biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Aug 29

Honoring Biscuit: A POWA Ceremony for Biscuit

This past weekend, on August 25, 2013, the Kadampa Meditation Center of Maryland (“the Center”), had a POWA Ceremony for Biscuit, which Doug and I attended. (I have participated in meditation classes and retreats with the Center). The Buddhist nuns and monks at the Center followed Biscuit’s story, and they were touched by Biscuit’s story as the Buddhist love and honor all living beings — the Buddhists believe animals and humans are equal.

This POWA Ceremony is the practice of transference of consciousness of the deceased. The Buddhist believe that through doing a POWA Ceremony with faith, compassion, and concentration we can transfer the consciousness of those recently deceased to a higher rebirth or to the Pure Land of a Buddha. If living beings have the opportunity to take rebirth in a Buddha’s Pure Land they will attain permanent liberation from suffering and experience pure and everlasting happiness. Prayers were made to Buddha Vajrasattva on behalf of Biscuit, shown below.

The POWA Ceremony was very nice, and it consisted of prayers to help Biscuit transition into his next life. In addition to bringing photographs of Biscuit, we also brought offerings to this Ceremony — flowers, cookies, and a Chick-Fil-A ornament to represent Biscuit’s favorite vanilla soft-serve ice cream! The Buddhist believe that rebirths take place approximately forty-nine days after death. As it happened to be, August 25, 2013, was exactly forty-nine days after Biscuit passed away. We hope that Biscuit is having a grand time running and playing in a body free of sickness and pain; and we are hopeful that he is watching over us each day and we hope that he will appear to us as emanations. We know that Biscuit will send us the “right” sheltie friend.

A few photographs are shown below of this special POWA Ceremony in honor of our little Biscuit, whom we miss dearly. We would like to thank Kelsang Kalden for helping to organize this special Ceremony for Biscuit; and we also would like to thank Gen Kelsang Chogden for performing this POWA Ceremony for Biscuit.

Aug 28

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A Baby Panda!

Recently, Doug and I went to the National Zoo and we learned that there was a “panda watch” for a baby panda to be born in September 2013! Well, on Friday night, August 23, 2013, when we arrived home from dinner, we learned a baby panda had been born! For those who have been following the blog know that we love cheetahs and pandas!

You can read more about the new baby panda here; you can watch a video of Mei Xiang giving birth to the baby panda here; and view photos of the baby panda’s first check-up here. We really hope that Tian Tian, the male panda at the National Zoo, is the father! Doug is a huge fan of Mr. Tian Tian! However, we think that this is a good omen that a baby panda cub has been born — a rare event here in the states! We hope that this baby panda will continue to be a healthy panda cub — and we are pulling for a little girl panda cub! Additionally, here is an interesting New Yorker article on panda breeding in zoos.

However, we were sad to learn that on August 25, 2013, Mei Xiang gave birth to a second cub, a stillborn.

Over the years, we have seen litters of cheetah cubs born at the National Zoo; and we saw little Tai Shan, the first panda cub (a male) born in 2005 at the National Zoo! Mei Xiang and Tian Tian are the mother and father of Tai Shan, who now lives in China and we hear that he may be a father soon, and he is now a “big brother” as well!

Happy Wednesday!

Aug 27

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An Engagement!

“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” ~Aristotle

My sister is engaged! Several weeks ago, my sister, Kassie, called me and told me that she and her now fiance, Jason, were planning to get engaged in August — she told me that she (along with Jason) had already picked out her engagement ring and it was ordered and being made at that time! Jason proposed to Kassie during a recent trip to Quebec City and Montreal, Canada! How exciting!

A date has been set, and Kassie and Jason are having a fall October 2014 wedding! Doug and I are so happy for you, Kassie! It will be fun to help and see your wedding plans take shape! We know that your wedding will be beautiful — the fall is a gorgeous time of year!

Below are some old and fun candid photographs of me and Kassie together — circa 1980s — don’t you love some of our matching outfits!

Happy Tuesday!

Aug 26

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Featured: Click Blog, The Photography Magazine

I was incredibly honored when Simona Marani, a writer, from ClickBlog recently contacted me because she wanted to feature my photographs from my black and white series. I am very grateful to have a feature article in ClickBlog discussing my photography and also sharing my images. ClickBlog is based in Milan, Italy and this online magazine highlights photographers and current events in the world of photography. You can read the entire featured article here. (The English translation is displayed immediately below.)

A big thank you to Simona Marani, Writer, ClickBlog!

The Personality of Dogs in Photographic Portraits by Katherine Carver

The portraits of dogs by Katherine Carver are intimate, unique, exciting, and designed to ferret out what escapes us and is taken for granted.

Katherine Carver’s images are not just a gallery of portraits, but poems that tell of exciting shades of long hair fluttering in the wind and carved by the flashes of light and darkness.

Biscuit, shown above, a dear sweet Shetland Sheepdog, who has touched and stimulated our imagination has changed my life and photography by Katherine Carver, who adopted Biscuit by freeing him from the street. Biscuit has become the protagonist of many photography shots, and an entire blog, which carries the memory after the disappearance, giving space to the stories of other special dogs who have been given a second chance.

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.

Biscuit, a life partner, awakened artistic adventures for Katherine Carver who lives in Maryland, specifically her desire to photograph the dogs in a different way – utilizing unique features of each dog thereby creating unique and intimate photographs.

I am the happiest behind my camera creating photographs and recording another realm that would otherwise remain unseen. I believe those who hire me are actively searching for a customized and alternative fine art documentary approach. I work on location in a documentary and unobtrusive manner, creating compelling, story-telling photographs that go beyond the predictable and scripted images.

Portraits in black and white, dogs of different breeds, sizes, and stories, each with unique personalities and characteristics, such as the patch of white hair in the black coat of Jax, the beautiful stray dog rescued by Jen from the Baltimore County Animal Shelter, along with many other dogs that come from animal shelters. You can peek into this small gallery with your eyes containing profiles to contemplate and to recognize emotions and memories to awaken a host of dormant consciences.

Aug 23

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Daring Greatly — Daring to Fail

I woke up this morning and found my favorite Theodore Roosevelt quote, shown below. If you are feeling frustrated, intimidated, or afraid to get into the arena and face your fears, this one is for you…

The Man in the Arena

It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly

Aug 22

Tips for Creativity

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” ~ Maya Angelou

Recently, I have been looking for inspiration to be more creative. Below are some ideas that have helped me, and I hope that they help you, if you are in need of some creativity!

1. Creative Types. Surround yourself with creative people.

2. Special Places. Go to places that inspire you.

3. Hone Your Craft. Spend time on your craft, whether it is art, photography, writing, or music, etc. Hone your skills and practice, practice, and practice until you feel in control of your medium and at the same time vulnerable to it.

4. Laugh. Do not take yourself or your work too seriously. Sometimes you are exploring and other times you are doing it for real. However, you get to define “real.”

5. Daydream. Take time to daydream. Do something other than your craft, or your mind will not have time to regroup.

6. Surrender. I noticed that things go much more smoothly when I surrender —when I allow them to happen instead of making them happen.

Surrender = Complete acceptance of what is + Faith that all is well.

Aug 21

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Interview with Jennifer Schiazza — Thoughts on Dog Fostering

Interview with Jennifer Schiazza — Thoughts on Dog Fostering

Recently, I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Schiazza, a foster dog parent, living in Baltimore, Maryland. Jen and her husband have fostered many dogs and she is an ardent supporter of dog fostering and dog rescue, which saves dogs’ lives. Jen and her husband predominately foster pit bulls in need of furever homes. Additionally, Jen, a woman after my own heart, writes a blog about her adventures in dog fostering, which is narrated by Jax! You can follow Jen’s blog here!

KATHERINE CARVER: How did your adventure in dog fostering begin?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: About a year after adopting our dog, Jax, my husband and I thought about adopting a second dog, but we weren’t 100% ready to make the commitment. I heard about fostering through some acquaintances on Facebook and thought it would let us test the waters with Jax and see how he would take to a second dog in the house. It would also help us determine how adopting another dog would impact our lives.

I researched some Baltimore-area rescues and found a few that seemed like a good match. I submitted an application to Dogs XL Rescue and they contacted me to go over their foster program, conducted a home visit and verified with my vet that Jax is kept up-to-date on his vaccines. Before I knew it, they were setting me up with my first foster, a Chesapeake Retriever named Cinnamon, pictured immediately below.

KATHERINE CARVER: How many dogs have you fostered?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: We just had the pleasure of seeing our sixth foster dog go to her forever home. (Photographs of our foster dogs are shown throughout this blog post). Some dogs were with us for as short as three weeks, while a few of our fosters were with us for about four months.

KATHERINE CARVER: What dog rescue organizations do you work with in relation to dog fostering?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Our first two fosters were for Dogs XL Rescue. They focus on saving larger dogs because they are usually the first dogs to be put down when shelters run out of space since they cost more to vet and feed than smaller dogs. Dogs XL Rescue pulls dogs from all over the country, allowing them to save a wider variety of dogs than if they pulled from local shelters.

After our second Dogs XL Rescue foster, we transferred our fostering efforts to Jasmine’s House, a non-profit pit bull rescue. Because the number of families willing to take in pit bulls is relatively small compared to the number of families willing to foster other breeds, we switched rescues in honor of Jax, who is a pit bull.

KATHERINE CARVER: Why do you think dog fostering is important?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Millions of dogs are killed in shelters every year because of overpopulation. I know there is no way to save them all, but every foster we take in means a the rescue can save one more life. I love seeing foster families with young children and think their children are so lucky to learn valuable lessons fostering teaches, like compassion and selflessness at such a young age.

KATHERINE CARVER: In your experience, what does dog fostering entail?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Since the rescues provide crates, vet care, monthly heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, food and boarding if you need to go out of town, there is no financial commitment with fostering. There is a minimal time commitment like putting together an extra bowl of food twice a day, an occasional vet visit and optional training sessions that not only help the dogs, but taught me how to handle dogs.

A foster parent must have a willingness to learn. I didn’t know much about training dogs when I adopted Jax. Heck, I didn’t even know how to find a good trainer. I’ve had a lot of support from the rescues and other volunteers. I read articles and ask questions. I’m always learning something new. A sense of humor doesn’t hurt either.

KATHERINE CARVER: What dog fostering experience moved or inspired you the most?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Our most recent foster, Amelia, pictured below, was special to me because I personally chose to pull her from the shelter. All of our previous fosters were recommended to us by the rescues. A photograph of Amelia, pictured on the left below, was posted by Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) as needing rescue or adoption. She was 20 pounds underweight. My only thought upon seeing her photo was that she couldn’t die in that condition, scared, alone and unloved. I contacted Heather, the foster and adoption director for Jasmine’s House, and asked if we could pull her. Heather made arrangements for me to pick Amelia up from BARCS the next day. I didn’t stop to think if she would get along with Jax, if she was house trained, would sleep through the night or had any health or behavior issues. I was lucky; Amelia knew how to sit, stay, lay down, and give paw. She had no problems introducing herself to Jax and adjusted quickly to our home. We worked on some resource guarding with the help of Jasmine’s House training partner, Meghan Longhurst, and watched her gain confidence and healthy weight over the four months. When she was adopted, I was so happy for her to have her happy ending and she will always hold a special place in my heart.

KATHERINE CARVER: What is the most satisfying and rewarding part of your dog fostering work?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: The day each dog is adopted (I call it Gotcha Day), is a great day. Sometimes I shed a few tears and part of me is nervous about how they will fit into their new homes, but I always do a happy dance when they leave for their new home. I’ve kept in touch with a few adopters and hearing how much they love their dog makes it all worth it for me.

KATHERINE CARVER: In your experience, what is the most challenging aspect about dog fostering?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: For me, the first 48 hours with a new foster is the most challenging. Imagine introducing a new dog to your home and settling them into your routine an average of every two months. Most of the time we don’t know if they’re house trained, crate trained, or if they will get along with Jax. We had a dog who got car sick, one who didn’t sleep through the night one who had food aggression towards Jax…and every foster had an accident in our house on the first day. We use a good enzymatic cleaner and take it one day at a time.

KATHERINE CARVER: Is it difficult to see the dogs you have fostered move from your home to a forever home? How do you handle this experience when it happens?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: It’s definitely been bittersweet letting some of our fosters go, but I’ve always been pleased with the families adopting our fosters. The meet and greets with interested families are important part of the adoption process not just for the adopters, but for the foster families as well because it reassures us that they are going to a loving forever home. As much joy and happiness as some of our fosters have brought us, I’ve seen them bring even more joy to their adopters. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to keep in touch with the adopters of my best fosters. I see photos on Facebook and even get to dog-sit for one of my fosters when the family goes out of town.

I found an anonymous quote that perfectly sums up how I feel when I miss my fosters: “I would rather cry and watch them leave our home to go live a full, good life in a loving forever home of their own, than cry because no one stepped up for them in a shelter where they died all alone, scared, unwanted and unloved.”

KATHERINE CARVER: What advice can you give to someone who might be considering getting involved with dog fostering?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Contact several rescues and ask them about their fostering program to make sure it’s a good fit. Will they find a temporary foster or boarding place if you go out of town? Do they provide food and crates if you need it? Are free training sessions available to attend with your foster dog ? What type of training do they support (i.e. reward-based, force free training)?

Remember your foster dog will be confused and maybe a little scared by his or her new surroundings. They may have been recently spayed or neutered, come from a high stress situation like a shelter or long transport and they don’t know when they’re getting fed, where they are supposed to relieve themselves and they certainly don’t know who you are.

Material things are replaceable. I had a woman tell me her dog chewed a hole in the sleeve of her expensive cashmere sweater, but she rolls up the sleeves and laughs every time she puts it on.

Keep your receipts for anything you spend on your foster and your mileage because it’s tax deductible.

Lastly, cherish the good times and learn from the bad. I take a lot of videos and pictures of my fosters and remember what they did that put a smile on my face. I’ve learned from every one of our fosters, mostly from our mistakes from house training, resource guarding to separation anxiety and it’s made me a better, more patient person.

KATHERINE CARVER: What are your goals and dreams for the future concerning dog fostering?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: Fostering can be addictive. We haven’t gone more than a few weeks without a foster in the last year. It’s important to take a break so we’re going to take a breather and then I’m sure it won’t be long before I see another dog in need. We don’t have any children now, but when we do, I definitely want to foster to teach them the importance of rescue.

KATHERINE CARVER: Where can people learn more about dog fostering?

JENNIFER SCHIAZZA: A lot of rescues post on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. It’s a good resource to see what dogs are in need, ask questions and find people with a common interest.

Please note all photographs are courtesy of Jennifer Schiazza.

You can read additional interviews here.

Aug 20

Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc. — Part IV – 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) and other dog rescue organizations such as the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc. Since Biscuit was a sheltie, I felt that we needed to include a sheltie rescue in this project in Biscuit’s honor. I hope to share further information in the future. You can view Part I; Part II; and Part III.

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 any of these dogs pictured below, please contact the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc. for further information. Please consider dog rescue! Biscuit’s story illustrates that we can make a positive difference and impact in one dog’s life.

Brief Description of the dogs in the order they are pictured below.

1. Maggie — is a retriever and chow mix who is 15 years old. Maggie is blind and she has some arthritis, and she has a very calm disposition. She loves one-on-one attention. Maggie is a very sweet and loving dog who is in need of a furever home!

2. Rock-It — is a male sheltie who is 13 years old. Rock-It is a special, gentle sheltie with a wonderful calm disposition who loves one-on-one attention who is in need of a furever home!

3. Angel — is a female shelite who is 13 years old, who acts quite young for her age. Angel is swift on her feet and she loves to run and play! Angel is in need of a furever home!

4. Spirit — is a male sheltie who is 9 years old. Spirit is very friendly and playful. Spirit is not fond of cars, and therefore requires a fenced in backyard. Spirit is a very playful dog who loves to play who is in need of a furever home!

If you want to adopt a rescue dog; donate money; and/or contribute your time to the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc ., please contact Carol Guth via telephone at 301-663-0635; or via e-mail at sheltytaxi@aol.com. To learn more, you can also visit the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc.’s website.

Happy Tuesday!

Also, during our recent visit to the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc., we donated Biscuit’s remaining dog food to this rescue in order to help other sheltie rescue dogs.

Additionally, I photographed Carol Guth’s dogs — who were originally rescue dogs that she adopted as her own dogs — Whisper, Twist, and Jill! Aren’t they adorable! Carol is going to use one of these images, shown below, for her 2013 Christmas card! Carol Guth is the Director of the Sheltie Haven Sheltie Rescue, Inc.

Aug 16

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A Daily Practice

“The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine.” ~ Mike Murdock

Blogging is a daily practice for me. This blog was inspired by Biscuit, and this blog is like my little heaven. It is this place where I get to talk about things and ideas that are on my mind, what inspires me, my projects, my life, and people I love — and who doesn’t like to do that? I do not have advertisers on my blog so that I can keep it about what I want, ideas that are important to me, without worrying about anything else.

What I really have become to realize is this blog is like a photograph as it captures little snippets in time forever. I also like keeping a blog as it creates a daily record, that I can refer back to at anytime. Often times, we do not remember the small events that happen on a daily basis. My hope, with this blog, is to share, capture, and preserve. Later this year, I also plan to have a blog book made as well, and I plan to do a blog book for each year worth of blog posts.

I have met some really wonderful people through this blog. Biscuit certainly gave us so many gifts in the short time that we spent with him and his gifts he gave to us, which we continue to receive today, will be with us forever. Doug, Biscuit, and I really made the most of our time together, and I hope to carry out this theme in my own life — making the most of each day and each opportunity. Often times, I have found, that the best opportunities and gifts present themselves in ways I could not have imagined or planned! So, the lesson, I have learned, is to be open and let life fully in your heart.

For anyone out that has any desire to begin a daily blog, I highly recommend it — remember you can begin anywhere.