Monday June 6, 2005

Terri Miller Wins "Shoot to Win" 2005 World Cup Finals Photo Contest

Some of the top equestrian photographers in the world were in attendance at the 2005 FEI World Cup Dressage Finals - Presented By Offield Farms. Of those who entered the Offield Farms "Shoot To Win" Photo Contest for a chance to win the $1,500 cash prize, Terri Miller’s image of a victorious Anky van Grunsven was determined by the panel of judges at Sidelines Magazine to have met the judging criteria better than all other images submitted. While there were many fine images from which to choose, Terri's shot of this moment with Anky was deemed to have best captured the essence of the event, portrays the outcome of the competition, and includes the Offield Farms logo within the frame.

About her winning shot of Anky and Salinero, Terri states: “After Karin Reid Offield presented the awards, Anky took her victory lap on Salinero, then jumped off him and into a new Ford truck for a pass around the ring with her trophy. When the truck left the ring, I kept watching the in gate, because I had a feeling that there was more to come. Sure enough, she returned on Salinero, passaged up centerline and piaffed right between the pillars of flowers in the center of the ring. I was thrilled to be in the right place for this photo!”

Nationally recognized as both a painter and photographer, Terri Miller is unique in the horse world. Her photographs have appeared in a host of magazines, and are also published in many books, catalogues and calendars. A graduate of New York's acclaimed School of Visual Arts, she sees through the lens with the eyes of a painter; a student of equine movement, she has a keen eye for finding the very best moments of energy, harmony, balance and brilliance.

Terri's paintings have graced the covers of magazines and catalogues. Her "Oneness" series of watercolors, published as commemorative posters for the Barcelona Olympics, was sold out. Her watercolor of "Gifted" became the poster for the inaugural North American Dressage Championships. Recently her work has been juried into museum exhibitions with the California Art Club and the American Academy of Equine Artists. At the end of May, she will be launching a new line of art prints and greeting cards, including some of her most sought after photographic and painted images.

Terri makes her home near San Diego, where she can often be found painting en pleine aire to capture the beautiful local landscapes. She travels extensively for photo sessions, commissioned paintings, and shows, often with her husband Axel Steiner, who was one of the judges in Las Vegas. “The World Cup was a grand experience,” she says. “Dressage had the most elite field of competitors ever. It’s a joy to photograph horses that are performing at that level. When the horses are that good, everything you see in the camera starts to look like art. Instead of just hoping for a “good” moment, you watch through the lens for the “10!" Offield Farms is proud to have sponsored this prestigious FEI sanctioned event, and to have come in contact with so many fine equestrian photographers during our time in Las Vegas.

Text courtesy: Sidelines

Visit Terri Miller's website at www.terrimiller.com