At the end of long summer days, Deb Zeller enjoys taking leisurely walks around the grounds of Parley Lake Winery, taking in the fresh air and setting sun. “I like to stroll the grounds, especially as the sun starts to get lower in the sky,” Zeller says.
Zeller and her husband, Steve, are part-owners of Waconia’s Parley Lake Winery, and Steve is the winemaker there. When this photo was taken in the summer of 2016, Zeller had had a particularly long day. “The horses seemed to have had a long day, too,” Zeller says.
Zeller was able to capture the image of two Pasture Buddies, Mr. Moon and Daisy, who have been residents at the winery for a number of years. “Mr. Moon belongs to a good friend of mine, and Daisy belongs to our winery partner’s granddaughter,” Zeller says. Mr. Moon, a palomino, is named for the moon shape on his forehead, and Daisy is a sleek pinto.
Zeller is an accomplished artist in several mediums, but she doesn’t consider herself a professional photographer. “I am definitely an amateur. I originally bought the camera to photograph my bronze sculptures, because they were too big and cumbersome to haul to a professional photographer,” says Zeller, whose sculptures are displayed across the country and at Parley Lake Winery.
From one moment to the next, “it’s so fun to carry a camera and capture the simple things in life,” says Zeller.
Pasture Buddies won first place in the Pets category of our 2016 Lens on Lake Minnetonka photo contest.
