Cécile Domens takes incredible photos of horses living in the wild. The French photographer’s magical shots highlight the unique beauty and character of the Camargue breed, also known as “the Horse of the Sea,” roaming freely in the Camargue region of Southern France.
Describing the horse as a symbol of freedom and nature, the talented photographer asserts that observing animals existing in the wilderness is a profoundly beautiful, feel-good spectacle. What she likes most of all is to capture them in special light, eschewing post-processing in favor of natural composition.
Having started in her profession 25 years ago when digital technology didn’t exist, Ms. Domens still prefers to work the same way.
“The photo was successful or it went in the trash. There was no possibility of post-processing,” she said. “What is important to me is the light and its particularities. For example, a rainbow, a day with mist, or a day with a very dark stormy sky. It depends on the weather, and that’s what makes the image successful.
“There is also, of course, the attitude and position of the horses that we cannot control. But when we know their behavior very well, we are quicker to anticipate actions.”
Ms. Domens loves the calm solitude of sunrise, often working at daybreak and during the golden hour just before sunset. A long-term resident, Ms. Domens has built trusting relationships with several contacts that allow her free access to their privately owned territories. One breeder she works with will bring horses along for her to engage in photo shoots.
“They’re like top models,” she said.
They’re not just pretty faces, however, the Camargue is an ancient breed, and the Camargue region is the only part of France where the “horses are still used for livestock work,” she said. Hardy and well-adapted, their hooves can withstand the extreme moisture and humidity of the salty, marsh-covered region close to the Mediterranean Sea.
The delta of the river Rhône, the Camargue is characterized by high heat, mosquitoes, and scarce forage, but like the mustangs of the American West, the breed has developed over thousands of years to tolerate its environment with staunch resilience.
“It is a very endearing little horse,” said Ms. Domens, who has always been passionate about horses and started riding as a child.
Ms. Domens was born in Senegal and lived there for five years before her family relocated to Southwest France. Fascinated by primitive and rustic horse breeds, she has traveled extensively to countries such as Mongolia and Patagonia to photograph native nomads and gauchos and spent time in the Basque Country and the Pyrenees to discover wild breeds there.
In 2006, she moved to the Camargue to found a photo travel agency, the first in France to offer photography courses and trips. Since breeding Camargue horses is generally not a lucrative way to make a living, most breeders have diversified by opening up to tourists, Ms. Domens says.
It wasn’t until 1978 that the French government established a studbook for the breed, in order to put standards in place to preserve its lineage.
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