Artist Statement

I create fine art photography that captures the deep emotional connection between horses and humans. With a background in both photography and dressage, I use light, shadow, and composition to reveal the beauty, strength, and spirit of the equine form. While horses are at the heart of my work, I also explore still life, florals, and nature through a fine art lens—always seeking to create imagery that feels both timeless and intimate.

Artist Bio

Stacy Lynne Wendkos is an award-winning fine art photographer whose work has received national and international recognition, including honors from the London International Creative Competition, the International Photography Awards, and the prestigious ReFocus Awards. Her images have appeared in numerous equine publications, including USDF Connection, Practical Horseman, and Dressage Today.

Stacy’s twin passions—horses and photography—were sparked early in life. She first fell in love with horses at age five after watching The Black Stallion, and was soon enrolled in riding lessons. By ten, she had saved her allowance to buy her first camera, a Kodak Disc. In high school, she inherited her father’s old Minolta SLR, and what began as a childhood fascination quickly evolved into a lifelong pursuit.

Though photography and horses were originally separate pursuits, both remained central to Stacy’s life. She began developing black and white film, mastering darkroom techniques, and later refined her technical and creative skills while studying abroad at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. There, she explored light, shadow, color theory, and alternative processes. After earning a law degree, she found herself drawn back to her roots—realizing that life without photography and horses was incomplete.

In 2007, Stacy united her passions by founding Stacy Lynne Photography. She began photographing equestrian events, sharpening her skills in capturing the precision and beauty of dressage. Over time, she transitioned into equine portraiture, creating evocative, timeless images that showcase the powerful bond between horse and human.

The pandemic prompted a further evolution in her work, as she pivoted from competitive photography to fine art. Today, her images are sold privately, through galleries, and at juried art festivals across the country.

Stacy’s style draws inspiration from a wide range of influences—contemporary icons like Man Ray, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Annie Leibovitz, as well as the storytelling lens of National Geographic photographers. With a strong foundation in art history and an appreciation for chiaroscuro, her work emphasizes form, light, and emotion. Whether through dynamic portraiture or intricate detail shots, she aims to capture the physical and spiritual essence of the horse—its power, presence, and poetry.

While equine imagery remains at the heart of her practice, Stacy also creates work in her studio and on her travels. Her growing portfolio includes still lifes, landscapes, florals, and her evolving “Kitchen Series.” No matter the subject, her work is always rooted in a reverence for beauty, story, and connection.