biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Mar 27

A Few Things

Ok, this is a fun post! Below are ten things you might not have known about us!

1. Doug and I met through mutual acquaintances shortly after I graduated from law school and took the bar exam. Doug had already completed his graduate studies. So, it was sort of like a blind date! We exchanged a few e-mails before hand and spoke on the phone. I still have our first e-mails that we wrote to each other safely tucked away! I also have every card that Doug ever gave to me! I am sentimental like that! Then, we had our first date and the rest is history as they say! This October marks our 10 year anniversary together!

2. Doug cooks 95% of all of our meals! This is great for me — I just gather our food from the grocery store each week! Doug is also a wonderful baker! Each Sunday Doug makes us a nice breakfast. Typically, he makes malted waffles; delicious crepes; or scones! Occasionally, he makes cinnamon rolls and monkey bread! We are huge fans of King Arthur Flour, and we took Biscuit there during our trip to Vermont last spring!

3. We usually go to bed pretty early during the week, around 9:30 p.m. — I know, we are like an old married couple! After Victory’s final walk for the night, she usually races up the stairs and hops right into the bed (she only gets in bed on the right side of the bed) and waits for her drink of water — to help stave off the 1:00 – 2:00 a.m. request for water (which we are working on!) We are early risers, but we do sleep in some on the weekends and little Victory is quite accommodating!

4. Each night Victory likes to lick Doug’s arm pits through his t-shirt — I know it is gross! We think that she is attracted to Doug’s Gillette deodorant!

5. Doug and I have been getting hooked on TV series and we have been watching a fair amount of Netflix! We just finished Season 1 of The Killing. This show is addictive! We are also excited for new seasons of series to start on HBO and Showtime!

6. We have date night at least once a week, sometimes more! It is nice to have some time together, and when the weather finally gets nicer, we can include little Victory as we will be able to eat outside at some restaurants!

7. Doug plans all of our vacations! He does everything from coming up with ideas of where to go down to mapping everything out! I just make a list and get us packed!

8. I love lists. I always have a list going. Doug is totally the opposite. Somehow, he keeps everything in his head.

9. 99.99% of the time, Doug drives when we go somewhere together, which is great! He is very good with direction, unlike me! When Victory goes with us, she typically sits on my lap. She gets super excited when we arrive back in the neighborhood and when the garage door opens, she is standing on all fours on my lap looking astute!

10. We do not have iphones or smart phones. I know, we are living in the dark ages, but we like not being connected all the time. Each time we go out to dinner, we always see people on their phones instead of enjoying dinner. Perhaps sometime this year we will get iphones out of necessity because they do not make our phones anymore! But, we have been getting by just fine without having iphones!

Below is one of my favorite photos, to date, of our little Victory taken this past weekend — she is so beautiful and she is sprouting with her sheltie furs! I told Doug that Victory is sprouting he fur coat like a Chia Pet!

Happy Thursday!

Mar 26

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Seen In: Huffington Post

I am very grateful to have some of my images recently featured in the Huffington Post in connection with my work with Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. from this photo shoot relating to my long-term dog photography project. The Huffington Post article focuses on large dogs who are in need of furever homes across the country. My hope is that all of these dogs receive furever homes as soon as possible! Please consider dog rescue. You can view the entire article and images here. My images are featured numbers 20 through 26, along with the cover image used in the article of Esperanza!

Happy Wednesday!

Mar 25

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Victory: Photography Project — Part 11

“If you want loyalty, get a dog. If you want loyalty and attention, get a smart dog.” ~Grant Fairly

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

We recently took Victory to Quiet Waters Park located in Annapolis — our first trip to a dog park with Victory! Victory had a blast and she was all smiles! (Prior to taking Victory to the dog park, we were not sure how she would react!) Victory entered the dog park and she was immediately greeted with many different dogs to sniff! We finished our trip to Quiet Waters by walking down to the water! Victory loves to look at the water and she did not want to leave!

During our time at the dog park, Victory met another sheltie fiend named Joey! Victory instantly recognized Joey as a shelite and she followed him all over the park! It was adorable! (Interestingly, Biscuit also met a sheltie friend when we took Biscuit to Quiet Waters Park for the first time last spring).

Me and little Victory together, commemorating our first trip to the dog park!

Mar 24

10 Rules for Creative Projects

I was taken with Richard Diebenkorn’s ten rules for beginning a painting — a sort of manifesto that applies in various degrees and various dimensions to just about every creative or intellectual endeavor.

Notes to Myself on Beginning a Painting by Richard Diebenkorn.

1. Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.

2. The pretty, initial position which fall short of completeness is not to be valued — except as a stimulus for further moves.

3. Do search. But in order to find another than what is searched for.

4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them completely expendable.

5. Don’t “discover” a subject — of any kind.

6. Somehow don’t be bored but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.

7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.

8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.

9. Tolerate chaos.

10. Be careful only in a perverse way.

“Biscuit” by Mary Medrano, which we commissioned. I am sure that we will also have a similar painting of Victory commissioned to be placed next to Biscuit’s painting.

Mar 21

Victory’s Life in Photos: 2014

Below are some photos of Victory thus far from 2014! I am so glad to be documenting our precious little Victory! The images begin in the lower right corner with Victory wanting more prime rib (after eating a plate of prime rib) on New Year’s! The images conclude in the upper left corner with Victory at the dog park! We recently took Victory to two dog parks, and she really enjoyed them! Doug and I will likely join at least one of the dog parks so Victory can continue to have fun at the dog park! However, last weekend, our little Victory was, shall we say, violated — she was ‘humped’ by a 3.5 pound shaved Pomeranian, named Cheese! Cheese just could not get enough of our Victory. Victory entered the park and Cheese was literally climbing on our little Victory! Thankfully, Cheese’s human took him for a ‘time out.’ Interestingly, Victory did not seem to mind! Victory has such a sweet temperament! I will share more photos next week from our adventures to the dog parks!

We really want spring to be here and stay. However, Doug mentioned that we are scheduled for snow next week! Hopefully, spring will make its appearance and stay for a while! At least, this is what we hope!

Happy Friday!

Mar 20

Victory: Photography Project — Part 10

“They motivate us to play, be affectionate, seek adventure and be loyal.” ~Tom Hayden

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

Little Victory does not like baths! Below are a few photographs from a recent bath we gave her. Doug and I do not trust anyone else to bathe our Victory! We are protective of her! However, we do let the vet clip her nails and trim her paws every four to six weeks! Victory, thankfully, lets me brush her daily to keep her coat looking good! We typically bathe Victory every four to six weeks, and we use Espree oatmeal shampoo and luxury conditioner. In between baths, we use baby powder behind her ears, where her fur tends to get a little greasy.

As you can see below, Victory tries her best to escape the soaker tub! During our recent bath, Victory was an escape artist — she hopped out of the tub during this bath! It literally takes the two of us to give her a bath! One to hold her and one to wash her! Doug is going to look into getting an extension to our tub faucet, similar to a shower head, to help make bath time go more quickly! Victory always feels so soft and smooth and she always looks gorgeous — especially after a bath!

Happy Spring!

Mar 19

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The Zone

Have you ever been in the “zone?” That place where you are able to tune everything out and focus on the task at hand? I hope to fully develop this skill and practice. Sometimes, this can be difficult. I have found, while working on a project, my photography in particular, it is best to let everything else go and be in the moment focusing on the one task. This enables me to be immersed in this one task, letting go of the feeling that I need to quickly rush through it, moving on to the next task. I find when I rush through something, my results are not what I had hoped for. I also find that it is best to be in one task, making it my entire universe. Using this mindset allows me to be much more productive. When I am in the “zone” there is no longer any concept of time and I am not worrying about anything else other than the one project that I am working on. This is one of the best feelings to be totally and completely immersed in work I love!

On another note, Pat Pope is the winner of the PetBox Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday!

Mar 18

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Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. — Part VIII – Rescue dogs in need of furever homes

I am excited about a long-term Dog Photography Project that I am working on with the Baltimore Animal Rescue Care Shelter (BARCS) as well as some local dog rescue organizations, including the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. I hope to share further information in the future. Using the following links, you can view Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, and Part VII.

For now, I can share some color photographs of these doggies pictured below in the hopes that they receive furever homes! If you are interested in adopting (or fostering in some cases) any of these dogs pictured below, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. for further information. Please consider dog rescue! Biscuit’s rescue story illustrates that we can make a positive difference and impact in one dog’s life.

Below is a brief description of the dogs in the order they are pictured below.

1. Nibilina — is a female American Bulldog, approximately 4 years old. Nibilina is very pretty and full of love and she is in need of a furever home!

2. Esperanza — is a female Bullmastif mix, approximately 6 years old. Esperanza is very playful and she is in need of a furever home!

3. Iona — is a female Great Pyrenees Mix, approximately 1-2 years old. Iona is beautiful and she is in need of a furever home!

4. Dennison — Has been adopted!

5. Darjeerling — is a female St. Bernard mix. Darjeerling is very sweet and gentle and she is in need of a furever home!

6. Abel — Has been adopted!

7. Lilo — is a male Husky mix. Lilo is a bit shy and he is very gentle and sweet and he is in need of a furever home!

8. Sam — is a male 15 week Shepherd mix. Sam is just adorable! Sam is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

9. Tara — is a female 15 week Shepherd mix. Sam is just adorable! Tara is very sweet and well-behaved and she is in need of a furever home!

10. Alcide — is a male 15 week Shepherd mix. Alcide is just adorable! Alcide is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

11. Mario — is a male 15 week Hound mix. Mario is a cuddle bug! Mario is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

12. Princess Peach — is a female 15 week Hound mix. Princess Peach is precious! Princess Peach is very sweet and well-behaved and she is in need of a furever home!

If you want to adopt a rescue dog; donate money; and/or contribute your time to the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc., please, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. via e-mail at info@dogsxlrescue.org; or via telephone at 410-205-5014. To learn more, you can also visit the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc.’s website.

Mar 17

Rejection Letters: Famous People

Can you imagine listening to Madonna and turning her away from your record label and then seeing what became of her career? Or saying “no thank you” to Andy Warhol as he tried to gift one of his drawings to your museum? Or saying “no thanks” after listening to a U2 tape submission? These letters must have been difficult for the artists to receive, but they also must have motivated the artists to keep pushing through, despite the rejection, which is never fun to receive. It is reassuring that some very famous artists received rejection along the way, but the rejection did not stop them. Talent, perseverance, and fortitude — seem to be the common threads to artists’ success. So, keep pushing through, even if it seems impossible!

Source — above images: You can view the Madonna letter here; the Andy Warhol letter here; and the P. Hewson, U2 letter here.

Mar 14

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Victory: Photography Project — Part 9

“Every one in a while a dog enters your life and changes everything.” ~Unknown

I have recently begun a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

As you know, I recently photographed Victory in our guest room among the menagerie of our “friends” (stuffed cheetahs and pandas)! Below are some final images! Victory loved sniffing all of the “friends.” In some of the photographs, Victory blends in with the “friends” even playing some “hide and seek!” Enjoy!

Happy Friday!