Last week I traveled down to the Charleston, SC area to photograph a couple properties. While I was there, I completely fell in love with this condo on Folly Beach. This place was AMAZING! It was right on the beach and had the most incredible views. Too bad it is way out of my price range because I would be all over this place!
The views from the rooftop deck...
The inside was just as impressive...
Yeah, I could wake up to this every day...
Rain, no rain, rain, no rain. That's what was going on the morning of the 2010 Bark in the Park. I was getting so anxious because I really wanted to go and check it out, but I only had a small window of opportunity before I had to head out of town. Fortunately, the rain stopped and I got to enjoy about an hour-and-a-half of the event!
I managed to meet lots of great people and got to learn about some really cool pet-friendly businesses in the Charlotte area. It is nice to know that there are companies out there that genuinely care about your pet as much as you do!
I didn't take a ton of pics but wanted to share some of the ones I did take. Because I didn't get to see any of the contests or doggy trials, I decided to make up my own awards based on what I saw in the short period of time I was there. If your doggy or business isn't on here, I'll try to catch you next year when I can hang around longer!!!
The first award goes to this handsome guy from the Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue. He wins the award for Best Tongue...
These cuties definitely win for Most Pampered Pooches...
I love all dog breeds but these two are quickly moving to the top of the favorites list - they are so photogenic! These are the winners for Top Model...
The gorgeous fabrics, colors, and patterns have won this vendor Best Display! These are all hand made and can be found at Haute Dogs. I want one of each!
These were found at the Canine Cafe display and they have won the Best Dog toys EVER!!!!! These things crack me up! I love the chest hair and the chain on the trailer trash chicken...
Winner for Best Air Time...
This girl wins hands down for Best Frisbee Catcher. In the photo on the left, she has 5 (that's right, 5) frisbees in her mouth!
The end!
Time for a ton of new images from the Great Dane Rescue of the Carolinas! As usual, every dog was a sweet little bundle of slobbery kisses and were soooo happy to spend some time with new visitors! Please, if you or someone you know is looking for a new pup, please check out this rescue group! Please pass this post along to as many people as necessary to get the word out there about these great (no pun intended) animals! The first dog of the day actually arrived while I was at the rescue. This little guy is a 7-month-old Dane with the most gorgeous eyes and floppy ears! A total heartbreaker...this is Zeus...
Another new arrival to the rescue is Pepper. Pepper has great manners and already knows how to sit, stay, and lay down. I just loved the way he would plop down in his "Superman" pose!
This next guy is a veteran of the rescue and is often overlooked because he has a couple of patches of missing fur. Its too bad because he is the kindest and most lovable boy there...definitely a volunteer favorite. He cracks me up because he makes the funniest faces, including the one below. This is Gary...
Bentley is the next pup and he has lived at the rescue for basically his entire life. Don't worry - he has eaten well! He totally reminds me of Ruben Studdard because he is like a big teddy bear. He will be the first one to roll over to get that big tummy of his scratched!
This next happy guy is Scooter. He loves to give kisses, wag his tail, and he tries to carry on a conversation with you. He can't though because we think his "barker" (Brian's word for it) has been taken out. He is a love bug!
This handsome Pitbull is called Blue and was just rescued from some not-so-good people down in South Carolina. You would never know based on his personality! He was just as bright-eyed and ready to play as the rest of the doggies!
The next pup is Casper! I don't know too much about Casper other than he is a sweet pup that is eager to play! He is a wonderful boy and oh so handsome!
These two sisters are Hannah (on the left) and Hilda. They have been at the rescue for quite some time and in need of their forever home! They were so ready to pose for the camera and just ate up the attention.
This next girl is one of my favorites. I just found out she was put into a foster home all the way up in New York but she is still available for adoption! I feel like you get two dogs for the price of one with Taffy. One minute she looks like the dog on the left - the next minute she looks like the dog on the right! Where did those ears come from!!!
If you are looking for a dog with a ton of energy and stamina, Casey is the one for you! This Jack Russell (mix? not sure) loves to play and run but always leaves some extra energy for snuggle time!
Another high-energy dog is Petunia. She loves to run and I know that her calling would be frisbee catching if she was ever given the chance. She just needs someone to take her home and give the opportunity to master her inner talents! She is a sweetypie!
Raven (the black Dane) and Willow are both 8 years old and just arrived at the rescue. Willow showed up as a rack of bones and is slowly gaining some of her much needed weight back. I look forward to spending more time with these sweethearts and getting some great pics of them...that is unless they get adopted first!
I am in love with this image for a number of reasons. Number one, the subject. Number two, I love the backlighting. And number three, I love the noise in the image which makes the picture feel like it was developed from high speed film. I also love the expression in Raven's eyes...he seems so anxious and excited. I see the leash and I wonder: where are they going? what does the dog see? However, there is also another side that I see. For me to know that Raven just arrived at the rescue, this image also creates a since of sadness. Perhaps he was just dropped off and he realizes he no longer will be going back to his old home. Maybe he is looking back at his owners driving away and wondering, "Hey, what about me?" This has happened to each one of the dogs at the rescue no matter how old or young. Each one of them has been left behind. It is up to us to find and provide them wonderful, loving forever homes.
As usual, we end each session with hugs and kisses. These are from Scooter and Gary...
Anytime I photograph a house, I learn something new. It could be a new technique, about a new location, or about something architectural. My shoot in Boone, NC earlier this week was no exception. During this shoot I learned about Maharishi Sthapatya Veda - Architecture in Accord with Natural Law. Maharishi Sthapatya Veda is a type of architecture that takes into account the influences of the sun, moon, stars, and planets with reference to north and south poles and the equator. This is to connect the occupants of the building with Cosmic Life creating peace, prosperity, and good health.
There are 3 main principles to Maharishi Sthapatya Veda architecture. They are:
1) Right direction - The entrance should face East
2) Right placement - Each room should be placed so that the activities in that room correspond to the different energies of the sun as it moves from east to west.
3) Special elements - a) the Brahmasthan is the silent core at the center of the building. b) A Vastu fence around the house. c) A Kalash installed on the roof of the building. d) The use of non-toxic building materials. e) The site and topography of the land.
In the photo below, you can see the Vastu fence around the house as well as the Kalash on the highest point of the roof...
This is the Brahmasthan. This is to be a place of no activity that simply acts as the core of the building...
There were some gorgeous details.
And the land was absolutely gorgeous...very peaceful.
A few days ago I had the unique opportunity to photograph a newborn baby. Unique in that I have never attempted such a feat; newborn as in he was a brand new 1 1/2 week old. Needless to say, I learned a lot! I learned about motherhood, diaper changing, warning signs an accident is in the making, oh, and how to photograph a totally new type of subject. I had a blast! So here is Evan Dennis! Born on April 6th, this big boy weighed in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces and was 22 inches long. I've been eager to edit these images and I stayed up extra late (er...early...its 4:26am) just to work through some of my favorites. Please help me in welcoming baby Evan to the world!
Evan's big sis, Molly...
This one is called "Evan Dancing"...
Sorry. I couldn't resist...
If you have been on this blog lately, you will know that I've had the pleasure of watching 5 House Finches grow up! I have to check their status every now and then just so I can water my plant but I always have 3 unhappy parents squawking at me. BTW...is it weird that there are 2 males and 1 female keeping watch over the nest? I really don't know! Anyway, as of yesterday, this is how big they have gotten. The poor guys barely fit in the nest! They all have cute little feathers and will probably be leaving the nest in the next day or two. :( When I took pics this time, they weren't so sure about me. They definitely weren't begging for food from the big, black lens hovering over them.
You can find the original post here. The chicks' final pet portraits...
Last week I posted a sneak peek of the house that I was photographing on Lake Wylie. Well...here are some more pics!!! This home was so warm and inviting - I wish it was staged just to show how easily this house could become a home. We had the doors and windows open enjoying the breezes coming off the lake and I really didn't want to leave! It was a beautiful day perfect for shooting a beautiful home! Believe it or not, this is the first empty home that I have ever shot. I thought for sure that it would be a walk in the park...boy, was I wrong. I had no hiding places for my little accent flashes and it is incredibly hard to make the rooms look welcoming and not too sterile. Fortunately, I had some awesome views to work with!
As seen in the stairwell, the moulding in this home was so simple, yet so gorgeous. The study won "Best Room Design" in the 2009 Parade of Homes.
Man, I could spend all summer on that balcony!
I love white, shaker-style cabinets! 'nuff said!
I loved the Master Suite! I am a total sucker for coffered ceilings and the blue walls were perfect for a bedroom overlooking the lake. What I declared the "girls" room, was to die for! I could totally see a little girl decorating this pretty room in pink with a delicate chandelier hanging from the octagon-shaped trey ceiling.
This house was built with a family in mind. The second-level play room is perfect for the kids to gather and store their toys, while the entertainer's basement just begs for a pool table!
These view shots were re-taken a week later than the rest. I'm glad we did that because the trees just started to pop but were still thin enough to see the through them. The views were amazing. I think I'll let them speak for themselves...
We literally left dinner and it was POURING rain out. As we were driving home, the rain stopped and the clouds parted just long enough to catch a glimpse of the setting sun. We quickly turned into a parking lot that leads up to the lake and I managed to capture the last seconds of the sun saying goodnight. I wish I had my good camera for this but in the words of the talented Chase Jarvis, the best camera is the one you have with you.
