365 Project & Cats

I'm already wondering what the heck I was thinking when I committed to another 365 project! It can be such a chore! All whinging aside, though, I have to say that it does me good, forces me to use my camera every day, make the most of whatever conditions I'm presented with ... makes me try things I might not have tried before!

For those of you who're following my 365P, you know that this year I've changed it up a bit. I'm not just shooting random images of whatever I feel like this time. This year, every week consists of a different topic - so far we've had grave markers, doors, local scenery, the colour red, circles - quite a mix of things.

If you'd like to watch how the year unfolds, and participate in the weekly process of subject selection, please "like" my photography page on Facebook so that you can get the updates!

I'm also still regularly taking photos at the Invermere Companion Animal Network, so that they've always got up to date images to post on their website to show potential small pet adopters what animals are currently looking for a forever home.

Any of you who know cats, who're the vast majority of clients at ICAN, know that they do what they want, when they want, and how they want. This makes taking decent photos a challenge, especially when I'm shooting alone - which is most of the time! It's great practice for me, though, as I get to work with various types of lighting without any pressure!

It's a bonus that I get to cuddle the cats and kittens, too!

Here's one of my fav's from the shoot I did on Valentine's Day ... the rest may be viewed on my Smugmug page:

Hidey

Personalized Photo Albums

I am delighted to announce that I am now able to offer my clients personalized photo albums ... that is, professionally printed and bound books that display your personal photographs!

You select the photographs, you select the background colours, you select the layouts, you select the cover colour, you select the cover type ...

The albums can be used for anything - weddings, engagements, graduation/senior collections, families, pets, events, etc.

The beauty in these hard-cover albums is their simplicity. They'll stand the test of time. When you grandchildren look at them, they'll be gazing in wonder at the photos, not thinking how "old fashioned" the book or the design is.

All albums are produced with hard covers. Covers may be ordered with a linen finish, or leather. The manufacturer uses only 100% full-grain, natural leathers that are selected for their grains, strength, and quality. Full-grain hides feel better and are more attractive than fake, bonded-leather covers.

Covers are available in your choice of six colours: Virgin White, Sultry Blue, Forbidden Green, Smouldering Brown, Passion Pink, Voluptuous Black, and Redlight Red.

The pages are photographically printed which means that they're streets ahead of regular press printing quality.

The spreads are not cut over the binding, they're microfolded, so images printed across the middle of the book aren't distorted.

Albums lay flat for optimum viewing - no binding-cracking required!

 

Linen books have pages that consist of two layers pasted back to back, and the collection starts on the first page. Leather albums have a black textured paper in the inside covers and on the first/last page, and feature a hard substrate layer between the photographs to keep the pages stiff.

Along with custom sizes, the books are available in four standard sizes, each with 10 spreads (20 pages):

4" x 4"

8" x 8"

10" x 10"

12" x 12"

Pricing for albums starts at $120 for a linen-bound, 4x4 album with 20 pages.

Kittens!

Yesterday I got to spend some time with a trio of kittens that had been dropped off at ICAN on Friday. They're about 8 weeks old, and so cute! Here they are: Mongoose, Pink and Tip Toe ...

Mongoose, Tip Toe & Pink

Here's my favourite shot from the session, Pink:

Pink

The whole collection can be viewed on my smugmug page.

Oh yes, I used the FlashBender ... very handy even in the confined space of the kitten room!

Must Use Flashbender

So, at Christmas I was given a FlashBender - it's a small-ish, flexible reflector that I can attach to my 580EXII flash unit. Yesterday, I learned that I need to actually USE it, too!

I was at ICAN taking photos of two new clients, Meadow and Lois. In the past, bouncing the flash off the white ceiling has been sufficient but, yesterday, for some reason, perhaps the dark colours of the cats' fur, I didn't seem to be getting the nice light onto their faces. (Of course, you only notice this after you get home and download the images!)

Next time ...

Anyway, both of these cats will be available to adoption soon: Meadow was found wandering around Fairmont, and Lois, who's only about 12 weeks old, was found dumped at the mill in Radium Hot Springs. As always, photos are available on my smugmug page, but here are a couple of my fav's from the session:

Meadow

Lois

Quiet Time

Early in the year and it's very quiet ... not much activity anywhere when it comes to my photography, either!

Today I took some photos of Billy-Bob, the newest feline client at ICAN ... an unneutered male who was found wandering around Dry Gulch. Such a pretty boy! More photos of him on smugmug.

Billy-Bob

I've been keeping myself busy with my 365 Project. Three and a half weeks into it already! I'd love to have you follow along and participate in the subject selection, so please do drop by my photography Facebook page and have a look at the galleries!

First Dog Session

Today I got to take photographs of two pet dogs ... dogs who I've never met before, and who weren't "related" to me through family or friends.

I was SO nervous ... and thus managed to pick a shutter speed that wasn't quite fast enough (won't do that again!) ... but I got enough satisfactory shots from the outing to do for now.

Oh, and it was below -10C out, so it was VERY cold for everyone! Needless to say, we didn't stay out long - only about 20 minutes!

Here are Sammy and Chloe, two foster dogs at ICAN who've just been adopted!

Sammy

Chloe

Thanks to these two sweetie-pies, I've now started an ICAN dog gallery in Smugmug!

For those of you who're following along on my photography Facebook page, I'm almost finished week 2 of my 365 project. This week's topic is doorways.

Last week's subject was a grave marker from a different decade for each day.

Next week's ideas are being submitted as we speak ... be sure to add your thoughts, and "like" the best so that I know what to shoot next week!

See you out there!

Cats and Challenges

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the other vollies at ICAN yesterday ... and enjoyed a Chinese smorgasbord (!) at a restaurant in Invermere that I'd not been to before! The lovely meal was a nice surprise, and the company was awesome!

Before the volly meeting, I popped in at the shelter to take photos of two new guests and to update the photo of one of the more shy residents. All three were a challenge today, but Roscoe was the most difficult! He can usually be found in his basket in a corner behind a lounge chair ... but if you take the time to go and say hi and have a little cuddle, you'll find it's very difficult to take his photo because he's wrapped around one of your legs from that moment on!

Here are a few photos ... the best are on smugmug:

Roscoe

Zeddy

Miss Kitty

Don't forget that I've recently started a new 365 project ... this year I'm putting the photos on my photography Facebook page, so be sure to click "like" so that you can follow along! Meanwhile, here's the link to the gallery from the first week so far!