Why Alfie is wild about horses

Award-winning photographer, author and activist, Alfie Bowen uses his love of wildlife and photography to raise awareness of autism. With new book, Wild Horses available to pre-order, he explains how photographing the beautiful creatures has been a journey of self-healing

Education was always a tough experience for me, with many people judging me because of my lack of social skills or inability to ‘fit in’. Primary school was possibly the easiest period in education because I hadn’t yet realised that I was different from the majority of my peers. I went about my daily business and didn’t really care about not talking to people; I was used to being in my own bubble with a wildlife magazine. High school was like a kick in the teeth for me as it became abundantly clear that I didn’t entirely fit in with the people that I was surrounded by. Getting laughed at for constantly reading about animals was a painful wake-up call and knowing that I was no longer accepted for exploring my passion was scary. The high school I attended had a population of over 1,000 students, and I was placed in a form group of over 30 students – a scary prospect for a child who struggled to speak to one person, let alone 30. It was during these tough times that I discovered the camera, and coupled with my obsession with wildlife, it undoubtedly saved my life. The years since then have been the most incredible journey, and this book is the latest highlight.

How have things been for you since we last featured you in January 2022, around the time Wild World came out?

It’s been a busy couple of years. Much of it has been spent either speaking to the most incredible young people in some of the region’s schools or working on the Wild Horse project. The school tour began as a small project between myself and ZSEA, I really wanted to inspire the next generation as I always remember the impact Chris Packham had on me when I was young: to have a role model or know someone else with autism has achieved their dreams can literally change young people’s lives, and it grew to the point I’ve been visiting schools and colleges right across the United Kingdom. Seeing young autistic people and knowing that they’ve seen you achieve your dreams, which means that they too can achieve theirs is the most incredible feeling. The Wild Horse project has been progressing daily behind the scenes for the past couple of years, but it’s been something I’ve had to keep secret, it’s been hard capturing photos I’ve been trying to get for months and having to keep them under wraps — thank goodness I can finally start to share them! It’s been quite an intense project, it opened a lot of old wounds, and I guess I have come full circle with this project, photographing the animals that offered me the escape I so desperately needed during those dark days in 2012. In many ways, it has been as much a journey of self-healing and self-exploration as it has been about photographing the horses — I have given it my everything; it is not easy to undertake a project of this magnitude, especially when I am so tough on myself, and the roots of the project were anchored in such difficult days.

Your new book, Wild Horses is available for pre-order. What can you tell us about this one? You travelled around photographing horses in East Anglia and beyond?

I wanted to photograph a completely different species for a bit, to focus on something completely new and embark on a fresh journey of exploration for the next couple of years. Horses felt like an interesting subject to explore because of my previous experiences with them — each summer we would ride them, or walk around equine rescue centres growing up, and then when I hit some big bumps in the road during my time in education I was moved to a part-time timetable and would spend a day each week at an equine therapy centre. Wednesdays quickly became the highlight of my week; it was so incredibly relaxing to just spend time in the company of the ponies. The project begun with my laptop, a lot of research and speaking with experts across the UK to gain a solid understanding of where the ponies could possibly be found (no sightings were ever certain, I knew that going into the project), their behaviour and their importance to the ecosystems and environments in which they thrive. Once I had pinned down a few locations, I began planning trips and shoots in more detail. I started off at home in East Anglia, before exploring some completely new environments in the New Forest and Wales. I have been so lucky to share many of the shoots with my partner Daisy, and to have been joined on some shoots by family and friends. I have experienced and seen things throughout this project that will stay with me forever – I feel so lucky to have spent time in the company of these beautiful creatures, it was so incredibly healing, as nature always is.

What is it about horses that you love?

I have always loved them for their calming influence during the difficult days of my childhood, and this project has taught me so much more about them – their incredible social structures, and their ability to survive and thrive in so many truly raw environments is incredible. I had the privilege to work with some large, well-established herds during the project and it has been lovely to put the camera down for a moment, and just sit and observe the horses going about their daily business and interacting with one another. We could certainly learn a thing or two from a tight knit herd of ponies.

You’ve been an Ambassador for the Zoological Society of East Anglia for more than two years – how are you finding the role?

It’s a very special role for me. I’ve been visiting the parks since I was two-years old and they’ve been a safe space for me, and an escape for harsh realities of life. I’m proud to have played a part in making both zoos more welcoming for those with disabilities, and to have toured many schools in the region, educating students about what it means to be different and how wonderful it is. We’re about to re-launch the ZSEA photography completion too.

What are your plans? Is there another book on the horizon?

I’m taking a little break now from working on projects. It’s nice to be back with the zebra, giraffes and lions that I have come to love so much. After this experience I am sure I will take on another long-term project soon, but there is no rush – the subject has to be right, and it has to excite me. I head to Italy on April 12 for a solo show, and then we launch the book officially at the end of April. I’m also working on a major solo show with Norfolk Wildlife Trust, due to open on October 10. It’s an exciting time and I just want to enjoy the present!

Wild Horses, Alfie Bowen, Foreword by Chris Packham, will be published on May 1, 2024 and is available to pre-order from alfiebowen.com.

Featured images – supplied