America's Favorite Trail Horse 2012 Calendars

This calendar features the top ten finalists from the first season of America's Favorite Trail Horse and a few photographer's picks. The calendars can be purchased online at www.aponi.us/products.htm

$25.00 each with free shipping. Order 4 or more for $21.25 each with free shipping.

Bikes, Blues and BBQ 2012 Photography Calendars are now on sale!

Click to Purchase >>

Calendars may be purchased individually for $25.00 each with free shipping. When ordering 4 or more calendars you may purchase them for $21.25 each with free shipping.

Click here to view each month's photo, including front and back covers, in a large slideshow: http://aponi.zenfolio.com/p292090288/slideshow

Bunkhouse Photography

Enjoyed tremendously an impromtu shoot at Salem Springs Stables... shot this on the fly with no studio lights and a group of fun ladies at a Divorce Shower! More Bunkhouse Photography is in the works, great fun!

Bikes, Blues and BBQ 2011

BBB was a blast to shoot, one of the highlights of each year!

View more photos at www.aponi.zenfolio.com

Forest Shadows

Shooting on the switchbacks of Devil's Den has been one of my particularly favorite places to shoot for the previous two seasons. It doesn't come without its challenges though... the sun filtering through the forest creates mottled shadows, and quite often these shadows fall across the faces or entirety of the subject. That's when my good friend Photoshop comes into the picture. In the untouched photo you can see the how the subject is nearly lost to the shadows. Some adjustments were made with curves, shadow/light 10%, a duplicate layer created and the top layer was enhanced with a Topaz filter (shadow/highlights) and then an 80% opacity was applied to the top layer allowing a touch more of reality to peek through, and voila! A wonderful, classy, ever so slightly Norman Rockwell appearing photo appears before you. Oh wait, I also did a mild blur to the trees and a touch of a vignette for drama. Go ahead, smile. I did :)

Update: upon request the second bike behind the subject has been removed. Just another sample of editing possibilities.

See more photos from Bikes, Blues and BBQ at www.aponi.zenfolio.com

Shooting at War Eagle Mill on the Bridge during Bikes, Blues and BBQ

Bikes, Blues and BBQ galleries can be viewed at www.aponi.zenfolio.com

Some fun folks on Dickson Street during Bikes, Blues and BBQ

Shoot Schedule for Bikes, Blues and BBQ

American Competitive Trail Horse Association

Facebook posts designed by Aponi Studios utilizing photography by the studio taken during the finals of the American Favorite Trail Horse. This three day event is part of a 13 episode television series hosted by the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA), produced by Electric Picture Company set to air this fall on HRTV. America will vote for their favorite trail horse.

Photography by Aponi Studios shot during the event can be viewed from the gallery at: www.aponi.zenfolio.com

Visit ACTHA's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/actha

Or visit Aponi's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/aponistudios

Lee's Old Cars

I spent the good part of an afternoon shooting old cars in a private collection in the Prairie Grove area. I shared the shoot with another photographer friend. The objective was simple; listen to old cars 'put out to pasture' and see what stories they had to tell. It's really something to look them over, imagine what sort of folks might have had them, where they might have gone... dances and drive-ins, races or shows. Which car seated a pair of young lovers or sleeping children, was someone's prized possession, first car, memory? In many cases the imagination is stirred toward sanding, priming, painting, second chances, new beginnings. Lack luster hoods and fenders, blanketed in velvety covers of robust rust, old cars whose true beauty continue to shine through peeling paint, spiderweb cracked windshields, chipped chrome and old-car-barnacles.

Rico/ NWAHJA Horse Show

Stop the slideshow in the header before pressing play here.



These galleries are complete! Click here to view all galleries >>

America's Favorite Trail Horse, Blanco, TX

Just back from a FABULOUS week in Blanco, Texas where I was one of the official photographers for ACTHA (American Competitive Trail Horse Association), who hosted the event. Photos are in production now set to be available this week. A collection of photos are available from Aponi's featured gallery now, and available for purchase: www.aponi.zenfolio.com

Six Foot Outdoor Banner

10' x 7' Expo Banner

Mountain View Antique Car Collection

Midnight Black Arabians

Sunset as the Blizzard Desists

Winter Weather

Photographer's generally don't mind snow. It's a great opportunity to shoot some of the same old stuff with a whole new look. Everything looks different with a few inches of snow or ice on them!

This shot was taken at the Battlefield Park in Prairie Grove, while laying in the snow. Day 1 of the recurring 'blizzard'. I spent 6 hours out in the snow traversing from Westville, OK to Prairie Grove, AR. that day. Nice to experience the snow through the lens :)

Sweet, Pouty Eyes

I've been busy with web design projects the past couple of weeks so my son and our road trips have been the objects of my photography. Photographers are picky about weather... winter is alright but give us lots of snow to shoot, and if not, well let's just get right into spring then!

Nature Photos Along The Pig Trail

Enjoyed a road trip this weekend through the Ozark Nat'l Forest on the Pig Trail. Beautiful scenes of the hills and valleys.

Click here to view a slideshow of nature photography including scenes from the Pig Trail, other Arkansas and Minnesota locations:

http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=K1VxqW7C&a_id=4728385

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Aponi Shoot: LaFuSo at George's Majestic Lounge on Dickson

Stop the slide show in the header of this page before clicking PLAY to hear LaFuSo performing 'Superstition' in this slide show. Great shoot!!!

Private Shoot in Eureka Springs

A very fun shoot with a couple from Eureka Springs. This couple stated they hadn't had photos taken of themselves since their wedding day 36 years ago. I was honored to have been able to do this for them. Great day!