“Mustangs: Utah’s Onaqui & Cedar Mountain Herds” with Photographer John Steele

Camden Public Library welcomes photographer John Steele for a presentation of his photography and book Mustangs: Utah’s Onaqui & Cedar Mountain Herds on Thursday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m.

The book features photography by John Steele over the course of his many extraordinary experiences and encounters with the Onaqui and Cedar Mountain mustang herds. Words in the book are by Silvio Calabi.

Join us for this rare and intimate view into two of Utah’s Wild Horse Herds. All are welcome and light refreshments will be provided.

The photos allow “the viewer to sit with me on Lake Bonneville’s ancient playa observing the inter workings of foals and mares, harems and the herd itself,” says Steele. “It took years of patience until I was allowed to be in close proximity to them.”

About John Steele

“My early life revolved around teaching alpine skiing, running western rivers and flying  a Hang Glider.

1997 brought an old vision for me back to life. I decided to pick up a camera once again.

Shortly after, in January 1998, a gift from Mother Nature was presented — my introduction to a Harem of Wild Horses. The significance of this day would not become clear to me for years. I knew nothing about wild horses or the wild herds of the American West, and for that matter, had little knowledge of domesticated horses either. But seeing these creatures in the wild for the first time left me speechless.

In November 2006 another gift was bestowed in the form of a poem written by a Jungian philosopher Sam Keen entitled: The Enemy Maker: How to Make an Enemy. Instantly I knew what I needed to do, return to Vietnam. Seven months later I walked up the Jet Way on a hot and steamy Saigon evening, bringing back emotions of the past front and center. I was there during the war 1968-1970 but not in My Lai.

Then I started the second and the most healing project, returning five times with one more trip to do. I traveled from the China border to the Gulf of Thailand, interviewing survivors from the My Lai massacre while attending the 40^th & 50^th memorial ceremonies. I have sat with my former enemy drinking home-made rice wine until we giggled like kids. I have been blessed to see what none of us who were there during the war could allow ourselves to see, the Vietnamese people as human beings.

I have had the privilege of photographing many other events, wildlife and people; but none as important as my Wild Horses or the Vietnamese people.

My camera opened my heart, starting a journey that I could have never imagined.” — John Steele