Striking Black-and-White Portraits of Sheep and Goats

By Alison Nastasi

November 30, 2014

When it comes to portraits of animals, photographers usually know better than to try to get a cat to sit still for the camera. Most felines don’t have the patience, or paycheck, of Grumpy Cat. Dogs are a favorite subject for shutterbugs — from pups underwater and adorable pit bulls showing off the beauty of their breed, to dog beauty pageants and wet dogs mid-bath. But what about the rest of the animal kingdom?

Washington-based photographer Kevin Horan, who we learned about on Inspiration Now, has devoted attention to the goats and sheep on and around Whidbey Island — home to several farms, beautiful parks, and a nature reserve. Goats get a bad rep due to their association with Satanism. And those horns and horizontal pupils can be a little unnerving. But Horan reveals the humorous and majestic side of the goat and sheep. They’re all goofy grins, adorable beards, dramatic poses, and gorgeous manes.