Fantastic sunshine and time spent with Debby and Kayce and their beautiful Harley this afternoon.
Just loved working both of you ----- even that 55 mph bumblebee that chased us down the highway. He really like your sparkly blue paint.
Thanks for the time spent today. This is why I love shooting engagements. Getting to know you a little more has me totally stoked about your wedding next month! See you soon.
These three Keeshonds were such a treat to close out the week at the studio.
With Taylor and Kelsey's excellent assistance, we posed Gambler, Gus and Granite - also known as the 3Gs, in several poses that were just awesome.
There were many more from the session. These highlight a few of my favorites.
Thank you Theresa, Mike and Kay. See you again, soon!
I'm delighted to announce that our book -- It's Important to Paws -- has been awarded a Gold Medal/First Place National Award in the category of Animals / Pets by the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs).
This is a very competitive, prestigious recognition and I couldn't be more pleased.
I've said it time and again - this book was made possible by your support and I thank each and every one of you for that.
Happy Day!!!
David
Sunday hiking adventures are one of the highlights of the week. Enjoying part of the weekend with Layla on Alaska's beautiful trails and mountains are incredible ways to spend time.
Today, we climbed to what is called the 'Second Saddle' of FlatTop. This is a location about 2/3 of the way to the top of the peak of the mountain. It's the base of the actual 'climb' that requires a little hand action as hikers make the final ascent.
Friends Karen and Jenni agreed to team up with me today. They brought along their dogs Elim, Chevy, Skyler and Haley. We were outfitted with crampons, ski poles, gloves (weather was about 37 degrees), and thin layers.
On our way back around 'the saddle' we were caught up in a bit of a slip and slide. Between icy conditions and loose gravel, we encountered an accidental slip and slide down part of the mountainside. It was more than a little precarious. Suddenly we were three people sliding flat, face down on gravel on ice at a 45 degree angle. All three of us had to use our best judgment in calculating our positions and movements to regain stable ground to avoid sliding the full 300' down the mountain side. Eventually we found solid footing - grabbing at whatever rare mountain shrubs we could find and hold onto. It was a 30-minute task to find safe footing.
There was definitely some danger in this situation. At first, our five dogs thought we were playing around. Soon, however, they understood it wasn't playtime. Layla was especially concerned. She knew I was in jeopardy. Her four legs were sound and secure. Thank God.
But I had to raise my voice to her to have her stay where she was. I did't want her to stir other rubble on the mountainside. I didn't want her to become part of the problem or worse, a victim.
In the end, it was a learning experience. A good story. And I learned even more about my Layla.
The Front Row Seats Band is an organization that David and Carol founded back in 1985. This group of volunteer musicians includes talented people from throughout the south-central Alaska. They perform in parades, at sporting events, fundraising events including the American Heart Association's Heart Run and the Men's Run (to fight Prostate Cancer). Their music has delighted crowds from Seward to Fairbanks.
David (far left, front row) is the director of the band and also plays trumpet. Carol (next to David) performs alto saxophone. They met while playing music together in another band.
Harold, a three-year old English Bulldog, brought his family to the studio for portraits this past Saturday. He's a handsome boy - one of a few Bullies we've seen recently.
Cypra last appeared in front of my lens in 2011. Since then, she's been featured in my book It's Important to Paws. And now she's about 10 years old.
I invited her and her favorite person out for a short photo adventure in South Anchorage early this evening. Cypra hasn't been feeling her best and I wanted to create some photos of her looking and feeling her best.
We left her antsy brother Kai in the car and Cypra exploded with energy. She was total puppiness and full energy. Sometimes, separating dogs from each other gives them that extra feeling of independence. It makes them feel even more special when they get that one-on-one, uninterrupted attention.
This was one of my favorites from our short hike. I love the motion and life of this photo.
Layla posed on these rocks for at least ten minutes while I scurried back to my van, climbed on top, laid down my belly and tossed beach stones one direction and then the next to direct her attention toward and away from the light. I needed the height of the van for the best vantage point.
At the same time, dogs were playing on the beach below the rocks behind Layla - a tempting distraction. But she's a professional! And she knew that fun was just around the corner after we finished up. The colors were magnificent. They had to be in order to compete with the mountain scenery.
Some might ask "did you Photoshop her into that photo?" haha! Not a chance. Never. Nada.
She is my hero dog. My everything.
Casting Gold. Captured at sunset on the beach of Ninilchik. Click the photo to see it full size. It's one of my favorites and will certainly be in my next book. After this road trip, I can't imagine traveling without Layla by my side.
Layla and I covered more than 600 miles of travel this past week with round trips between Anchorage, Ninilchik, Homer and so many places in-between.
It was all for a good cause - supporting an impressive community of volunteers called Homer Animal Friends.
The adventure started with a book signing (It's Important to Paws) Friday, April 11, at Homer Book Store. Our gracious host, Sue, invited Layla and I into her store to sign and sell books. The Flying Dutchman Bakery of Anchorage provided sweet goodies as part of the fundraiser.
Saturday, we photographed 30 cats and dogs during a Clicks for LIcks portrait project. The numbers are still being calculated but I already know it was a great success. Dogs of every size and shape turned out for the event with their adoring people. And after eight hours of non-stop photography; nearly 800 shutter clicks and at least two bags of dog treats - we all walked away smiling.
Special thanks to the volunteers who helped throughout both days. Extra special thanks to Co-Producer Denise Hansen for all of her help organizing this event with our studio, Homer Animal Friends, The Homer Chamber of Commerce and The Homer Book Store. What a wonderful effort.
We're looking forward to a return visit one day soon. We can't stay away!
Check out Niki!
She was adopted from the town of Nikiski a couple years ago. And look closely at her outdoors profile photo to see the artistic "N" engraved on her nose! So pretty!
I'll post another photo in the next day or so. For now, it's tiime to pack dog food and supplies as Layla and I will be traveling to Homer for an IITP book signing tour and Homer Animal Friends Clicks for Licks portrait fundraiser.
Happy Trails!
Wow! Another dream session today thanks to Laci and her beautiful pups.
Amazing eyes, personality and humor prevailed throughout the session. And it was topped off by a backstory. Penelope - the Pomeranian (costumed as Yoda) was rescued a year or so ago from a hoarding situation in Alaska. Her housemate Rudy, a Silke/Yorkie mix, was a total character throughout the session - and that's everything I could hope for.
A couple bonus photos: Rudy and Penelope starring as Yoda and Chewbacca; and the marvelous circular tongue shot offered by Penelope!
Thank you, Laci.
A beautiful couple of hours with six very photogenic Havanese puppies and a terrific crew of helpers. Thank you everyone - what a great team effort. And thank you to Kelsey and her friends for providing the cool boots.
Left to right: Haven, Ricky, Garth, Chloe, Sugar & Bobbin.
Yep - I said it.
I LOVE photographing your family - especially the kids. You know that.
Now, I have to figure out how to arrange a trip to California next year! Maybe I can work out a book tour at the same time. It's possible!
Otherwise, Hawaii - 2016!!!
Thank you Kathy and Don.
A studio 'selfie' with help from Layla behind the camera. She's such a talented golden retriever.
We have a few surprises coming in the weeks to follow.
One that I can talk about right now is that the University of Alaska Journalism and Public Communications Program will present its 2014 Alumni of the Year Award to me Friday, May 2, 2014.
What an honor. I was really caught off guard by the announcement and couldn't be more pleased to say that UAA's JPC program, its professors, instructors and student body are a significant reason I'm in business as a photographer.
The award was established three years ago to recognize past graduates for their work in the field of journalism and contributions to the community.
I graduated from UAA in 1989.
Again ... I am very honored and proud to be part of a program has done so much for so many - and can't count how many times I've encourage our high school senior customers to consider enrolling at UAA's School of Journalism and Public Communications.
:)
Layla will help us celebrate 25 years in business in Anchorage. We you will, too!
More than 25 years ago, I placed a tiny advertisement in the Anchorage Yellow Pages:
"Alaska Pet-ography. Portraits of pets and their people." The ad appeared for the first time in May, 1989 - just a couple weeks following my graduation from University of Alaska Anchorage.
The studio evolved from a part-time, home-based business to full-time quickly. Then, we leased a location, hired employees and continued to grow. Three years later (2002) we purchased and moved into our current location.
Oh, my. What an adventure it's been. With much more to come.
Stay tuned! We'll celebrate the occasion in grand fashion.
Carol and I traveled outside of Alaska for a little break before summer. We visited Las Vegas and then enjoyed several days touring around Bend, Oregon. While there, we met lots of wonderful people, dogs and cats. Our Oregon neighbor, Angela, allowed me to photograph her baby shelties. It was great having them as a welcoming committee each time we came back home.
This cool character was a delight! His family was impressive, too. At 11-years old, Max is one well-loved Miniature Schnauzer. He was a blast to photograph. Great session.
Carol and I met Patrice, hmmm.... maybe 25 years or more ago. She was a teen and asked if she could walk our collie Schyler during afternoons in West Anchorage. We were delighted and so was Schyler.
That was our first exposure to Patrice's passion and love for people and animals. It's indescribable and I'm personally inspired by her.
Saturday's session at the studio was brought on because her son, Gunner, is leaving for bootcamp (Army) in a few days. This will be the last chance for family photos for a while. I'm blessed to be a part of her family. It was pretty cool that she brought two of her Briards along as well.
A bit chilly but the fresh snow and beautiful blue skies made it impossible to resist these opportunities for family photos along Turnagain Arm.
We share a lot of stories through our images here. A lot of emotions, too. It's part of what makes photography so important to me and to everyone we meet.
Shown here is Flash. We met her at just a week old. She came into our home at eight weeks old as a forever part of the Jensen family.
She's been through three surgeries in the past six months. Two of those procedures happened in the past 30 days (one was today) to remove some nasty stuff. We're doing what we can. And frankly, I'm in a world of denial with the hopes that it will help with my usual positive energy.
Thousands have met Flash over the years at the studio. She's been my 24/7 side-kick at the studio for more than 10 years. She's put smiles on faces for years.
Happy thoughts for her. :)
