribute to Marjory Stoneman Douglas for her neverending work of behalf of the Florida Everglades. I was always fascinated by those early television shows of Sea Hunt; so, I rejoiced at the chance to do some underwater photography. With my very f irst plunge into the sea, I prepped my camera and looked up. Whoa! I thought this was either going to be a great f irst shot or it was going to be my last! Luckily, I am still around to talk about this great adventure. 8 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 9
At an afternoon shoot at Majid Alsayegh s, the young horse-crazy neighbor, May, wondered over with her mother. It was quickly apparent that the young foals were used to sharing an afternoon greeting with May. The fact that they chose to greet each other in a stream of beautiful light made a perfect ending to my perfect day. My assistant Bailey comes from a wonderful Jack Russell family. Thankfully, we were able to get a family portrait with the help of Jack Crawford and friends. Of course, most of our time was spent assembling the hay and tracking down the pups. When everyone was in place, I was able to get off three shots before all the dogs scattered in four different directions. 10 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 11
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admits it herself: Life is very good for her right now. She has had an amazing summer, filled with activity and energy in the heart of America s Arabian horse mecca, Scottsdale. Scottsdale just never sleeps, Darryl notes, laughing. Fall and winter promise much more of the same. People like Darryl for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is her unassuming demeanor and grateful, gentle approach to people and to animals. I think of myself as self-taught, though I always feel that I m learning, says Darryl. My inspiration, beyond the horses, has been the photographers in our industry. We are fortunate to have had so many talented individuals through the years. I am inspired by the way they capture special moments, as well as the inner vitality and spirit of the horses they photograph. Some of these professionals are amazingly gracious people who have shared their knowledge, time and talents with me. 14 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times November 2009 DARRYL 15
Darryl s immediate family is all gone, and it is the Arabian horse community, both two and four-legged, that now provides her with family ties. The changes still come rapidly in her life. She waits for them with a smile. I ve finally learned to trust that if a challenge comes along, there is a power far greater that thinks I can handle it, Darryl says. There is something out there that wants all of this to be my life. I am content living and working with the opportunities as they arrive, like gifts. While others walk life s road, Darryl s pace is much faster. She is inspired to open the door and jump through. On the other side lie the horses and people she loves, the ones she has yet to meet, and the pure delight of the journey. n 16 DARRYL Arabian Horse Times