Why I started..

 People ask me sometimes what got me interested in photography, what inspired me to learn more about it and graduate to a better camera.  For me, the interest all began when I started volunteering at the animal shelter in my city.  I had attended an animal rescue group meeting, and the woman in charge of pound volunteers asked for someone to photograph the animals available and post them on petfinder to be adopted.  I thought this was a good place to start volunteering, a slow introduction.

I immediately loved it- and I quickly learned that the better the picture, the more likely it was their profile would be looked at, which in turn made it more likely the animal would be adopted, the ultimate goal. 

Unfortunately, this is not an easy task!!  Have you ever tried to photograph a cat that has been cooped in a cage for days?  They really do not want to hold still for a photo.  They would rather try and jump up on cages, run around checking things out, smell plants, etc. It is pretty tricky and challenging to photograph cats! Dogs are so easy in comparison.  They just stand there and let you take their pic.  For the most part.  Sometimes you get that dog who wants to leap straight up in the air, or constantly has their nose to the ground sniffing and smelling.  It usually takes me two hours a week to photograph the animals in the pound, and that is with an assistant to control the animal or make sure it doesn't run away.  If I don't have an assistant, the photos are not as good, since the animal has to stay in a cage.  Which means it is less likely to get looked at, and so on.  I usually leave with 300 some photos, that needed to be sorted through and edited- then uploaded online to two different adoption sites.  This all takes hours - but it is all worth it when an animal is adopted. :)  We recently had a cat come in as a stray, and the picture was online not even 24 hours before the owners saw her and came to get her.  They had been looking a whole month, and they said when they saw the photo, they knew it was her- that I had captured her personality.

I urge anyone who is interested in photography, whether they are pros or just beginners, to check with your local shelters and rescues, to see if they need any assistance with photos for Petfinder.  It is a great opportunity for you and for the animals!!  And if you need a photo challenge, just wait until you start taking pictures of shelter cats!

This is another good article about photography and animal rescue.  http://jezebel.com/5841613/pet-photographer-says-better-photos-save-shelter-dogs-lives

Along the Fence Line {52 Photos Project}

I have a thing for wrought iron- I love wrought iron fences, gates. It is delicate and beautiful, yet sturdy and strong.  

August Book Club - The Story of the Eye

 Hostess: Alyssa

Book: Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille

Food:Leek and Jalapeno Salmon, french bread with goat cheese and pear (and jalapenos on half), cake

Wine of the Night: Lula B.

Month: August

Never let it be said that we are a timid and tame book club- we are bold and unafraid.  Alyssa told us that this was a book that could never be unread, and she was right- once this book is in your head, it is there forever.

This book is pretty controversial, and I don't recommend it to everyone.  Read about it first before picking it up.  It did spark a lively book club discussion though!  Everything in the book is memorable, and there is never a dull moment.  To me, I feel the book is about hedonism and freedom, even when that freedom borders and crosses into deviance - sexual and social.  The author explains in the back of the book some of his motivations for the book; I would love to know more, and plan to research even more deeply into the reasoning behind it.

We had a special book club this month- we were officially congratulating Mary on her pregnancy! I know that I am hoping she has a girl and names her Erin- what a great name. ;)  Alyssa bought a special cake for Mary, that we all got to enjoy. I should have skipped the cake, after the million pieces of bread with goat cheese and pear that I ate.  I could eat that everyday, it was so good!

Next month (September) is Mary's pick, and we are reading Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote. 

Most Perfect Fruit {52 Photos Project}

"Whisky and apples go together. Fix me a drink, darling. Then you can read me a story yourself." 

(from Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1958)

The photo prompt for this week was the color red.  For me, in autumn, red means two things- changing leaves and apples.  I personally love apples, I think they are the world's most perfect fruit.  Satisfyingly crunchy, healthy, filling, easy to eat with one hand while driving or reading.  Perfect.  Although I have never had apples and whisky. 

Part of the 52 Photos Project.

Joy Pockets

~ morning bike ride

~ bonfire with friends on a cool evening

~ early trip to the apple orchard

~ 7 adoptions in one night at the shelter!

~ surprise invitations to breakfast and dinner 

~ listening to the rain at night as I fall asleep

~ book club

~ goat cheese, pears and toasted bread

~ staying in pajamas late in the morning on the weekend

                                        

Joy Pockets is brought to us by Bohemian Twilight, to help us find the joyful moments in our lives.

Some Peace and Quiet {52 Photos Prompt}

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;

~ William Wordsworth

This week's photo prompt was about where we go to find peace, quiet, solace in our lives.  My house is not that peaceful most of the time, too many intrusions that I can't figure out how to ignore or quell.  But I am working on it.  Sometimes I head to the library, and find a return to calm among the quiet stacks.  Most of the time, my husband and I take a walk in the woods. Our favorite is Oakwoods Metropark near our home; the staff there is so friendly, and we know the trails there by heart.  I find that just a short walk through these woods resets me, and I am ready to take on the world again.  I try to see in Nature what is ours, and not let the world be too much with us..

Joy Pockets

                                           Joy Pockets is brought to us by Bohemian Twilight, 

to help us remember the joyful moments of our week.

~ Spending a little unexpected time with this red headed whirling dervish

~  making dinner with my husband

~ a day out with my mom, just the two of us

~ two long timers at the shelter getting adopted

~ going back to work and catching up with my work friends

~ morning coffee made with fresh ground beans

~ using butternut squash right from our garden

~ finding vacation photos I thought were gone

~ completing some projects that have long been on my list

~ a cat on my lap while I type