July's Calendar Photographer
Bente Nielsen, of Ottawa, Ont., captured this Racing Under Saddle photo at Rideau Carleton Raceway last year, and is the photographer for July in the 2018 Heart Of Harness Racing Calendar.
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Nielsen captured this beautiful image of RUS rider Karoline Nielsen and All Out Henry winning at Rideau Carleton Raceway last summer.
"I arrived early, met the RUS riders and then went to the fence to pick my spot where I wanted to get my photos," Nielsen said. "Karoline is from Denmark and I have a Danish background, so I wanted to get photos of her. It was an extra bonus that she and her horse won first place that evening."
This is the first time that one of her photos has been featured with Standardbred Canada, and she is already getting more photos prepped for next year’s calendar.
"I am hoping to meet up with the RUS women in July for one of their races. It would be great if they were in Ottawa to race again," Nielsen explained. "I am going to attend a fundraiser at Rideau Carleton and hope to get some interesting photos of the drivers and horses there."
Bente currently works as a public relations and events specialist with Karma Creative Solutions in Ottawa.
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"Since I work from home, I have the flexibility to come out and photograph horses or farm life," continued Nielsen. "Those are opportunities I enjoy the most."
Nielsen has had a passion for photography and horses since an early age, and in the past year her photography has been used on many social media and web pages, including RUS, Karma Creative Solutions, and on her dog's Instagram page @otisthespokespup.
"I have loved horses since I was two and had owned horses for about 30 years," said Nielsen. "Every day I miss my horses and look forward to being invited to farms, racetracks or anywhere there are horses to photograph them. I started photography when I was eight and have taken many courses to further my love of photography."