HAPPY HOLIDAY!

They don't know what's going on. All they know is that their house has been turned upside-down, furniture moved, boxes everywhere....





They don't really care as long as they can be with their people. Just another day in paradise... everything will be back to normal soon...


Here's hoping that each and every one of you had a wonderful holiday!

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?

Last Thursday and Friday we had an ice storm - not quite as bad as the ice storm of 1998, but a lot of people in Maine were left without power. Some are still out. By Friday afternoon, the sun was coming out, and I was getting bored with nothing to do (amazing how lost we are without electricity!). The most logical thing to do was to go out and take pictures. I liked the sun backlighting the frozen grasses:




Upon closer examination, it looked like seafoam:

The tiniest twigs even had their own little "gloves" of ice:



Hopefully those still without power are finding a safe, warm place to stay. And perhaps (at a later date) they will see the beauty in all of nature's events.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Thanksgiving is a day to, naturally, give thanks. I would like to thank all my friends, colleagues and especially my clients for making this a most enjoyable year. If you're driving, drive safely and have a great Thanksgiving! (I hope this handsome guy is still strutting his stuff!)

FEZtival of TREES

What a treat! I went to Lewiston (Maine) to see the FEZtival of Trees, an exhibit put on by the Kora Temple Shrine. When I walked into the upper floor hall, the whole place was populated by Christmas trees, each one made or sponsored by a different company.


Some of the decorations were quite ornate:

Everywhere you looked, there were trees:

There was even a little scene depicting Christmas Eve:

And of coures, I couldn't resiste doing a little abstract work:

The FEZtival of Trees runs through Saturday, November 29. More information can be found here.

A DAY OFF

Last Saturday some friends and I decided we were going to take a day for ourselves. We wanted to go "somewhere," but not too far. The perfect solution was a ferry ride to Peaks Island in Casco Bay. It wasn't a sunny day (good), and it wasn't raining; just right. Here's a view from somewhere along Seashore Drive:

FALL FUN

Well, peak foliage season is just about gone, but some kids are still having fun outdoors. This one sat in an apple tree and watched as his parents picked the apples that were destined for the cider he drank so much of. It's nice to be too little to do any work!












This little cutie decided he would sit and wait for Halloween with his pumpkin by his side.


















And what's with all these boys just sitting around? Don't they know there are no tourists on the beaches? A great place to run around and chase seagulls!

MORE PAINTING

We had such lousy weather last weekend, I had to reschedule two sessions. But, being caught up on all my work, and being trapped inside for most of the time, I decided to practice my painting. This sweetie was from a session a couple of years ago.

And this handsome fellow's companion booked a session just for him!

IT'S ALMOST HERE!

Monday, September 22, is the first day of fall, my favorite time of year. Spring (if we even have it) is muddy; summer can be rainy and sometimes humid; but fall is gorgeous! My favorite bush (shrub? tree?) is the lowly sumac. It never fails to put on a great show, with brilliant colors. The best part is, it comes early and stays late.




This is also the best time of year for outdoor portraits. The light is golden and warm, the fall foliage makes a great backdrop, and the bugs are gone! My available sessions are filling up; it's good to know that there are an increasing number of people who value a family portrait that can be handed down to the next generation.

SWEET 16

I know I've been a bit lax about posting to my blog lately, but I've been busy, busy, busy...

However, I did manage to squeeze in a photo session for Miss "T". She's not yet a senior, but I couldn't resist doing a senior picture preview. Next year she'll get the full treatment...

WHAT IS IT ?

I was going through some old files, looking for an "art print," when I came across this one. Can you guess what it is? An aerial shot? Lint? ???

WOW.......HOW THEY GROW

One of the most satisfying things about being a photographer is the ability to document how we change. This little girl was a ballerina at 6. I also photographed her last year (see her photo here.). Even a year makes a big difference.







She is still a dancer, and is rapidly becoming a beautiful young lady.















Here's another example of a really cute kid...








Who is also becoming a lovely young lady! Both of these girls are going to be freshmen in high school in September. Hard to believe......


This is why it's so important to take photographs of your children often (I'm quite willing to take on the task!). Although special occasions call for special photographs, you'll regret not documenting your children's everyday lives on a regular basis. We say we'll remember, but sadly, all too often we don't, and there's no going back.

BRAF

That stands for Boothbay Region Art Foundation. They were the sponsors of the exhibit I was pleased to be in during the month of May. Their current exhibit is an online gallery only, with categories for Color, Black-and-White, and Digital/Computer. I was fortunate enough to not only be accepted, but to win the Digital/Computer category. Thanks so very much for this honor!


You can view all of the images online at the Maine Photography Show. The theme is "My Favorite Maine," and there are lots of great shots in the mix.
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I LOVE OLD BARNS

When I first started this blog, I posted this infrared image of our own old barn.



I loved the infrared effect, and I've been looking for other old barns to photograph. I drive by this barn every day, and I finally made time to photograph it. I love the way it's almost hidden in the foliage, and I think it would look stunning in the fall, in color. (Note to self: return regularly to this location with camera)



There's a certain dignity to these old buildings that can't be matched by newer ones.

RATS REDUX

Well, we tried photographing the rats indoors this time. Much better. The strobe was fast enough to freeze those twitchy noses, and we had them on a 12" diameter stool so they couldn't wander very far. I learned a lot about rats; for instance:

They play well together:


They have their own furniture:


Their own toys:



Even their own clothes:


And finally, what would life be without football???!?!?!?!


And in case you're wondering, I still haven't touched one.......

R.I.P.

It's on a sad note that we have to say goodbye to our friend Nickel. He was a good companion to his owner for many years, but he has now crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and is patiently waiting for his human to join him. Goodbye for now, little one...

A FIRST FOR ME

As you all know, I photograph other things besides people.














I photograph dogs -













The occasional cat -























And once in a while a horse -



















But this weekend I was talked into photographing something I've never done before, something I've never had the vaguest desire to photograph. I realize that there are people out there who make a fairly good living getting rid of these creatures, but there is also a rather large contingent of people who find them adorable as pets. They come in all colors, and I'm told they're very friendly. I have yet to touch one, but I think if I spent more time around them, that might happen! Anyway, how could anyone resist this face:

This is Summit, one of the rats from the Maine Rat Rescue organization. As with all pets, there are people who don't realize what they're getting into, what kind of care these creatures need, and who become disenchanted very quickly. What to do? They're domesticated animals, so they can't really be turned loose in the wild (although I'm certain this has happened more often than we'd like to think), and ads for rats for sale don't exactly have the phone ringing off the hook. Some rats are given to shelters, and some find a temporary home with the Maine Rat Rescue organization .

It's worth taking a look at their website, and maybe you'll find a pet like Emmett, who just likes to smell the flowers:

UPTA CAMP

I got a chance to play yesterday. I took the day off and went up to a friend's camp. (Why is it that we always go "up" to camp? Don't some people in the northern part of the state ever go "down" to camp?). We all just sat around doing nothing, watching the kids swim, going off for a short ride in a kayak - and eating, of course. Ahhh........it was wonderful; the transition period between the black flies and mosquitoes. Gotta love Maine!

IT'S PROM TIME

It's that time of year again - when those kids you thought were never going to grow up suddenly are grown up! But somehow I don't remember girls looking this good when I was in school ......hmmm... ....I hope they had a good time...........

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

And it's a beautiful day, too. I'd like to wish a happy Mother's Day to a very special new mom - welcome, little Lyle and Happy Mother's Day, Karen!

GIVING BACK

One of my photography mentors once told me that my career was not complete without giving back to the community that supported me. In trying to find a cause I could support, I determined that it would have to be something near and dear to my heart, something I would support even if I were not a photographer. For me, families and children are what it's all about. I like to photograph families and watch the interaction, and children are the most fascinating creatures to photograph! Therefore, I will be donating a photo session to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine Bids For Kids auction on Friday, May 16. This fundraising event will be held at Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

If you're local, please try and support this organization, which tries to make a positive difference in the lives of young people so that they can become productive members of our society. If you're not in the Southern Maine area, I urge you to support your local affiliate.

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

Every year the Professional Photographers of New England (of which I am a member) put on a fantastic learning experience, the New England Institute of Professional Photography - NEIPP for short. Speakers from all over the country (famous photographers in their own right) and from all specialties teach week-long classes at a very nice resort. Total immersion in photography for a whole week! It refreshes and inspires, and we all come home with great new ideas to better service our clients. I'm looking forward to this year's school. Stay tuned for what I've learned!

WOO HOO!

No, I haven't been hibernating. Just very busy. One of the things I was busy with was preparing an entry for the Maine Photography Show, put on each year by the Boothbay Region Art Foundation.

The juror for the show this year was Joyce Tenneson, who has been named one of the 10 most influential women photographers in the history of photography. I am extremely pleased and honored that she picked my entry as worthy of exhibit:



The show runs from May 10 - 25 in the Town Hall of the Boothbay Railway Village, Boothbay, Maine. The opening reception is Friday, May 9 from 5 - 7. If you're in the area, stop in!

HAVING FUN

Okay, the snow was fun for a while, but then it got dirty and dingy. We got new snow on top of that, but it, too, got dirty and dingy. Last week it snowed every day. I'm ready for something new, and I found it. I can do it indoors, too. I've been toying with the idea of adding something new to my offerings, since some clients have shown an interest in having a "painting" of their favorite image. Here is a sample (click on the image to see it larger):

I'll be working on some more in the future - having fun with this!

ANSWERING THE CALL

I said my snowshoes were calling. What a beautiful day to go out in the fresh air! I decided to see what I could see and marvel in the beauty of fresh new snow.










The trees were so weighted down with snow, they made a wide trail much narrower, about half its width.








Even the tiniest twigs had their own share of the snow. So far it's been a great winter, for those who like snow. Here's hoping we keep on having pretty snowstorms, and none of that ice/sleet/freezing rain.