in memory of rusty and peanut

iv'e been away for some time now deep in thought on many different issues. my last post may have been a while and i'm due for a new one. i stepped away from this blog to work on some learning projects and focus on important personal issues. it's time away well spent because i believe i may be a bit more motivated now. just heard of the sad news about a couple of critters who were something special. these 2 furry besties were hit by a car and killed a few days ago. they were part of a big pet family that belonged to my dear sister kay and her partner dan. there is nothing that hurts more than the 'choke you up, smack you in the face, pain in the gut' feeling of a sudden unexpected death of a pet. one thing that may soften the blow a little is the fact that they have other furry critters among them that will help the healing. this incident struck a chord with me and has motivated me to kick my ass into gear regarding the pet photography business. it's been a slow start but everything i do is related in some form or another to my baby. i know how much our pets mean to us humans. the connection we create with them can be so strong that losing one is unbearable. i want to create precious images that will be cherished. i had the privilege to shoot all of kay and dan's pet a year ago and it was a fantastic experience. needs to be repeated very soon. can't wait. rusty and peanut will be missed, but not forgotten.

puppy paws

i decided to use the ferocious furby as a model today. this is a 'front porch portrait' that i intend to explore more with in the future. portraits on your front porch is priceless. incorporating your home with your pets and people is a fantastic image to have. imho. this one is cropped for a unique shot-including a part of your front porch (door mat) an item you are pretty familiar with. and it has some sweet texture to it. scratchy and fuzzy. (sounds like a cartoon character) the mat has paw prints printed on it too-how perfect is that? iso 400, 1/100, f3.3, fl=38mm.

teen driver anxiety!!

okay, okay. i know it's been a while since my last posting and that is unacceptable! i can tell you that i am in a car buying process and it literally takes all my energy away. i become overwhelmed and my focus is only on that and that alone. sheess, it's almost like buying a house on a small scale. is that possible? yes. we will end up purchasing my sister's 1999 honda accord. the timing is just right and i am sooo appreciative of kay kinda waiting unil now to consider her new car. it's safe, reliable, affordable and very decent looking. leia is truly a defensive teen driver. (so far) i trust her driving with me (nearly) and no longer do i need to use the 'ipb' also known as 'imaginary parent brake'. i give her permission to pick up her friend(in my car), drive to the movies, then taco bell and then drop off her friend-on friday night! as long as she was home by 11pm-16 year olds are not permitted to drive between 12am-6am. it's all good (my subie is ultra safe)but i still park myself in the front window of my living room staring outside(for many minutes)-waiting for her call to let me know she arrived safely(not while driving). iv'e heard so many stories about teen drivers from friends and family and there is one that sticks in my mind told by a dear coworker-she said that from the day her daughter started driving on her own, she began praying even harder every day for her. i think i feel the same. i never take for granted a day spent with leia.

cookies and milk

i just love shots like this. it's why i've included it as my title image on my blog. it's artistic and unique. love it. food works so well with getting the shot just so. it's the difference between night and day. always have a pocket full of food. i just say 'cookies and milk' and they usually come running. iso 400, 1/80, f3.5, fl=54mm.

spooky the black cat

spooky is a fantastic model. he is slightly camera shy at first but once you bring fresh catnip into the picture he goes wild like your typical cat does. i love the close up texture of his nose! he is quite comfortable chillin on the kitchen table. i shot 50 images of spooky and mostly they were not sharp enough or just plain underexposed. this camera suffers from severe shutter lag and at high iso's such as 800 even, the noise is ghastly. at 54mm i'm only able to open the aperture to 3.5. which is unacceptable. i have reached a conclusion. indoor photography is not for this camera if i want to use natural lighting. in fact it is quite maddening. this has been a great learning experience. however limits my ability. and i hate feeling limited in art. iso 400, f3.5, 1/160, fl=54mm.

new fresh dog photo book from apple!

i finally recieved my present from fedex. i looooove getting packages from fedex. it's soooo exciting!! this is the project i have been working on for a while. i seem to spend an awful long time on my own projects but that's only because i want it to be just perfect. and i believe this one is. apple does a pretty good job at printing and the colors are pretty accurate. their quality is decent and the presentation is awesome. for a company that creates computers, i'm happy. i would say the total time it took from start to finish is about 9 hours. that would be ridiculous for any future client-i would cut that time down to about 3 hours. but it really depends on what they would want. i think maybe that is fair for the cost i'm still trying to figure out. there is another PHOTOGRAPHY printing lab that i will explore next time. apple makes fantastic and beautiful computers, they don't specialise in creating books. even so, i'm in love with my book. i love photographing the fur, i love the whole entire creative process with making photo books. they are so unique and valuable. and they'll last forever cause they're printed on archival paper! i will cherish 'our dogs' forever!

good morning mr turtle

i knowwww this blog ought to be postings for pets and people but i just couldn't pass up this opportunity to express my sense of shock and awe on my 6am routine morning walk with my pets. (they only pay attention to fast moving fur-such as bunnies). so in a sense it is somewhat pet related. he was hiding in the grass next to the side walk and can you imagine stumbling onto a slippery critter such as this? i ran home, snagged the camera-thinking-he's a turtle-he's a slowpoke of a fella(or gal) so i didn't hurry. 2 minutes later he's trotted about 100 feet with his ginormous reptilian paws(and claws might i add). can you get an idea of the scale (pun unavoidable) of him next to the tire? and he has retractable claws! i had no idea. so cool is that. and just look at the size of them?! what a hideous warty mess of a creature! jist wandering around the hood, lookin fer some new nesting spot. step outa the way-he's a slippery critter on a mission. iso 100, 1/500 and 1/800, f3.5, fl=54mm.

bff's in chicago

never a dull moment when leia and her gal pals hook up and visit each other in one of the best places to visit in the summer-chicago. images were taken in front of the chicago tribune and michigan ave on the river. the lighting created some sockets and pockets of light that i just don't like but they turned out pretty decent anyway. my favorite shot of them together is the authentic and candid-not posed at all goofy one on the river. leias eyes are so messed up! and the lighting and sharpness turned out great! i believe i captured the true essence of a 16 year old goofing around and behaving authentic and true. this is the aim i going for. camera still suffers from shutter lag and has a hard time focusing on the subject. maddening. but it is my best shot imho. iso 200, 1/125, f3.5, fl=54mm.

Cool and swanky chicago signs!

i love this sign. 'the redhead piano bar' i love the swank style look of it. it's retro, cool, classic and unique. never been here to experience the place. i'm sure it is divine and swell. this will be on my list of places to visit in my lifetime. yes, i walked right past it to take this image, but it was in the morning and it was of course closed.