Michelle Wrighton | Three Red Ponies

Boyup Brook, Western Australia, Australia

Three Red Ponies

WESTERN AUSTRALIA PET PHOTOGRAPHY

As the largest state, Western Australia covers nearly one third of the country. It is mostly made up of arid Outback, so the majority of the population is concentrated in the fertile southwest corner. It’s here that you’ll find the small country town of Boyup Brook, first settled in 1854. It’s a community of dog lovers, from the highly valued, hardworking sheep and cattle dogs to pampered pets.

In 2023, Michelle Wrighton joined professional photographers around the globe to make a difference for pets in need with 'Tails of the World'. This unique collaborative project celebrates dogs with an annual coffee table book and our latest volume has raised over $65,000 for animal rescue!

Michelle raised funds for SAFE Bunbury with nine pet photoshoots along the local Bicentennial Walk Trail and Boyup Brook farmland. The Bicentennial Walk is a 6km trail that winds around the townsite and along the banks of Blackwood River and Boyup Brook. It includes several parks, such as the Lions Tourism Park (a lovely picnic spot surrounded by natural bush) and the Music Park (where the annual Country Music Festical is held). There is a peace and quiet to Boyup Brook, with its quintessentially Australian natural beauty and the strrong sense of community.

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Arthur

Arthur is a beautiful four year old Pomeranian x Toy Poodle. This sweet, clever little boy loves everyone he meets and his happy face and cheeky personality brings joy to everyone around him. Arthur loves being involved with everything, going for walks in the picturesque south west countryside, playing tug of war and hide and seek with his mum Catherine and having fun with his best doggie friend Lottie when she comes to visit.

Lottie

Lottie is the sweetest little 6 year old Fox Terrier/Maltese/Jack Russell mix. Lottie is loved by her family for her strength, loyalty and cheeky personality. She was the runt of her litter, was not expected to make it and has faced many health issues in her short life.

Despite her challenges, Lottie still loves to go for walks in the park, chill out with her family, chasing her ball and playing with her best buddy Arthur.

Diesel

Diesel is a delightfully happy 18 month old English Springer Spaniel who brings so much love and laughter to his family with his crazy antics. Diesel loves swimming at the beach and going out to lunch afterwards at dog friendly cafés (his mum says he's partial to a sneaky bit of fish or a chip or three!). Diesel's favourite thing in the world is being the best guardian he can be to his human baby brother Austin.

Kevin

Kevin is an 11 month old Groodle (Golden Retriever X Poodle) who is the most well behaved, gentle giant. Kevin is a real life, cuddly teddy bear who loves everyone, especially his mum and dad and his ‘little’ big brother, Ringo the Ringneck Parrot! Kevin loves swimming in dams and rivers on hot days, tennis balls, sunbathing and unlimited kisses.

Jake

Jake is an adorable 9 year old Labrador Border Collie mix who is the most gentle natured, lovable boy who loves everyone he meets including other animals. He’s loves everyone including other animals and is extremely well behaved and adored by his family and friends.

Jake loves playing with his dog friends, swimming in dams, rivers and at the beach and really enjoys long walks in the south west bush.

Bolt

Bolt is a happy go lucky, fourteen year old Border Collie who has lived on a farm in Boyup Brook all his life. Named after the lightening bolt shaped patch on the back of his neck, Bolt is affectionately nick named 'Bitey' due to his habit of holding his human’s arm ever so gently in his mouth and nibbling on any jewellery or metal zips he can reach. Bolt loves people and giving them as many kisses as he can. Although he has slowed down in his old age, he still loves to play ball, chase wild rabbits and curl up on the lounge to watch tv every night.

Freckles

Freckles, is a 12 year old border collie. Mr Freckles is not the most intelligent Border Collie in the world, but what he lacks in smarts he more than makes up for in affection and character.

Freckles walks to the beat of his own drum, doesn’t play fetch or other dog games, although he does know lots of tricks that he flies through at lightening speed. He loves riding in the car with his face in the wind and the most recognizable thing about him is his goofy tongue that pokes out of his closed mouth when he's waiting for a snack and hangs out completely out when he’s asleep.

Maxi

Maxi is a 3yo rescued Greyhound/English pointer/Great Dane mix. Maxi’s mum says he is one in a million, the most beautiful, gentle natured boy who makes friends with every person and animal he meets (even if they start off nervous about his size). Maxi loves running around the oval and the beach at top speed to work off his favourite cheeseburger meal, going in the car for road trips and he gives the best gentle giant dog cuddles.

Indiana Jones

Indi is an 18 month old Border Collie who is the photographer's constant ‘velcro dog’ companion, Soul Dog, creative muse and the canine face behind Three Red Ponies Pet Photography Studio. Indi is incredibly intelligent and even uses sound buttons to ‘talk’ to his family. His favourite activities include anything that his mum is doing, especially if it means working the sheep, herding ducks or being a super model posing for the camera. Indi brings so much joy and happiness to his family every day with his goofball antics and amazing sense of humour.

All images are shared here with the artist’s permission

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Michelle Wrighton is an official photographer for our fundraising book, Tails of the World: Volume Two. You can follow Michelle’s pet photography adventures on Instagram, and be sure to check out the Three Red Ponies Website to learn more.

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Purchase your copy of the Tails of the World Book, and enjoy more dog photography and stories from around the globe. 100% of the proceeds of this book go to Second Chance Animal Rescue Inc.

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ABOUT SAFE BUNBURY

SAFE (Saving Animals from Euthanasia) is Western Australia’s largest animal rescue organisation using the foster care model to help homeless animals in need find their forever homes, with 11 branches state wide including SAFE Bunbury located in the south west region.

VISIT WEBSITE
@SafeBunbury

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER

With over 20 years of experience as a pet portrait artist, Michelle works in all traditional art mediums from charcoal to oil paints and her preferred medium of photography. Michelle's unique perspective and training as an artist, keen eye for composition, lighting and colour translates seamlessly to photography to create pet portraits that capture the spirit of each animal and reflect their unique personality and character. Located on her family farm in picturesque Boyup Brook in the south west region of Western Australia, Three Red Ponies offers a unique, destination studio and outdoor pet photography experience for dogs, horses and the people who love them.

WEBSITE

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