Friday, January 09, 2009
Dudes. Thank you so much for all the input on the logo. I do love the first, original logo too. I think it's so great that just about everyone picked that one. Not only does it affirm what I already know I like, it also confirms that you CAN tell what's been done by a pro vs one done by a me, even though the logo is so, so simple. It's obvious yet indescribable.
I know I was totally over thinking it. I do a lot of that these days. I don't know up from down, black from white. Everything just rolls under the general category of: Is It Good?! Dunno! The brain is all fog. I got my first paycheck a few months ago, and after the excitement of seeing "FOC Studio" on the check passed, I wanted to tear it to shreds because I was sure the customer actually hated my prints and wished she had never hired me. All of these junior high school emotional theatrics is exhausting and highly annoying, especially to Duck who has to talk me down from a ledge over other day. A very small ledge though, maybe only about yea-high, but a scary ledge nonetheless.
For now I'll cut myself some slack since this is all brand-new to me, and soon enough I'll be able to navigate my way through it. I know I will. Although there are many unseen roadblocks coming, nothing was ever a bigger roadblock than not knowing my true passion in life. So really, I'm already a million steps ahead. It feels SO. GOOD.
Anyway. Here are some photos I took today of Veebs as I was waiting for lunch to heat up. Veebs was hanging out on the butcher block (which I hate but what can you do, cats always get their way), I bent down to scratch my ankle and when I looked up, the sun was in my eyes. I slowly stood up until Veeb's head blocked the sun, and his ears became pointy little silhouettes, outlined in gold. And then I knew what time it was. It was lens flare time!
I call this "VanBuren Cat, Superstar"
This one is "Sunrise Over Ayers Rock"
If God were a cat, this is what we would see if we tried to look Him in the face (apologies for the sacrilege).
Now my eyes really hurt.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Filed Under: Pet Photography
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
In my real job, I'm a web developer/programmer (though very lite on the programming these days. Thank god). When it comes to getting my portfolio site up and running, people assume that I would want - and would like - to build it on my own. And the truth is, Ugh. It takes a lot of time, and time is money which am I more than willing to spend in order to have more time. Also, I kind of dislike my real job. Why would I do it without getting paid?
As it is, I spent months just researching what and which to buy. There is vast array of "website boutiques" that specialize in supplying online galleries for photographers - whether as ready-made templates, customizable templates, or from scratch. The kicker for me is that most of these sites are rendered in Flash. Flash and me go way back. We are arch enemies, for many reasons. Reason #1 is that they usually interfere with usability, because they're too busy being hypersexualized. I don't have a second to waste waiting for your stupid animation to load. Time is money, remember? And why must there always be a jukebox? Why?
Alas, I cannot avoid the flash. But I do find a template that has an html version along with the flash version, so I am appeased. Luckily the flash part is not obnoxious or difficult to navigate. In any case I'm glad there's a choice. Now that that small drama has been settled, I'm coming up against the next point of indecision.
I'm using a version of the logos my graphic artist friend designed for me several months ago. There is no horizontal room to have the cat image and text on one line, given the layout of the site, so I rearranged it some. Here it is as it appears on the temporary About page.
I like having the background of the site all white, and I really like that the cat is in negative space. But is it silly to have a logo that says "fat orange cat" while you have a fat white cat? I really don't want to reverse the colors - have an orange background, orange, cat, white text - as I think it would be too much.
So here's another option:
There's the orange cat.
Or this option maybe. It's more of a call-out, extra emphasis on the orange cat.
I do like the white font.
Opinions?
Decisions, decisions. If I've learned anything so far, it's that this path to business success is totally riddled with potholes of indecisions.
Filed Under: Pet Photography
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Pattern: Trinket scarf by Kim Hargreaves, from the book Amber
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Hurricane, 2 balls
Needles: US2 and US6
This scarf has been on my radar ever since it first appeared on KH's site as a kit (single pattern and yarn sold together) - ruching I love you!! - but I never went for it because it was so expensive. It has now been published as part of her winter collection in the book Amber. I started immediately as soon as I had the book and the yarn in my little hands.
It's been a long while since I've worked with KSH and I was shocked at how much the price had increased. The pattern calls for 3 skeins and I dunno, maybe I was in a budget-y mood that day in the yarn store, but I really was not about to drop $45 for mohair materials, no matter how badly I loved the scarf. So I bought 2 balls instead, which worked out fine because I didn't want my scarf so long anyways.
It also didn't work out fine because as the sloppiest knitter in the world, I didn't leave enough yardage to complete the frills. They are not at maximum ruffled capacity.
Still looks good though. Thanks Veebs!
Filed Under: Completed Projects
Monday, January 05, 2009
I present to you the Anders0n Co0per of the Kittycat Kingdom:
Your blue eyes kitty, they pierce my soul. It hurts, kitty, it hurts. She's giving Bunny and Veebs a serious run for their photogenic money.
Don't tell them I said that. Thanks.
Filed Under: Pet Photography
Saturday, January 03, 2009
VanBuren's New Year resolution was to play more. Get active, move around some, rediscover his inner kitten. I took him up on it and volunteered to help him train. We started light with a toy his grandmother gave him for Christmas - an uncontroversial plastic ball with a little bell inside.
Veebs stood at the bottom of the stairs while I rolled the ball down. The idea was for him to extend his arm and catch it. Work on his reflexes/hand-eye coordination.
The only part of his body that moved were his eyeballs.
We tried another tactic to see if it would be more enticing - me rolling the ball up to him. Again the idea was for him to catch it.
He did not catch it. He did not catch on.
Perhaps it was just too much stimuli, or he was shy, or he wanted to play on his own terms. So I left the ball in front of him and crept upstairs, leaving him to his own devices.
A few seconds later...
Score!
Filed Under: Cats | Pet Photography
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hope everyone had or is having a restful, peaceful holiday. We spent the last several days binge eating and drinking, and then when we got home we spent 7 hours or so binge TV-watching. 8 episodes of Dexter Season 2, back to back to back to back. To back. I feel utterly gross.
I'm spending some time now trying to cross out items from my mile-long to-do list. There are so many details to take care of that I'm pretty much overwhelmed. I don't know where to start, I can't make up my mind, I want to push off final decisions for another day. I've learned that I'm really good at putting things off. So here I am, painfully oozing towards the finish line like some obese snail that's run out of slime, but I'll get there. It's gonna be ugly, but I'll get there.
So I'm going through all my photos for ones that will go into the portfolio (which will be ready as soon as I decide on a template...), and thought I'd share just some of the many, oh so many photos that don't make the cut. While there are plenty - due to bad lighting, bad composition, blurriness, whatever - these are a few that particularly pain me because I feel the potential for really good photo was there, and I either couldn't get my camera to work for me in time, or my eyes didn't see what was directly in front of me.
Exhibit 1: Energetic dog doing what she loves
I crouched to the ground, threw a stick, Sadie ran for it, and before I could bring the camera up to my face, she was already back. That dog is lightening covered in fur. I couldn't focus in time. You can see the stick is falling out of her mouth and she's ready for more. I probably should have just thrown the stick while holding the camera to my face with the other arm (camera+lens is HEAVY though). Or, I could have thrown the stick farther. Or, I could have gotten her owner to stand behind me and throw the stick. I should have. Whatever method, this blurry shot was the only one I took. I wish I had tried again, but for some reason, I didn't.
Lesson learned: Enlist owner's assistance; See the shot you take.
Exhibit 2: Energetic dog is funny
Bob was chewing his squishy toy, and snorting, looking at me with those eyes. He was clearly very happy with his toy, and I couldn't stop laughing, which is a surefire way to get blurry photos.
Lesson learned: Keep up and don't laugh. Not too hard anyway.
Exhibit 3: Cross-eyed cat cocks head
Looking at this photo I weep at what could've been. This is one of the very first shots I took of Tilly. I was still adjusting my camera and whatnot, and set the little shiny toy just there in preparation. Too soon, too soon! She immediately jumped onto the chair and performed a wonderful impersonation of her own bobblehead doll. All the cute exploded everywhere. And I wasn't ready for it.
Lesson learned: Only entice pet with favorite toy after you're prepared to shoot.
Exhibit 4: Black lab with sailboat
I look at this photo and I'm like, What. Did. I do. I've made a dead bush the main focus of the shot. Unlike the Sadie photo that I didn't retake, I did retake this, 5 times, 5 slightly different angles. And the ridiculous bush was there each time. I was so excited to have a black lab, the water, and a little sailboat in the same frame that my mind just selectively cropped out the bush. That's the only reason I can give. I also wish I had posed the dog some - have her sit on the sand and looking out towards that sailboat in the nearby distance, and shoot from the back.What a serene picture that would have made.
Lesson learned: You want to be a pet photographer, not a dead bush photographer.
Filed Under: Pet Photography
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thank you everyone for your comments about the cat calendar. I was actually thinking about offering them for sale as I was rushing to get them ready over the weekend. I'll have to see how they turn out first. The calendars would probably cost around $25-$30 a pop - the only markup I'd put them is the shipping cost, so I'd be breaking even, at best. But a full of year of Bunny and Veebs, I dare anyone to resist! So, anyone, if you're interested in a calendar, let me know, and I'll get a full preview up (although I might want to swap out some photos).
Til then, more photos of other people's pets. Today I present to you...
Bobby Bobushka, a Boston terrier.
I mean, THE Boston terrier.
Bob!
Bob greeted me with little grunts and excited nips of the fingers. I had met Bob's parents for dinner the night before, and stopped by at Ravelry headquarters while out for meetings in the area. It was one of those super productive days where I accomplished more in 4 hours than I usually do in 4 weeks, and it will probably never happen again. Since everyone was hard at work over at Rav HQ, I spent maybe just 10 minutes shooting.
I apparently took only a minute to bore him.
Then oops, I got a little too close to his toy.
More. I need more. So much doggy goodness packed into that little body of his, he's practically bursting at the seams!
Filed Under: Pet Photography
Monday, December 15, 2008
I'm having myself a grouchy little Christmas.
Honestly I have never felt this grumbly about the holidays in a really long time. First has to do with the fact that it has come much too quickly. YES I KNOW I say that every freaking year but this year I have felt it more than ever. My birthday is around this time, and it felt like only 2 days ago that I said to myself, while slathering sunscreen and drinking one seabreeze after another, Whew! I don't turn 90 for another half a year! And now here I am at the cusp at 90 and I don't know how it happened nor what was accomplished during the time leading up to now. Must drink less.
Second, it has not snowed. Not really. A little last week, for a few minutes, and it all melted on contact. Ironically I am not a huge fan of winter - well I take that back, I'm not a huge fan of LONG winters - but I would say an old-fashioned snowstorm would do me good. Especially as we neither have a long driveway to shovel nor a car to de-ice. So bring on the snow I say. I want it. I want it all.
I am SO grouchy that I was going to forego making the annual Cat Calendar this year. For the last 6 years or more, I have made a 12-month calendar of the boys which I give out as part of the Christmas gifts for my mother and father-in-laws, my sister-in-law, a few other cat-crazy friends. Because it really does take a special brand of crazy to want a calendar of other people's pets. Honestly though, Bunny and Veebs are so well-loved and revered in our little community, owing to their sunny dispositions and winning personalities, that it's not hard to understand, if you're insane for cats, why their pinups would be so popular.
I only skipped one other year because my nephew was born, and I assumed that he, a human being, would take precedence over feline relations. I assumed my sister-in-law would want to make a calendar for him. I assumed my mother-in-law would have wanted a 12-month calendar of her first grandchild. Oddly that was not the case. My parents received a calendar for only one year, because my mom laughed at it and called me nuts. How dare she! So she's been off the list.
I wanted to skip this year only because I have had no time. You know how long it takes to try to pick out 12 photos from a 12 million, especially when your cats are so goddamned photogenic?! So I told Duck that No, I would not be making a cat calendar this year, and, well. He yelled at me. He said, AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A PET PHOTOGRAPHER?! Well, I would be pet photographer if I had a real portofolio site or ecommerce site or business cards ready, which hasn't yet happened (need more time, and/or personal assistant). So fine, instead of getting any headway in that department, this weekend was dedicated to making...
The "10 Year Anniversary" shout-out refers to 2009 being their 10 years of being with us. It was in 1999 that I brought them home from the animal shelter, all the way out from Sudbury, MA where the two of them shared a cage for 6+ months. Sudbury is a good 30 minute plus drive from Boston, and I and my nostrils remember as if it were yesterday when Bunny puked and pooped his guts out in the car ride home. I had always meant to give him a bath afterwards, but I think after 10 years of shedding, he's as good as new.
Other calendar names from years past have been:
Baxter & VanBuren 2005: A Year in Fur
A Tail of Two Kitties: The Baxter & VanBuren 2006 Calendar (not particularly original, I'll admit)
It Was a Very Good Year: The Best of Baxter & VanBuren 2008
In addition to the usual suspects of recipients, I think I'm giving a calendar to our financial advisor, who has never once failed, during meetings or phonecalls, to inquire after Bunny and Veebs. Cat lovers unite! Except he keeps calling Veebs "Buchannan."
Filed Under: Cats
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