Rainy Day Hikes

A hike on a rainy day has different qualities for a photographer to explore; the colors are more vibrant and the fog makes everything look mysterious.




The wet weather brings out the salamanders. The primary ones we saw were the Red Efts, the immature version of the Red Spotted Newt. These little guys were everywhere.

There are drawbacks to hiking on a rainy day too. Below is our view of the water fall that we could hear roaring in the distance...

But then, little drops on small streams turn into bigger water falls too.

April Essay- after the storm

Each month I plan to take an afternoon or morning and photograph something different from what I would shoot in my everyday portrait business. I let what ever sparks my interest for that month be the subject. No year long calendar agenda! I have a feeling it will usually be nature related since that is where I seem to gravitate. This month we had a great thunder storm one evening, which went on into the night. The next morning water was on everything and the light on the scene was wonderful.

These are a few of the subjects I found in my own yard after the event. I tended to focused on the smaller rain drops. It amazes me how they can seem to defy gravity and stay on those petals and leaves. I did include one rainbow, I know, its cliche'. BUT I can never get over how really cool these are and how a storm can refract light like that. So in the essay it shall stay.

May 1st Roswell's toast to Children's silent auction

This Friday May 1 from 7 to 9 Roswell Friends and Hinton's Wine Store will host their third annual Roswell's Toast to Children's. This is a fund raiser for Childrens Health Care of Atlanta with a wine tasting and silent auction. Bark Photography will be represented at the silent action with a portrait session and a large print of the session to aucton off.

Check the web site for details Roswell's Toast to Children

Bark Photography: dog is everywhere

The official ribbon cutting ceremony at Chicopee Woods Mt bike Trails, Sat April 18 2009
The official ribbon has just been cut. Note the "official" scissors. Note the happy officials.

This weekend was the grand opening for the new mountain bike trails at Chicapee Woods in Gainseville Ga. There are miles and miles of new trails there. What has always been a good place to mountain bike has become even better.

The day was very festive with music, free barbecue and a wonderful mystery adventure ride with an abundance of great prizes at the end. Norma Rainwater used her skills as a mountain biker and educator to put together a ride that was fun and interesting ride for everyone.

This is the SORBA chapter that makes it all happen up there.

http://www.gainesvillesorba.org/wordpress/

This was quite an event. Everyone showed up, including Sorella Cycling, and they brought their new banner for this year. Since Bark Photography is a sponsor, our favorite dog showed up on the banner. Check her out, she's in the bottom left:

She's everywhere, including on the back of the jerseys. The jersey model shall remain anonymous. She had been riding though check out the blood on the elbow.

http://www.sorellacycling.org/

http://www.barkphotography.com/

April 13 Judging at Cherokee Photography Club

I went out last Monday representing Bark Photography to judge a very good abstract photography competition at the Cherokee Photography Club . There were over 120 entries, which kept me talking a while. All the images were outstanding. In the projected category alone I tried to talk them into letting me give 14 honorable mentions. This is quite the creative group. Thanks for letting me see all your work.

Check them out at:
http://www.cherokeepc.org/

Bark helps sponsor opening with Dog "Drawing"

Winsome, Whimsical & Organic is an art opening at Rev that Bark Photography is helping sponsor by giving away prizes.

But with a twist.

A complimentary full session animal portrait with all the perks will be the grand prize, and will be given away along with two other prizes:

(2) 11x17 prints and
(1) free 24 page coffee table book

Both prizes come with a 25% session fee discount. The three lucky people drawn will have 2 minutes to draw a dog on a piece of provided newsprint and the audience will pick the winner of the grand prize, as well as the 2nd and 3rd.

Of course the coveted dog bone award for best use of line in a drawing will be judged by someone who spent far too much time at art school.

art opening at REV coffee
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Time: 8:00-11:00
8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location:1680 Spring Rd Smyrna

An Opening Reception featuring artwork by Betsy Cozine, Veva Dunckel, Becky Fried, Gordoni, Vida, Matthew Sugarman, and Chris Warner.

Music by Urban Folk Musician Trina Mashell (myspace.com/trinamashell)
and Santee Steve and the Red Clay Cowboys (minus the cowboys)

Come on by!

April 7th will be a big day

Look what's up

April 7 will be a very auspicious day.
Two important events will take place:
The new Bark website will have it’s coming out party on the World Wide Web. It will have an entirely different look with many more pictures and information. I am especially excited about the testimonial section. It will include a picture of the subject with the testimonial. It’s from all my photography so it is not only dogs, there are kids, parents, moms to be and maybe a bride might put her 2 cents in the mix. It was fun gathering these as well as reading what people came up with to say. Thank you everyone for taking the time to participate in this.

The Birthday Girl !

The second important event? It’s my Mom’s 84 Birthday. Like her daughter she believes birthdays are not just one day events and I know that 3 Luncheons are already in the works.

Abby's big Adventure

Last Month Cynthia and I went to Siam Square to have a goodbye meal for Abby. We were the only ones eating however. Abby just patiently sat under the table.

Abby left for New York Monday to begin her formal training to be a guide dog. Cynthia has raised Abby from a puppy for the Guide dog organization. She has taken her to the opera, museum, restaurants, art openings, mine included, all to assimilate her so she will be able to be a blind person's eyes.

Abby we will miss you but can't wait to hear about your continuing adventures. Abby has been a portrait subject, a model and spokes-dog for Bark photography since she was been able to wag her tail. Good travels Abby.
http://www.guidedog.org/

Abby as a pup in her service dog coat

Gala for Golden Retrievers

The Adopt a golden will have their golden gala on Saturday Febuary 21. It will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts center. Paul Ossmann of 11 alive will be emcee along with Doppes the weather dog. Bark Photography will be donating portrait sessions and coffee table books of the portrait sessions to the event. Call 404-Dog-Less 404-364-5377 for more details or go to www.adoptagoldenatlanta.com

FEB 7 Happy Tails Silent Auction

Bark Photography participates in Happy Tails silent auction.
Happy Tails is a group of Pets and their owners who visit people in healthcare facilities, social agencies and special needs programs.
The action is themed Warm Hearts Cold Noses and is to expand program services and to meet the growing community requests for service throughout Metro Atlanta. The Auction will take place at Villa Christina Feb 7 go to the web site for details. Anne Ledbetter contritubuted a portrait session to the event.

This is Riley who is a retired Happy Tails Dog

http://www.happytailspets.org/

Jan Judging at East Cobb Camera Club

Jan 8th
Judging at East Cobb Camera Club. In Jan the East Cobb Camera club of the East Cobb Senior Center had a photography contest with general matter as the subject. That means the subject could be anything. The only stipulations were when the photographs were taken. There were 2 categories: photo taken within the last 3 months and photographs taken within the last 5 years. This was a hard thing to judge there was so much diversity. The 3 month category I could not believe how many places the members had been over the holidays. This group is on the go. After the contest I was treated to a wonderful lunch at the Fish Market in Marietta by the club. Thanks for the great meal!
http://seniors.cobbcountyga.gov/documents/ECOngoing2.08pdf_000.pdf

Sorella Cycling Club sponsor

Bark photography to be a Sorella Cycling club sponsor
Sponsor.

This is the second year Anne Ledbetter taken the team and the club portrait pictures. This year I'm a one of the sponsors. The woman get discounts on shoots and products. Also we will raffle off some portrait shoots to raise money for worthwhile causes.

Sorella Cycling club there mission statement says
“Sorella Cycling's mission is to foster a supportive and open environment for women of all ages and abilities to ride their bicycles for fitness, recreation and racing.” And they have a lot of fun doing it.

I've been a member for a few years and it is a great organization. There is a forum that is like going down to the water cooler for me since when I’m not with clients I’m working by myself.
I take the team and club pictures and will do a few raffles portrait session prizes for some of their fund raising events. And this year am offering discount to the club members for shoots and products.

http://www.sorellacycling.org/

SABA Holiday Party

It was time for the 2nd annual SABA Holiday party. This year we decided to have it at someone’s house. The house we picked just happened to be mine. OK I really did volunteer. We figured we would have a potluck this year and at someone’s house it would be nice and cozy.
. Steve and I made Chill and there were savory and sweet dishes galore. The party was a great susees what a way to role in the second year of SABAhttp://www.presentingsmyrna.com/index.php?customernumber=796116937628761&pr=Arts_And_Culture

It’s time for the annual Bark Photography Holiday card picture. This year I choose Chance a lab puppy for the shot. He is a neighbor of mine and I have seen Chance grow since he was a wee little thing.
I wanted it to look like Chance was really up to something and had gotten really into the Christmas decorations. I got Steve to keep putting the Garland on Chance while he was being kept Chance occupied with little treats. I Think chance had a good old time.

Cobb Photo Society Talk

Nov 17th
I gave a presentation about how to take pictures of pets to the Cobb Photography society. They meet every other Monday at the Marietta library at 7:00 the are a wonderful organization with speakers one meeting a month and the other meeting they have a photo contest on different subjects each month. This is an excellent way to learn about photography and to improve your work. They helped me so much when I was a budding photographer. Anne Ledbetter Photography and Bark Photography would not be here today without them.
Cynthia who raises dogs for Guide Dog Foundation brought Abby to help demonstrate what dogs do during a shoot. The main point I tried to get across was patience and you are really working on the animals schedule not yours.

http://www.cobbphotosociety.com/
www.guidedog.org

Pet Pic with Santa

Nov 15th
This is the second year that Bark teamed up with Cumberland Animal Clinic to have pictures with Santa. All the moneys raised from this day go to Cumberland’s rescue animal fund. The employee’s at Cumberland turned into elves that day and Dr Dehaven's daughter once again made cookies and punch. I am happy to say Santa (aka Raymond) got out of there with out a scratch and a long list of presents the pets wanted.

Pictures with Santa is serious business

The Cumberland staff who made it happen

I had to get in on the fun too.

http://www.cumberlandanimalclinic.com/

SABA talk

SABA (Smyrna art and Business Associations) meets every second Tuesday of the Month at the Smyrna Library. Nov 11 was my turn to speak. I was first to do a 5 mininuet speall about Anne Ledbetter photography and Bark Photography then the main speaker cancelled I expanded my talk for the entire meeting. I decide to talk a little on running a business and the problems I had that other artist might have.

My Main points were:
How to balance your time and that is as valuable as money and it as a big of restriction as money.
How many Hat you were in your own Bus and how you have different rates for those different hats.

Aunt Myrtle is 100

Not really business related but I wanted to share that my Aunt Myrtle was 100 today.


She lived most of her life in Miami. She has seen some changes there. Now she live near Atlanta with one of her daughters Loraine
The festivities for her birthday include a party with dinner cake and ice cream and I don’t know how long into the night the festivities will go on. Saw my cousin Andrea who I hadn’t seen since I was in College.


Aunt Myrtle




My cousins on my Mom's Mom side of the family.
Andrea, Me, Brenda and Lori