biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Jan 14

Preveal: Hanging Images at Home

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

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Victory: Photography Project – Part 1

“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!

Jan 10

Victory: Three Months In

“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:

She loves to chew. Each morning, we wake up to our pillow cases having more holes and teeth marks! Luckily, I purchased some inexpensive pillow cases and a back up of our nice sheets and pillow cases! We also purchased some chew toys and shoe laces, which she loves — it is just teaching her the difference between what she can and cannot chew!
She travels well. Victory did really well in the car during our holiday travels. She sat on my lap in the car during the duration of our trip!
She is still very quite. Victory has not ‘talked’ to us yet — she has not yet barked or made any vocal noises. We hope that, in time, this will change.
She is spending more time on the floor in our home instead of being on furniture or in her crate, which we have coined her ‘hut!’ (Victory’s crate is always open for her to go in and out of as she wishes — she likes having her ‘safe place.’)
She still prefers not to share the sidewalk with any other pedestrians! We are not sure how much time Victory spent outside while she lived in the horrendous hording situation. We are going to start training very shortly to help us!
She still likes to wake us up during the night to have a drink of water. We are working on teaching Victory where her water bowl is located a short distance away in the bathroom attached to our bedroom!
She still loves to cuddle and give us loads of kisses!
She is beginning to blossom — her fur coat is coming in more each day!
Finally, we learned that Victory might have a sister or cousin — Chrissy, who has been adopted — you can see the resemblance in their size and coloring. Chrissy also came from the same horrendous hording situation that Victory also experienced.

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

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Interview with Brigette Bloom, Photographer

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.

Jan 7

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Honoring Biscuit: Remembering His Fluffy Fur Coat

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” ~Helen Keller

Today marks six months since our precious Biscuit passed away. Anyone who met Biscuit or saw photographs of Biscuit knew that Biscuit had a beautiful and fluffy fur coat, as shown below. Biscuit went through a magical transformation both physically and emotionally from the time when we first met Biscuit. Biscuit literally blossomed. Biscuit was a trooper and he let me give him a bath with no issue. Most of the time, Biscuit was pretty cooperative with me brushing out his fur coat to keep him looking his best in exchange for some prescription kibble! Biscuit did not particularly like going to the groomer, but he tolerated it in order to get his nails and paws trimmed.

Most of all, Biscuit’s beautiful fur coat is evidence that humans can have a huge positive impact in dogs’ lives. We hope that Biscuit’s rescue story helps influence others to consider dog rescue. There are so many dogs in need of furever homes. When it comes to Biscuit, I am not sure who rescued who. Biscuit was a gift. Doug and I still think of Biscuit daily and we are very grateful for our time together. We know that Biscuit sent us a gift — our little Victory!

Jan 6

Benefits: Registering art works with the U.S. Copyright Office

Why is it so important to register my photographs with the U.S. Copyright Office?

Outlined below are some best practices for photographers to consider, especially fine art photographers. Please note that this information is not legal advice, but rather serves as a broad overview concerning copyright issues pertaining to photographic works of art. (For specific cases and questions, it is always best to seek legal advice from an attorney in your jurisdiction who practices regularly in this practice area). Obtaining a copyright registration affords you powerful tools to use against copyright infringers. Ultimately, registering your images with the U.S. Copyright Office affords an artist certain benefits, outlined immediately below.

U.S. Copyright Law

United States copyright law does not require that the creator of a work register the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. U.S. copyright law provides that when a work is created, the work is protected automatically by U.S. copyright law without the need to register the work or display a copyright notice. Copyright protection generally attaches to a work the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible medium of expression. The law considers something to be “fixed in a tangible medium” when it is embodied in a copy or phonorecord so that it can be perceived and reproduced, whether or not the author uses the “©” symbol or the copyright notice. (This covers a wide range of media. For example, words scribbled on a piece of scrap paper; when software loaded into a computer´s random access memory; or when a photograph is taken, are considered to be fixed in a tangible medium.)

Benefits of Copyright Registration

Often either photographers register their photographs incorrectly, or they completely fail to register them at all. While registration is not required to obtain a copyright, there are several benefits to doing so and one should always register works that they wish to protect. It is very important to read all of the U.S. Copyright forms correctly to ensure that you are completing the appropriate forms to ensure protection of your works of art.

United States copyright law provides the following valuable benefits to websites that register their copyrights:

By registering your copyright, you create a public record of your work and your copyright claim.

If somebody infringes on your website copyright, you may sue for copyright infringement. Copyright registration is a prerequisite for filing an infringement claim in federal court with respect to works that originate in the United States. If you want to sue an infringer and you have not registered your website, it will take four months or more after receiving your registration application before the U.S. Copyright Office issues a Certificate of Registration.

If you register your copyright before or within five (5) years of publication, the registration is evidence in court as to the validity of your copyright and of the facts stated in your U.S. Copyright Office registration certificate.

If you register your copyright within three (3) months after publishing it or before an infringement occurs, you may seek statutory damages and attorney’s fees in an infringement lawsuit. For works of art that are not registered timely, the infringer is only liable for your actual damages and the infringer’s profits.

Additional Benefits of Copyright Registration

Besides making a public record of your protected art works, copyright registration has the very important benefit of allowing you to obtain statutory damages for infringement. If the copyright is registered, however, the owner is entitled to statutory damages of $750.00 to $30,000.00 as determined by the court, even if actual damages cannot be proven. If the copyright owner proves that infringement was willful, the court may award statutory damages of up to $150,000.00 per violation.

You cannot obtain attorneys’ fees for a copyright infringement action unless you registered your copyright before the copyright infringement first occurred, unless your registration is within three (3) months of first publication.

Another benefit of a registered copyright is that the copyright owner’s cease and desist letter will have substantially more “teeth” because the copyright owner has the ability to seek statutory damages and attorneys’ fees. These two factors make it much more likely that the author of the art work(s) can convince an infringer to cease displaying infringing material without resorting to litigation.

Reflect Prior to Publishing Your Work

As a result, it is best to truly reflect on your work before publishing it in any form, including online publication. For example, there are legal ramifications and ownership issues to consider when you post/publish your work on Facebook which, is entirely another “animal” in itself. This is the major reason I decided not to have a Facebook page, Pintrest page, and Tumblr page for this blog, Biscuit’s Space and my website, Katherine Carver Photography.

I hope that you find this information helpful and provides an important aspect to consider prior to publishing your photographs or other works of art.

Jan 3

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2014 Word of the Year: Trust

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~Zora Neale Hurston

Many people write new year resolutions. I still write down some attainable goals for the year, but I have found it more helpful to have a word, an intention, to focus on throughout the year.

This year, I recently contemplated that my word for 2014 would be open. However, after reflection and giving more thought, I have decided that trust is my one little word for 2014. In some ways I have excellent trust — in divine timing; in the laws of the universe; in spiritual practice; and in following my bliss – but when it comes to trusting others and myself on a much more practical level, I can struggle. So, I am going to keep trust as my word and see how it manifests this year. I am also going to trust the process, part of the biscuit’s space manifesto.

Last year I selected the word create, which served me well in taking more risks in my photography; sharing my photography; and also beginning a long-term photography project, which, at times, feels like a daunting undertaking. However, I keep plugging along because I believe the work is important. Thankfully, Doug is really supportive. I am dedicating this work to our beloved Biscuit, the inspiration for this work. I plan to complete this work in 2015; however, there are a lot of moving parts to this project and I am thankful for the support of the organizations that I am working with on this project.

2013 was a year of immense change for us in many ways. We still miss our beloved Biscuit, and we will always miss him. Biscuit was a gift and he came into our lives at the right time. We know that he is with us in spirit and we see him daily as his images adorn our home. We also know that Biscuit brought our beautiful Victory into our lives, whom we love very much. Doug says that “Victory makes beauty effortless.” Victory is also a blessing and we have fun with her and she is now my muse. We look forward to all of our adventures together!

We also sold a house, built a house, and moved two times in a span of nine months. We are now pretty settled into our home. We still have a little more decorating that we want to complete, but we have made good progress so far! I feel ready to close the chapter on 2013 and welcome 2014 into our lives!

Are you considering selecting a word for yourself (or letting one find you)? There is no right or wrong. The main thing to remember is that this is your word.

And what do you do with this one little word? You live with it. You invite it into your life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.

Jan 2

Things I Love: Winter 2014

Can you believe that it is officially winter! The time is flying by! Shown below are a few things that I am loving!

1. Baby Powder – I love using Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder on Victory. In between monthly baths, we use baby powder to keep Victory looking and smelling fresh. I try and brush Victory’s fur out each day and then I add a bit of baby powder to her fur coat, which soaks up any oils and keeps her smelling fresh. The baby powder is great for behind the ears, where long-haired dogs tend to get greasy!

2. Diaper Genie – Since moving to our new neighborhood, there are not any pet waste receptacles. (We hope that this will change!) As such, we had to find a way to dispose of little Victory’s poops! As such, we bought a Diaper Genie and put it in the garage. So far it is working and keeping any foul odors at bay! If you need a way to dispose of your pet’s waste, this is a good option. However, we shall see how this holds up in the warm summer months! Thankfully, Doug takes care of the full Diaper Genie bags!

3. Make Your Creative Dreams Real – I am currently reading this book per the recommendation of a friend. It is a really good book for creatives! This book is very helpful for procrastinators and perfectionists — and give practical advice on following your dreams and calling. This is a must read!

4. Crock Pot – Since it has gotten colder, Doug has been using our Crock Pot to make us some yummy dinners! The Crock Pot has come in really handy and there are endless recipes to try and experiment with!

5. Snoozies – I have been wearing my Snoozie slippers since it has become more cold! I even bought a few pairs for Doug! They are very comfortable and I can wash them easily in the washer! If you are in need of slippers these are great — there is even traction at the bottom of the slippers so you won’t slip on your hardwood floors!

6. Peppermint Shake from Chick-Fil-A – We do not normally eat too often at Chick-Fil-A, but we love the ice cream from Chick-Fil-A! Doug usually gets a large vanilla ice cream cup, which he shared with Biscuit and he now shares with little Victory! I especially love this time of year because I can get the peppermint shake, my all time favorite shake!

7. Noosa Yogurt – I recently discovered Noosa Yogurt at Wegmans. It is a rich Greek yogurt that comes in a variety of flavors. I love yogurt, so I am always venturing out and trying new types — brands and flavors of yogurt!

8. Hot Chocolate – Since it has gotten colder, I am enjoying hot chocolate! A cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows warms me up after we get home from a long walk outside with Victory!

Jan 1

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Victory: Happy New Year – 2014!

Happy New Year! Victory arrived back home to celebrate New Year’s! Victory rang in the new year with some prime rib, shown below! Victory seems to love meat and she loves to eat on the sofa! (Soon, we hope to have Victory eating on her new custom mat from Orvis!)

2013 was filled with tremendous change for us. However, Doug and I look forward to 2014. We have some exciting trips planned this year with our little Victory! She is making progress each day and she did really well with her Holiday travels! We are blessed with little Victory and we know that Biscuit is forever in our hearts.

Thank you for reading the blog and for your support — it means so much! We hope that you have a wonderful New Year’s! Stay tuned for more photography; and this blog will continue to chronicle our adventures with little Victory!

Happy New Year!