Mashuga's photostream  

This horse and friend are warming up prior to entering the auction ring. This photo was taken during the two day "Draft Horse Auction" held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

These two young Amish boys rode atop this draft horse team into the auction ring.
Taken at an Amish/Mennonite draft horse auction held at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

These two photos were taken at an Amish-Mennonite horse auction held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania recently. A fifty-yard long runway was roped off and covered with mulch so horses could be run along this lane prior to entering the auction ring. One horse after another came running up and back down this lane led by the owner who would run along leading the horse or horse team. Buyers lined the rope outside of the run to get a close up look at the horses in action and to see how well they moved and their overall confirmation. I was positioned at the far end photographing some of the action, when I noticed this group of Amish men standing along the rope. I was drawn to the overall look of the group because to me it had an abstract sculptural composition I liked. I took the first shot and then just after I took the first shot some of the group moved. One man looked up directly at me, and another stretched and yawned and the boy played on the rope. I didn’t even think about it, and automatically took the second shot and then went back to photographing the running horses. When I looked at the two pictures side by side later at home on my computer screen and I saw just what was there, I just loved it. The expressions and poses are priceless, and so natural, that they make me smile every time I look at them. I thought they needed to be seen together as a before and after shot. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.