Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Still obsessed!


Yup, Still obsessed with photography! I'm happy to say that I think I'm getting better too! I had a photo shoot with a friend last friday and I think that I did pretty well. THe above picture is of "sugar" who is a Paso Fino Mare. Getting her ears up was a bit of a "Task" but as you can see, we managed! I had a great time! I want to do a lot more picture taking of horses when their owners will allow it :-) (I'm aware the above photo needs some work, I just haven't gotten that far yet... I'll be doing that today)


I don't just like taking photos of horses though. Yesterday I went out into the back yard and shot dragon flies. THOSE buggars are hard to capture. Thankfully they lite on weeds and twigs and I can actually get a good photo of em!


I was beginning to feel really guilty about getting so into photography until I realized that I do this every year. I guess one's brain always needs a break from something one does constantly. I think it's good for creative growth too. Another artist friend of mine, has been going through the same thing, just not with photography. I think that some years I paint models, or I take up drawing again (which REALLY helps me on my scale proportions) or when I'm feeling really lazy I play the old version of Ages of Empires


With that said, I am still working on the bridle for my mother hubbard set. Sometimes Mr Boy sleeps soundly and I can actually get a knot done. Sometimes, he doesn't which makes getting a knot done almost impossible. I am also still working slowly on the halter that I'll eventually have for sale.


I am also slowly dispersing my collection. Resins are just getting hard to collect in that one has to have them prepped (because it KILLS my hands to prep) and then painted by a great artist that is actually taking orders. I am very particular about how my horses have to look when they're painted and finding people of that caliber is just difficult, and not to mention expensive. Artists in our hobby tend to get overbooked and burned out quickly. Since I don't have a job, it makes collecting resins and getting them painted nearly impossible... I've decide I'll keep the unpainted critters that I really love and the painted ones that I really love and thats it.


Also, I won't be going to NAN. I found out that hubby has to go out of town the first part of that week so I don't have anyone to look after munchkin.. He'll be back by Thursday though so I'll be able to "do" some of breyerfest. I have a table at the swap meet so I'll definitely have things for sale there!


Well, "boy" is taking a nap so I have to go do some things around the house that I've been neglecting forever

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Like Fire!


(the above photo is my kitty, sahara and is entitled "Afternoon Yoga")


Holy Cow has my brain embraced photography! I had no idea that I enjoyed it as much as I do. This new camera is opening all kinds of creative and mental doors!! I've been obsessed!! I've photographed everything from kitty faces to spiderwebs and everything inbetween! I've always said that one is only as good as their tools and cameras definitely show this to be true! And whooo boy I thought model horses were expensive! LOL!!


Speaking of which, I'm going to narrow down my collection during Breyerfest this year. Most of them are just sitting around collecting dust in the basement anyway and we need to remodel the basement so they have to go somewhere!


Don't worry, I'm definitely not giving up tack. I enjoy making miniatures waaayyyy too much and besides, if my dream comes true and I become a professional photographer, I'm still going to need a hobby :-)


I have been working diligently on the braided bridle inbetween my equine photography class. I have just the chinstrap and a more decorations on the browband to go before it's finished.


Tomorrow is Fathers day! It will be my husband's first fathers day and I hope it turns out to be special for him. :-)

Monday, June 02, 2008

Bigole' Update


I've been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest!




Firstly - I am about 1/2 of the way through that Lottery Halter. I'm so glad that I didn't sell it before I made it! LOL! Mr. Boy is demanding a lot more of my time. He's growing exponetionally and his mind demands more stimulation. It's hard to take him into the studio and concentrate because he wants me to interact with him when I want to work.. ha! So my studio time, which was already trimmed down, is MUCH more trimmed down now. I am definitely going to finish that halter though and it will definitely be available as soon as I do. It's just taking more time than anticipated.




I am also venturing into photography. I know, you're saying "but Heather, you already take a Jillion photos at model horse shows and horse events!" - well you're right but now instead of just Documenting, I'm going to be trying to take GOOD print quality photos. Also, the truth is that I need the moola because I don't have a "normal" job right now and photos are easer to sell than tack because they take a lot less time. (and really, who doesn't LIKE taking pictures?) I am NOT giving up tack however.




This past Saturday, My friend Robin and Anna and I went to visit a Saddlebred farm in Simpsonville, KY. I got about 24 good shots from there of mares and foals. IF you're interested in seeing the photos and you end up liking any of them enough to want some sort of Product or print, let me know. I have a cafe press store now and I have print pricing up. If you want to know when I have more photos available from the shows and horsie places I go to, Let me know (tackmaker@desertnightcreations.com) and I'll start a list or a yahoo group or something. I have a new, 10.2 megapixel DSLR so the photos are better quality now. I'm also going to take a photography class on photographing the equine.








cafe Press store: http://www.cafepress.com/dnccreations (please note I can only display a few things at a time on Cafe Press so if you want an image or product you don't see let me know. I'll get it up For you!)




I also like cats quite a bit, having two of my own (Don't worry, I like dogs too, I just don't own any). The good part is that they are very "graphic" in that black cats against any background makes for a cool picture most of the time. So I am also going to offer prints of the good pictures of my kitties and you can see them here: http://photos.modelhorseshowphotos.com/main.php?g2_itemId=107724 One picture that has been getting a lot of attention on betterphoto.com and flickr.com is this one: http://photos.modelhorseshowphotos.com/main.php?g2_itemId=108270




I'm also going to be taking pictures of "other things" and if you to the main site http://photos.modelhorseshowphotos.com you can see the other misc stuff that I've been honing my eye on.




Thats about it other than I WILL be at NAN and Breyerfest so PLEASE say hi to me. SO few people do and I Really do have time to say hi to everyone :-)