Jan 23
If you enjoy viewing photographs of dogs, you can check out The Dogist, a blog dedicated to street photography of dogs, started by photographer Elias Weiss Friedman. Friedman stated, “Every dog deserves recognition, and sometimes a compelling photograph can get a dog out of a shelter, or inspire people to appreciate their dogs more.” You can follow The Dogist on Instagram and Facebook. Enjoy!
Jan 22
“If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went.” ~Will Rogers
I have recently begun a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here, here, and here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.
The images shown below were taken this past weekend, before the snow. These images remind me of these images of our little Biscuit. Victory looks gorgeous! I especially like the one where she squinted her little eyes shut!
Happy Wednesday!
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~John Steinbeck
Today we have been enjoying a snow day with our little Victory! We are glad to be home in this weather. The snow is coming down in all directions attempting to blot out the neighborhood colors. Isn’t it amazing how the snow blankets the other noise in your life and you become grateful to be tucked in and witness winter’s beauty?
We put Victory’s pink coat on her and we took her outside for her afternoon walk. As you can see in the images below, the snow is really coming down here! Little Victory was a little trooper in the snow! Here is a link to Victory’s first snow! After her walk in the snow, Victory took a long nap with her Daddy!
Today is also special because it is the 500th post on the blog!
Happy Tuesday!
Jan 20
What kind of accent do you have? I recently came across this dialect quiz that has spread all over the web. I grew up in Michigan and after taking the dialect quiz, the results concluded that I have an accent from three possible geographic areas: Rockford, Illinois; Toledo Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan. So, the test seems pretty accurate as I grew up in Southeast Michigan! Doug said that he can sometimes still hear the Michigan accent with certain words even though I have not lived in Michigan for about twelve years!
Have fun taking the dialect quiz!
Happy Monday!
Jan 17
Do you have a “tuck in ritual” before bed with your furry family member? We have a nightly routine and “tuck in ritual” with little Victory each night. When we come home from the gym after dinner during the week, we play with Victory and watch a little TV with her — She is a Sons of Anarchy fan! I think Doug wants to get little Victory a cut — but I think Victory is much more sophisticated! Then, we take Victory for her nightly walk around the neighborhood. She always gets a little treat after each walk as positive reinforcement for doing a good job on her walk!
Then, we head up to bed, and then little Victory comes up the stairs behind us and she literally runs and hops into bed squarely between the pillows and our headboard waiting for us to come to bed. (On the weekends when we are able to stay up later, sometimes, Victory heads up the stairs on her own and puts herself to bed!) Once in bed, we then give Victory a bowl of water in the hopes that she will not wake us up for a “midnight drink of water!” However, around 2:00 a.m., recently without fail, Victory runs up and down the middle of the bed waking us up for a drink! Usually Doug gets up and gets her fresh water! We are working on Victory getting out of the bed to get her water on her own!
Additionally, instead of Victory immediately settling down and going to sleep between one of our heads and our headboard, as Victory had been doing since we adopted her, Victory has recently been quite active at night. She keeps us up most nights for an hour or so wanting to play! We think this is a good sign that she is getting more comfortable with us and her new home! However, both of us, including Victory, are pretty tired in the mornings! However, unlike us, Victory has the luxury of sleeping all day! Victory does let us sleep in on the weekends, which is really nice! We do think that Victory enjoys the predictability of our night-time ritual.
We had a somewhat similar night-time ritual with our beloved Biscuit — except he slept on his Orvis bed next to my side of the bed and he usually only woke us up if he had a potty emergency! Sometimes on the weekends, Biscuit would join us in bed so that we could sleep in a little longer!
The ordinary moments are the moments I most savor.
Happy Friday!
I very much miss the classroom based critiques from college. It was always nice to put up my work and receive feedback from peers and my professor on my work.
However, since I am not currently in a traditional classroom setting, I find the following helpful in terms of obtaining feedback on my work — projects.
1. Critique Partner: Find a critique partner in order to help give each other feedback on your respective work to help ensure that you are making ‘strong work.’ I believe having a critique partner or regular critiques, with people you trust is a nice way to receive feedback on my work.
2. Artists You Admire: Contact artists whose work you admire to see if he/she will provide you with feedback on your work. Most people are happy to help. I have reached out to photographers whose work I admire, and I have formed some nice relationships with other photographers and artists who have provided feedback on my work, which has been very helpful.
3. Former Professor(s): If you still have relationships with former professors, you can reach out to him/her and request feedback on your work.
4. Photography Conference: Attend photography conferences such as the Society for Photographic Education, where you can have access to many artists in one location to receive feedback on your work.
5. Galleries: Contact Galleries and determine whether you can pay for a consult to have a gallery review your work.
6. Organizations: If the intent of your work is to communicate for a specific cause, belief, political issue, etc., you can reach out to organizations who might be able to put you in touch with someone like-minded who can also provide feedback on your work.
Jan 14
Doug and I have just about finished hanging all of our art and photographs on the walls of our new home. However, there is still space to hang more images and art in our home! I came across this neat program, Preveal, an ipad app. As shown below, Preveal allows you to take a photo of your living room, bedroom, or any room in your home — wherever you would like to hang your images and display accurately sized renditions of various wall displays! I am very visual, and this app makes it easy to see what a framed image will look like prior to actually hanging it!
I am a strong proponent of making physical copies of my images versus having them sit on my computer and external drives. Images make a nice addition to any home! Plus, it is a ‘happiness boost’ for most people, including myself, to view their images regularly — this is why Biscuit and Victory are shown throughout our home so that we can enjoy them everyday!
1. First, take a photo of your wall with a letter sized piece of paper on it.
2. Then, select what combination of framed and matted images that you want to see in that spot.
3. Then choose which photos you want to see to help you decide which images to hang and where to hang them!
Happy Tuesday!
Jan 13
“Happiness is a warm puppy.” ~Charles Shultz
In addition to my long-term dog photography project, I have decided to photograph our little Victory on a weekly basis, if not more! I will share these weekly photographs of Victory here on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here, here, and here! I want to document her story and chronicle how Victory changes, since she is, after all, still a puppy (and my muse)! I think that this will be fun to literally see the changes and how Victory develops over this year!
We had gorgeous weather yesterday! Victory was looking mighty pretty during her long walk yesterday!
Happy Monday!
“All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed. For after all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog.” ~Charles Schulz
This Sunday, January 12, 2014, marks three months since we adopted our little Victory! Victory had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!
Below are some things that we learned about Victory this month:
We love our little beautiful Victory and look forward to the spring and warmer temperatures to go on some outings together!
Enjoy the images of Victory, shown below, taken just before the really cold temperatures hit our area — she looks absolutely beautiful!
Happy Friday!
Jan 9
Interview with Brigette Bloom, Photographer
Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Brigette Bloom, a photographer living in the desert on the west coast. A selection of Brigette Bloom’s work is displayed below. Please visit Brigette Bloom’s website to view more of her work!
KATHERINE CARVER: What were your beginnings as a photographer and when did you realize it would become your chosen form of expression?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: As a kid, I was really fascinated by my dad’s film camera. He showed me how to use it and I was mesmerized. I loved all the little sounds and clicks it made. I felt like I was holding a magic box! I used to run around the neighborhood and take pictures of everything — from my turtles, to my bloody nose, or a slug on the sidewalk. It just naturally became one of my favorite forms of expression — I love everything about it.
KATHERINE CARVER: Did you study art formally?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: I was actually in school for a different major at the time and I was so close to leaving because I didn’t like it at all and felt like I was wasting my time. I remember one day I was talking to a friend about photos. They said, “Why don’t you major in art?” I was totally shocked and thought…you can do that?! I didn’t even know my school had an art department! The next day I changed my major to art and loved school ever since!
KATHERINE CARVER: How do you describe your style?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: Experimental. Dreamy. Mysterious.
KATHERINE CARVER: Can you describe the time when you first realized that creating art was absolutely something that you had to do?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: There was never a specific time because I’ve been creating art all my life. I think everything is artistic when you put your heart and attention into it. Even washing the dishes becomes art. I just feel this fire within me, like I have to create. It’s as necessary as eating or sleeping. I have to create everyday because it makes my soul come alive!
KATHERINE CARVER: What was the impetus that inspired you to begin photographing dogs and other animals?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: It all just happened naturally. I feel so connected to animals and I always have—so it’s only natural that they would show up in my work.
KATHERINE CARVER: How has your own dog, Leo, and nature influenced your artwork?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: He’s a huge influence for sure! He’s actually laying beside me as I type this. When we’re out walking in the desert, he shows me things I wouldn’t have seen before. He opens my eyes to the wonderment all around us–it’s like being a child again.
KATHERINE CARVER: Why do you primarily use film as your medium and can you discuss some of your unusual development techniques to manipulate the film?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: Film allows me to work more hands on. Personally, I am not very computer savvy. I don’t know how to work Photoshop or things like that, so film is perfect for me. It feels more organic…more raw. I love the mysterious quality of film…you never know quite how it will turn out. That excites me! Plus working in the darkroom is such a magical process.
My most used method is peeing on my film. I soak my film in whatever liquid I can find in my fridge. But I really want to experiment with so many other developing processes. This is just the beginning…
KATHERINE CARVER: Where do you show/exhibit your work?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: This past year I exhibited in group shows in Tokyo, Amsterdam, and NYC. I don’t know when or where it will be, but I’m looking forward to my first solo show.
KATHERINE CARVER: What does “being creative” mean to you?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: Living with an open heart. I think that’s the ultimate creative act.
KATHERINE CARVER: What is the most challenging aspect of being an artist?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: The beginning was tough for me, because all I wanted to do was share my art with the world — and I really believed it would happen! I just had this vision that it would work out…but the thing is that I wasn’t making any money. I think a lot of people go through this. I have worked SO many random jobs, that I can’t even count them all! It was really challenging because there was a period I was working a miserable job, just waiting for that moment where I could actually be making a living from photography. Things changed once I really started putting myself out there. It’s not like it all just falls on your lap one day, you have to work at it every single day. I feel like a lot of people (that are incredibly talented) hit that wall of resistance where they’re not making money and then they eventually give up. It’s always darkest before the dawn, you just have to keep pushing through. If you know this is something you’re meant to do—you have to keep doing it! No matter what the circumstances, you will find a way!
KATHERINE CARVER: What inspires you to keep going and what keeps you motivated?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: It’s a feeling I get. The times when it feels like everything is falling apart, I just have this knowing inside that everything is happening as it’s supposed to. Of course I have days where I feel sad, uninspired, confused…but eventually I wake up and it’s a new day.
KATHERINE CARVER: What is the most rewarding and satisfying part about being an artist and creating art?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: The most satisfying part is that I get to do what I love! Honestly, what could be better? I get to share what’s in my heart with others–it’s such a gift! I’m grateful.
KATHERINE CARVER: What kind of patterns, rituals, and routines do you have while making your art?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: While I’m soaking my film, I always try to put loving energy into it.
Have you seen that water experiment where they exposed music, spoken words, and typed words to water to see how it would affect it? For example, when they taped the word “anger” to the cup, the water took on distorted and chaotic structures. But when the words “thank you” were taped to the bottle, the water formed symmetrical crystalline shapes.
I always think of that when I’m soaking my film in the liquid and I’ll say a little prayer or silently say an affirmation in my head. While I’m out shooting I try to be as open as possible, and just let it turn into a dance. Now when I think of it, art is like my therapy.
KATHERINE CARVER: What are you working on now?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: I have some projects lined up for this year so far that I’m really excited about! This month I’m working on an album cover, and the women’s collective that I recently joined – WWW, World Wide Women, and I will be exhibiting work soon in L.A. I also have a lot of new collaborations in the works, which is one of my favorite things! I love combining each person’s individual qualities to create something new.
KATHERINE CARVER: What artists inspire your work?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: Life inspires me. It’s not just specific to artists. I’m inspired by thousands of people everyday whose names I will never know.
KATHERINE CARVER: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
BRIGETTE BLOOM: Stay true to your own heart — be who you are! It sounds cheesy but it’s not. Every single person has an absolutely unique quality that only they can bring to the world. The world needs authentic beings to have the courage to be who they are.
KATHERINE CARVER: How can people view and purchase your art works?
BRIGETTE BLOOM:
You can find me on Facebook—-Facebook.com/brigettebloom.
You can also purchase prints, patches, and books through my Etsy Store — brigettebloom.etsy.com.
You can visit my website at http://brigettebloom.com/.
Thanks so much Katherine!
All images are courtesy of Brigette Bloom.
You can read additional interviews here.
biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver 