When my El Paso western fine art photography piece, The Renegade, won Best in Show at the International Eye of the Camera competition, I was gobsmacked. I walked into the Crossland Gallery ready to cheer on other photographers. The entries were stunning. I was already happy that more western and equine artwork would be available to El Paso locals and visitors.
Getting the notifications that I won Best in Show (because, naturally, I was photographing a horse show) did not feel real.
How “The Renegade” Came To Life
Back in August, I did not set out to create an award-winning image. My main focus was to create powerful photographs for my equine therapy program, Second Mission. I wanted artwork that showed the bond between horse and rider and the quiet strength that carries both veterans and horsemen through hard seasons.
We were at the field behind the arena during blue hour, that soft glow just after the sun dips below the horizon. My trainer rode into the dust with the American flag in hand. Frodo dropped his hindquarters and arced into a beautiful spin. The flag streamed out behind them. For a few seconds, everything lined up: the light, the dust, the sky, the shape of the horse, the cowboy’s focus.
I pressed the shutter and knew we had something special.
At the time, I only thought of how it would speak to the veterans who visit the ranch. I imagined it hanging on our barn walls, a reminder of grit and grace every time someone walked past.
From Barn Walls To Gallery Lights
A few months later, the president of my photography club mentioned entering my work into the competition. I shrugged it off at first. I knew there was strong talent in El Paso. I was content to quietly keep creating El Paso western fine art photography for my clients and for Second Mission.
His encouragement stuck, though. I sat down and went through my 2025 artwork, image by image. I asked myself, “What would stand out on a gallery wall?” When I opened my August gallery and saw my trainer and his horse doing spins with the American flag, dust flying, sky glowing, I stopped scrolling. That was it.
I could see it as a metal print, large and bold, with the light catching the surface and making the dust glow. I ordered it at the largest size the competition would allow and crossed my fingers.
What This Best in Show Win Means For El Paso Western Fine Art Photography
Winning with a western image like this means a lot to me as a woman in a space that often feels very male. Rodeos, ranch work, combat photography, and even the western art world, these spaces are full of strong men. I have worked beside many of them and respect them deeply.
Still, it matters to stand in a gallery and see a piece like this on the wall, knowing a woman created it, that I created it. It shows young photographers and young riders that their stories belong here, too. It tells the art world that El Paso western fine art photography is not a niche to ignore. It is a living, breathing part of our culture, and it deserves space on gallery walls.
Why This Image Matters To Me
This photograph carries pieces of every chapter of my life. As a horsewoman, I see the trust between horse and rider and the hours of training behind that one perfect spin. I feel the grit in the dirt and the soreness in the muscles the next day.
As a veteran, I see the flag and feel the weight of service and sacrifice. I remember teammates, deployments, and the moments that changed everything. The dust, the motion, the light, all of it reminds me of both chaos and calm.
To me, The Renegade speaks about grit and grace. About pride without arrogance. About the quiet determination to show up again and again and do the work, whether anyone is watching or not.
Bringing “The Renegade” Home
I believe artwork should live where you can see it every day, not just in a gallery once a year. The Renegade is now available as wall art through my online gallery.
Fifty percent of the profit from this print goes directly to Second Mission. Your artwork helps care for the horses that serve in our equine therapy sessions and supports the program for veterans here in El Paso, Texas.
If this image speaks to you, I invite you to bring it into your home or office. Let it remind you of courage, of wide open arenas, and of the quiet strength that lives in all of us.
Superb, Kristina. Congratulations.