I really like this quote by Susan Sontag, author of On Photography, a book that I previously read. “All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt.”
Creating photographs is very prevalent today with the easy access to cameras on telephones, ipads, and easy access to digital cameras, producing images instantly, for no monetary cost, with the ability to easily share images electronically. Photography has very much changed since the invention of photography in the early 1800s, which is attributed to Nicephore Niepce. As a result, people are most likely taking more photographs now, compared to earlier times, when it was more cumbersome, time intensive, and required a greater financial investment to take and produce photographs.
Whether called “photography as art” or documentation, the camera’s images are increasingly part of our shared experiences. Our memory banks are filled with images that have a profound impact on us. It is important to preserve not only highlights in our lives, but also the ordinary, fleeting moments.
I have been drawn to photography because it creates a record in time forever preserved (at least as long as the photograph is preserved and/or as long as the digital negative is preserved).
Photographs freeze a slice in time that we want to preserve.
Photographs help us remember various times in our lives and history. See Dear Photograph for a neat perspective on photography – taking a picture of a picture, from the past, in the present.
Photographs allows one to create a body of art work.
Enjoy capturing and documenting what is important to you!
Recently, I finished reading The Fifth Agreementby Don Miguel Ruiz and Don Jose Ruiz. Some time ago, I read The Four Agreementsby Don Miguel Ruiz. They are both good books. The The Fifth Agreement is a fast, easy read with some very thought-provoking points. The last half of the book really explains how to use the five agreements in your life. This book gave advice for your day-to-day life that The Four Agreements does not include.
The Four Agreements are:
1. Be Impeccable with your Word Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
These are wise words to live by.
In the The Fifth Agreement, the final agreement, is to Be skeptical, but learn to listen. The Fifth Agreement prepares us to “return to our innate wisdom, and live our lives based on truth.” The fifth agreement is ultimately about seeing our whole reality through the eyes of truth. The result of practicing this agreement is the complete acceptance of ourselves just the way we are, and the complete acceptance of everybody else just the way they are. The reward is our eternal happiness.
This book gives you an opportunity to change your world view and obtain more peace. I highly recommend this book to all!
Biscuit is recovering after all of his Holiday travels! He slept the entire ride home! He has been sleeping a lot at home as well. However, Biscuit is beginning to get back into his routine as are we!
Today marks the two-year anniversary with our little Biscuit! The time has really flown by! Doug and I cannot imagine our lives without Biscuit. Biscuit has really helped us in so many ways. Our lives have been enriched ten-fold!
Biscuit came to us after being found on the streets of North Carolina malnourished, covered in urine, with a non-existent fur coat, and a ruptured ear drum. Soon after being found on the street, Biscuit was taken to a sheltie rescue, Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc., located in Frederick County, Maryland. We first met Biscuit on December 24, 2010, and decided to adopt him on the spot. However, because Doug and I had a trip planned over the Holiday, we could not pick Biscuit up and take him home until January 7, 2011.
When we first brought Biscuit to our house, he was very scared, and he would not leave his bed. Biscuit did not know the term, “potty,” but he quickly learned. (Biscuit still does not know his name, as it was given to him at the sheltie rescue, but he does fortunately know, “potty!”)
Doug and I had never had a dog before, so we decided to do dog training for several months with Holly Wallace, Your Spot Dog Training. This helped us get acclimated to having a new dog and Biscuit loved getting dog treats as a reward for his efforts! Biscuit now gives us the paw all the time indicating that he wants more kibble!
With time, Biscuit began to trust us, and he really liked (and still likes) his routine and predictable schedule. He never misses a beat — he knows when it is dinner time! We think that he has a little alarm go off in the early evening for dinner!
Biscuit has made more trips to Dr. Calvert, our vet, than we would like. We have to monitor his kidneys via blood work and urinalysis; and about every quarter, Biscuit has an ear infection — fortunately, the medicine clears up his ear infections. Due to Biscuit’s ruptured ear drum in his left ear, he is prone to ear infections. Luckily, Biscuit seems to be in really good spirits these days and his health is not worsening. Biscuit is actually running outside on his walks these days and we found out that Biscuit loves the snow! Perhaps his joint supplements for his arthritis in his legs are working!
Biscuit has been able to travel everywhere with us. He has been to Nova Scotia two times already! Fortunately, Biscuit travels well in the car. All of our trips are planned around little Biscuit. Doug spends a lot of time researching accommodations to ensure that Biscuit has a fun and safe trip! Our trips are always better with Biscuit!
Biscuit has been an inspiration to me to start photographing again. He is my muse; and sometimes I really think he knows what a camera is! We are so blessed to have Biscuit! Please consider rescuing and adopting an animal today!
Below is a video commemorating Biscuit’s two-year anniversary with us! We hope for many more wonderful years with Biscuit!
Fine Art Photography Portrait Commissions – Katherine Carver Photography
I am happy to share more detailed information relating to my portrait photography sessions that are available for anyone who wishes to capture his/her furry family member(s) in an artistic manner creating images preserving fleeting moments that would otherwise remain unseen.
My goal is to record the unique personalities and signature physical attributes of the animals that I photograph. I believe those who hire me are actively searching for a distinctive fine art documentary approach to capture the heart and soul of their cherished furry family member(s).
I am a freelance fine art photographer based in the Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. area. I grew up in the Midwest and I was first introduced to photography in high school, and I completed several photography courses during college. Law school brought me to the East Coast, where I met my wonderful husband, Doug. Together, we adopted our beloved Biscuit, a rescue Shetland Sheepdog, shown above and throughout this blog.
Biscuit was the inspiration for establishing Katherine Carver Photography. Biscuit awakened a desire to carry my camera everywhere – creating images that preserve fleeting moments that chronicle Biscuit’s story forever.
I am the happiest behind my camera creating photographs of animals that reveal their individual spirits; recording another realm that would otherwise remain unseen.
My goal is to record the unique personalities and signature physical attributes of the animals that I photograph. I believe those who hire me are actively searching for an alternative fine art documentary approach to capture the heart and soul of their cherished furry family member(s).
I am an ardent advocate of animal rescue and adoption, and I donate my photography services to my local animal shelter.
“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I did not photograph them.”
-Diane Arbus
Somewhat recently we discovered that Biscuit was appearing in Orvis stores around the country in connection with the Orvis Petfinder Commitment, promoting dog rescue. Over the holidays we visited Michigan. Below are some photographs of Biscuit with his poster at the Royal Oak, Michigan Orvis store.
In early October 2012, we took Biscuit to the Tysons Corner Orvis store located in northern Virginia. You can view photographs from that visit here.
Below are a few photographs from Biscuit’s New Year’s Eve festivities last night! Biscuit and Nick enjoyed some pup cakes from the Cupcake Station located in Ann Arbor, Michigan! This, of course, was a special treat for Biscuit as he is on a prescription diet!
Happy New Year’s Eve! We are looking forward to 2013; and we are looking forward to exciting changes in store for us in 2013!
Below are more photographs of Biscuit enjoying the snow in Michigan. He has been having a really good time in the snow! You can see Biscuit’s little footprints in the snow below!
biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver 