This summer has been busy with lots of pet sessions as well as editorial work. Here are some fun photos of a recent session with a very large lap dog (Mastiff), three of her puppies, and an adorable human companion.

Mastiffs are such an incredibly laid back breed. A good thing, considering their size.

My favorite images from most shoots are those that are in-between poses, when they don't think I'm going to shoot. When the models are kids and dogs, it's even more fun.

Every once in a while, I'll change backdrops during a shoot to get a different look. In this case, we actually started out with a wide white seamless roll of paper. Of course, the white doesn't stay white long with big dogs that drool and three pups. It's nice to have options!

One of the great things about puppies is they aren't yet wary of strangers, bright lights, or cameras pointed at them. They just do what puppies do.

This was my second session with Flynn. Flynn is an absolutely beautiful Papillion, well mannered, and as sweet as can be. Flynn struts his stuff in shows regularly. This photo was used in a full page ad in one of the show/breeder magazines.

When he isn't strutting his stuff, Flynn will most likely be found playing with his ball. He LOVES his tennis ball! We were winding down the portrait session and decided to bring out "Seven" one of the kitties from our adoption center. Flynn and Seven had a great time together. Happily, Seven has found a wonderful home.

I've been continuing work on several personal projects this summer. One of them is a series of abstracts capturing light and color as it's reflected on waves.

One of my favorite things about being a pet photographer is having the opportunity to see and record pets as they grow up. Returning clients/pets are the best. Even more special is when I get to photograph a pet that was originally in our adoption center. Paris, this big lug of a cat, was once a scrawny kitten waiting in our adoption center for the perfect home.

I was thrilled when his owner called me to schedule a portrait session. Even more fun for me is the fact that this sweet boy was one of the first kittens I ever shot when I was first starting out.

This is a frame from his kitten shoot, shot in my garage with construction lights and a fabric remnant as a backdrop. If not for the spot on his nose, it would be hard to believe this is the same cat.

Paris certainly lucked out to find such a great home, one that makes sure he gets plenty of attention and clearly plenty to eat.

I was recently putting together a submission for Popular Dogs' upcoming issue on Lab puppies. Lucky me.....my neighbor just added a third Lab to her household.

While I already had enough images for the submission, it seemed like a perfect excuse to get some photos of the new addition to the neighborhood.

Say Hello to Gracie!

After some outdoor shooting, we moved inside so Gracie could show me how well behaved she is.

Some of you might recognize the shoe. I wonder if there's a Guiness record for the shoe that has been chewed on the by the most puppies. I can't believe it's still intact and looking relatively new.

I was honored when I received an Interview request from Lighting Essentials Magazine. It's an online photography magazine. The magazine is associated with Lighting Essentials, a great web site packed with information and tutorials for photographers and models.

I recently hosted a lighting workshop by Don Giannatti, the heart and brains behind Lighting Essentials. What a fabulously fun and informative weekend we had!

I'm always a bit uncomfortable talking about myself but it's all part of being a photographer. So.....check out the Interview here

LMEimages is proud to now offer the fabulous Gina Alexander handbags customized with your favorite photo from a portrait session. The bags are incredibly well made. The image IS NOT a heat transfer. It is printed directly on the fabric and is very stable. I've put my samples through the paces to make sure they stand up to the rigors of daily use.

I've sampled several of the bags offered by different manufacturers and these were by far the best quality available. I guess that explains why one might see Oprah, Kelly Ripa, Halle Berry, or Sharon Stone carrying one.

Contact LMEimages to inquire about pricing. For July and August, existing portrait clients will get a 10% -20% discount on the first bag they order, depending on the style selected. I know what I'm giving my sister and my mother for Christmas. (Ooops, I hope they don't read this).

Otis!! What a terrific dog. I had the pleasure of shooting him when he was just a pup. I was thrilled when his mom Autumn called me to schedule his one year portrait session.

Otis was still all puppy and a total ham. As you can tell, we wore him out.

We almost always have some kittens in our adoption center and I love shooting photos of them whenever I have a chance. Sometimes, they're a little uneasy with the process but they soon ignore the camera and lights and just focus on the toys and treats being offered. This little kitty might look scared. In reality, he is totally focused on a cat teaser two other kittens are chasing.

Here's a black and white version of the three kittens. The one in the back is the same kitty in the first photo. These frames were shot just seconds apart.

I'm happy to report two of the kittens have already been adopted.

Gracie here is very sleepy. She's the new addition to my neighbor's pack. She was such a little snuggler considering she's at that rambunctious puppy stage. I'm looking forward to watching her grow and to hopefully shoot lots of photos of her along the way!

Nine Standard Poodle pups in one session is A LOT!!!

Many of the photos from the session are just one big blur of white and cream fur as these fluffy balls of energy played on the set. Every once in a while, I managed to get their attention for a split second before the mayhem resumed.

They don't get much cuter than Maggie, a little Beagle pup I recently photographed.

I could have shot her for hours! Her outgoing personality made her a terrific model. Her puppy kisses were an added bonus.

Last but not least is Scruffy and Bree. This was a "secret" portrait session. Their dad scheduled it as a surprise for their mom who was out of town. She still has no idea as the prints won't arrive until tomorrow.

Scruffy was a bit of a camera hog. With a face like that, it's understandable.

Bree started out a little aprehensive but before long, she was ready for her centerfold.

Both of these wonderful pups are shelter rescues. They are two very lucky dogs! I can't wait to find out the outcome of the surprise!

OK...I've been putting it off long enough. I'm going to attempt to get my blog up to date. For the past month, I've been spending a lot of time working on gathering images and thoughts for a book project. I've still managed to get in a lot of shooting, even some shoots just for fun.

I was excited when the latest issue of Puppies USA (2008-2009 Annual) showed up at my door. I wrote an article for the issue on selecting a Vet and what to expect during the first few puppy visits. Of course, I provided all the images for the article as well. Many other LMEimages can be found throughout the magazine. A special thank you to my husband (David Elmer, DVM) for providing expert technical assistance for the article. Thanks goes out to all my puppy models as well!!

After spending much of the day yesterday in front of the computer, working on client proofs, print orders, and basic office work, I needed a break. I made the short trip to the beach and spent a glorious hour wading in the surf shooting waves. I can't think of a better way to spend the end of the day!

I love Greyhounds! Junior and Digger did nothing but prove once again how wonderful these dogs can be. We had a load of fun shooting these two clowns.

Digger has one heck of a stare when he wants a treat! Food motivated dogs are the most fun to shoot. I can get them to do just about anything with a few tasty morsels.

We recently spent a wonderful morning in the canoe on the Hillsboro River. When it comes to shooting wildlife and nature, that river never lets me down. I always find wonderful subjects to shoot. This Limpkin was a sport, posing for me as we drifted by.

LIght on the river can be tricky with deep shadows and and overly bright highlights. However, those in between spots where the light is just right is a photographer's dream. The Cypress stumps silhouetted against the backlit lime green of springs new leaves was a scene i couldn't resist.

A few weekends ago, I hosted a lighting workshop taught by Don Gianatti. What an exhausting and exhilarating weekend it turned out to be.

From Friday evening until Sunday evening it was nonstop shooting and learning. There were roughly 20 photographers and nine models. It was great getting to know some local photographers as well as others that drove or flew in from out of state.

It took a little time getting used to shooting human models. They're a bit different than my regular four legged clients. On one hand, they stay in one spot which makes creative and precise lighting possible. On the other, they don't seem to respond as well to milk bones.

Briana, pictured here was a joy to shoot. Her dance background is obvious. She just knows how to move in front of a camera. She also happens to be a really nice person too. She's Don's assistant as well as a model so I had a chance to get to know her.

Here's a group of photographers on the beach getting instruction from Don as he holds their flashes and Briana performs one her signature jumps. The girl can fly!

We recently spent some time in the Florida Panhandle. A highlight was finding an incredible pitcher plant bog in Blackwater River State Forest. We knew we'd see some pitcher plants but we had no idea........

All of the pitcher plants seen in these photos are endangered. Pictured here is Saracenia leucophylla.

I was in awe of the sheer number of plants and the size of the bog. It extended for over a mile, following the course of a small stream through the long leaf pine forest. We were surprised by the number of natural hybrids found amongst the species. We plan to return to the location again next year.

We also managed a visit to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge during our Panhandle trip. I was treated to a fabulous sky. Not visible in this photo but there was an Alligator on the edge of the pond watching me as I was shooting.

Speaking of Alligators.........

Myakka River State Park is a favorite location for me. My favorite way to visit the park is in a canoe (usually). On this particular visit, the water level was extremely low. That means the Alligators are more concentrated AND they don't have room to swim under the canoe should they decide to get away from us as we paddle by. It created an uneasy situation.

This particular gator decided he wasn't going to let us pass. We were along a section no more than eight feet wide and less than a foot deep. As we approached, he perked up, moved in front of us and held his ground. After shooting a few frames, I had to put the camera down and back paddle so we wouldn't run into him. He finally moved off after I used my paddle to splash water at him. I'm not sure if he was just being ill mannered or if he was sizing us up for lunch.

I have a lot more to post, including quite a few pet shoots. However, I think that's enough for one post.

I have been so busy lately, I'm way behind on blog posts (what else is new?). Anyway, I thought I'd post some of my recent favorites. There were so many, I had trouble narrowing the selection so bear with me.

This is Lola. Not much else to say.

I shot some terrific Schnauzers recently. Heidi here was a fabulous model. I love the way she made eye contact with the camera. Some dogs are camera shy and almost refuse to look directly into the lens. That was certainly not a problem with Heidi. Of course, it's not really the lens she's looking at. I don't recall if it was a toy or a treat I was holding but it was certainly one or the other.

I love the interaction between owners and pets. When they don't think I'm paying attention, I get my favorite shots!

Angus and Riley were an absoulte blast to shoot. Two big lovable drooling dogs!

My favorite part was watching them try to put all of their bulk into their Mom's lap. I could have shot these two all day!

It's hard to go wrong with a playful Boxer puppy.

Almost as fun as shooting a boxer pup is shooting the puppies parents. It's easy to tell which is the mom and which is the dad.

These two were like an old married couple.

Of course, there were times when they weren't in the mood to cooperate. Out-takes are also lots of fun.

I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon and evening on the beach with Flynn and his mom Lori. We had a great time. It was Flynn's first visit to the beach and he was so excited by the sites and sounds. He was also incredibly cooperative. He put up with us making him pose and some fairly strong wind.

What was most impressive was his self control. I know he wanted to chase the seagulls but he resisted the temptation.

It was fun watching Flynn try to figure out how to retrieve his ball from the surf. It wasn't long before he was wet.

One of the great things about photography is the learning never stops. There are some really terrific photographers out there not only revealing all their secrets but also creating on-line communities for photographers to share their knowledge, ask questions, and inspire growth. One such photographer really stands out. He has cleared the path and set the bar for others to follow. His name is David Hobby and his site is Strobist. I had the good fortune of attending one of his seminars this weekend and can't wait to put some of what I learned into practice! His layed back, lighting ain't rocket science approach really struck a chord with me. His site's tag line, less gear, more brain, better light is a great mantra.

I became familiar with another phtoogapher, Don Giannatti thorugh the Strobist site. Don is a seasoned pro who is also a master at lighting. While I never communicated with him, I always appreciated the time he spent responding to questions and guiding those new to photography. There seems to be a trend where those that have been doing this for a while are giving back to the photo community. It's a great thing to see!

I was especially honored when Don posted an entry on his blog about me here. To be recognized by other photographers is no small thing, at least not to me. We are, without a doubt, the harshest critics. Following Don's entry about me, we exchanged some e-mails and I convinced him to come to the Tampa Bay area and teach a lighting workshop. He'll be here in May. I can't wait for the opportunity to again learn from someone who does great work and is also a great teacher.

My hat is off to David, Don, and all the other seasoned pros out there who are sharing their knowledge and experience to the benefit of the entire photographic community.

By the way.....the photo posted here has nothing to do with the content of this entry. I just happen to like the photo. That's Heidi, a very sweet Schnauzer who recently modeled for me for the upcoming Popular Dog's Schnauzer Issue.

Seiko is such a handsome boy, it's no surprise he made the cover of Popular Dogs' Pit Bull Terriers Issue. I'm so happy they chose this particular photo too. There were so many great shots to choose from but this one stuck in my heead after the shoot. As you can tell, he was walking straight towards me as this image was captured. About one second after this shot, I was getting a big wet Bully kiss.

This guy is a wonderful Ambassador for the breed. He might look tough but he's a total sweetheart. We did a series of vet related images (several are in this issue). He sat patiently through the whole process. When I was driving him home after the shoot, he sat in the seat next to me but rested his chin on my shoulder. I'm pretty sure he wanted to sit in my lap but he was too well mannered.

There were more than 20 LMEimages in this issue. Most of the photos were of adults and puppies belonging to Jeanette at Diablo's Bullys a local breeder who is clearly dedicated to the welfare of the breed. The second photo is another of her dogs, Diablo, who is gettting a big wet kiss from the little girl who lives next door. He was so incredibly gentle with her!

I can't forget Dime! He's also in the issue along with his little puppy pal. Here, they're having a ton of fun on the set. Dime is one of those dogs that I can always count on to "perform". He's great with everyone and everything. He'll sit, stay, laydown on command and won't budge until he's given permission. Of course, it's always sooooo much more fun to just let him be his silly playful self.

Shutterbug Magazine Radio has a weekly radio show / podcast where the host conducts "inspiring and educational interviews and discussions with world class photographers and photo industry leaders. The list of guests on the show is quite impressive. It includes Pulitzer prize winners, well known photojournalists, photographers who shoot for well known publications such as Sports Illustrated and National Geographc, basically a broad range of photographers at the top of their respective fields.

Imagine how flattered I was when they contacted me to do an interview! On January 18th, I had the honor and pleasure of being the featured photographer on the show. One really nice feature about this program is the podcast is archived and there is also a gallery of images so listeners can view the images while listening to the interview.

The show is divided into four segments. I participated in the first three. A link to the podcast is here

To view the gallery of images which has been archived in the "Hall of Fame" gallery, click here.

Over the past few weeks, I've kept my portrait shooting light so I could spend some time shooting and enjoying the great nature and wildlife Florida has to offer. I love Florida this time of year. While everyone else is shoveling snow, we get to wear shorts, aren't bothered by biting insects (mostly) and can enjoy, rather than flee the outdoors.

One of my favorite places is the Hillsboro River, just on the outskirts of Tampa. The landscape and wildlife always provide great photo subjects.

In this first image, an Anhinga has just found his dinner.

The soft light at dusk that filters through the canopy of the Cypress trees creates a mysterious and relaxing environment.

It wouldn't be a trip on the Hillsboro without seeing at least one Alligator. We actually saw four but this one was my favorite. To get this shot, I had to lean out of the canoe and get my head, and my camera close to the water to avoid an overhanging branch that was obscuring my view. I was wondering if the Alligator might be thinking his dinner was about to be served.

Towards the end of our trip down the river, the light was quite dim. It was almost too dim to keep shooting. I started stowing my gear when this Great Blue Heron, that seemed to be following us, decided to fly right in front of the canoe, as if leading us home. The blur is caused by a relatively slow shutter speed. I was pleased with the way the blurred wings and the way the light illuminated the individual wing feathers conveyed the sense of motion.

I have some more photos from recent visits to several Florida rivers and springs. I hope to have those posted soon so please check back.

Also, I was honored to be inverviewd by Shutterbug Magazine Radio on Friday. The interview, a podcast should be available on Monday. In addition to the interview, they'll be posting a small gallrey of my images that correspond to the interview. I'll post a link as soon as it's available.

My last scheduled pet shoot for the year was of Liza, an adorable Yorkie puppy. I was shooting her for a magazine submission. The planned shots included mostly veterinary, nutrition, and training related editorial images. Of course, I always like to shoot some straight portraits and have some fun after I know I've got the needed shots "in the can".

I always have a list of shots planned out ahead of time. I review the list with my assistant so she knows exactly what we need to do to get what we need. Of course, we can never plan for the way our furry models will behave or react to the process once we get under way. With puppies, we always need a bit of luck. We got plenty of that with Liza. She was a ball of energy but still cooperated with the mock vet exam, and the traditional portraits. She wasn't so keen on the grooming shots so we skipped that. My shooting philosophy is to NEVER try to force a shot or make a pet do anything that upsets them.

Instead, I try to keep an open mind and eye to what will bring out the personality of the pet and result in the best images. On this occasion, I was given a wonderful treat. After a brief introduction, Liza and Wally (a cat in our adoption center) entertained us endlessly with their antics. Both were oblivious to anything but each other as they played, pounced, and wrestled on the backdrop. I hated to end the shoot. I think these two would have played all night if we let them.

With pets, you can never plan things too tightly. The key is to be ready with the camera when the true colors of a puppy and kitten, who don't yet know they aren't supposed to get along, offer up photo opportunities beyond anything I could have planned.

By the way......Wally will be moving into his new home after the first of the year! He's been with us since he was just a little guy. If you scroll down, you'll see more photos of him.

For about a year now, I've been a contributing photographer for a number of magazines published by Bowtie. Their line up includes quite a few pet related titles including Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, Popular Dogs Series, Dogs USA, Puppies USA, Dogs for Kids etc. I've thoroughly enjoyed my relationship with all the editors.

Many of my pet models have been featured in issues. My clients get a thrill out of seeing their furry family members gracing the pages. Most exciting is when they're on the cover. Over the past two weeks, three issues have found their way onto the shelves at major pet store outlets, book stores, and even grocery stores.

Lynch, a beautiful German Shepherd is seen here on the cover of Popular Dogs Series-Training Secrets for German Shepherds. I think his smile is what got him on the cover. On the inside are roughly 15 images of four of my wonderful German Shepherd models.

Echo, the sweetest Golden Retriever pup is on the cover of Dogs USA. He has been in several issues. It's no wonder he's so popular when you see his adorable and expressive face! Having been trained by the terrific trainers at Pet Peeves, he was a breeze to work with. Even at his young age, he had mastered all the basic commands.

Inside the Dogs USA issue is my first article. It's an 8 page article on photographing pets and features several of my favorite models. Seen here is Harley. This dog completely stole my heart. His housemate Prissy (Yorkie), Gia (Boxer), Friday (Great Dane), and Dax (German Shepherd) round out the lineup. My thanks to Sarah, Jen, and Kim for loaning me their dogs for all the before and after photos for the article. You gals are the best!!

Of course, I can't forget to thank my fabulous assistant Amber. While I'm working behind the camera, she's working just out of the frame to make sure we bring out the best in all our models. By the end of every shoot, I think all the dogs (and cats) want to go home with her. Dogs are great judges of character and they all LOVE Amber. That's her, a bit further down the blog in her wedding dress and mask, fins, and snorkel.

As I work on finishing up all the last minute orders for prints, holiday cards, and framing, I can't help but wonder what the heck happened to 2007. This year has flown by. It's also been quite a year for LMEimages. My shooting schedule has been almost fully booked all year. I've had four magazine covers, a few hundred images, and my first article published.

In addition, I'll be ready to launch my greeting card line by the end of January. On tap for 2008 is a book, expansion of my stock image library, and of course, a lot more portrait sessions.

This will be my last week of shooting pets for the year. I need to catch my breath so I can hit the ground running in the new year. Tuesday, I had great fun shooting a wonderful dog Zeus, Mutley, the two daschunds seen here (Ruby and Tiffany), and an adorable kitten. Tomorrow, I'll be doing a third shoot for Charlie, a fabulous little Yorkie and his new sister Liza. I can't wait!

The new Bully Breed issue from Popular Dogs is now on the stands! I had a great time shooting for this issue and it's such a treat to see my wonderful models gracing the pages. Even my assistant Amber ended up with a full page image of her cuddling with a little Pit puppy.

Also exciting is the newly released issue of Dogs USA (2008). This is an annual publication. Echo, a wonderful Golden Retriever puppy I had the pleasure of photographing is on the cover! On top of that, I have an eight page article in the magazine explaining how anyone can take great photos of their pets with just a little patience and a few tricks of the trade. I don't have my hands on the issue yet but here's a link to Dog Channel if you want to have a look. I'll elaborate more when I get my copy.

I'm still reviewing the photos from our recent trip to Olympic National Park. Fog was certainly a prevalent feature. There was a fascinating dance of light and shadow as the sun rose behind the peaks and the fog, aided by wind, moved through the valley.

The 2008 GPA/Tampa Bay Calendars are here!! This is the second year I've produced the calendar for Greyhound Pets of America/Tampa Bay chapter. Over the past two years, I've had the opportunity to meet most of the volunteer staff at this "greyt" organization. Their tireless efforts to care for these retired racers and find them loving homes is truly amazing.

My thanks go out to all the families that brought their dogs in for calendar photo shoots. For those still waiting on their proofs to be posted, I promise they'll be up soon! (Hopefully by the end of the weekend).

The calendar is 13 months and measures 12x18 when opened. They're available through GPA Tampa Bay or by contacting LMEimages using the contact form. The cost is $15 plus $3 s/h if we mail it.

I've been told the worst thing you can do with a blog is let it sit idle. I can't believe it's been nearly two months since I've posted an update. Shame on me!

Anyway....I might not have been posting blog entries but I've been very busy with my camera. My wonderful, witty, charming, most excellent assistant Amber was recently married. Since her wedding was out of state, we didn't get to see her walk down the aisle in her wedding gown. Even worse, I didn't get to shoot any wedding photos for her.

To make up for it, we had a little beach reception for Amber. It was one more opportunity for her to wear her dress and a chance for us to see her looking like a princess. The really great thing about this from a shooting standpoint is we didn't have to worry about keeping the dress clean. The wedding was over and the dress had yet to get to the cleaners. It was time to have some fun.

Amber was a great sport. Before the evening was over, Amber and the dress were in the surf.

Squirrel Update I've had a number of e-mails asking about the squirrels I was raising. Here's the update. Ansel and Annie, the two older squirrels have been successfully released. They still visit daily for nuts and reassurance but are happily scampering about in the back yard and in the Oak trees. The younger Squirrel, Disston, who fell onto the hard asphalt is in no hurry to be released. His head injury has left him mostly blind and way behind schedule developmentally. He makes small improvements each day but will never be able to return to the wild. He loves to cuddle and has a voracious appetite. He's also quite comfortable hanging out in my dishware.

English Bulldogs- I recently completed a submission for an upcoming Popular Dogs Issue on English Bulldogs. I had the great pleasure of shooting two separate sessions with Autumn and Otis. One session was in the studio, the other at the beach. Both made terrific models!

The Family- Long time friends Phil and Melanie recently asked me to shoot some family photos for them. It was great seeing them and the kids. We had lots of fun though it was tough keeping Phil's attention off the TV. No....he wasn't watching the game. He was watching Dancing With the Stars. Phil is one of those jocks who can also cut a mean rug. While it's not so obvious here, Melanie was gorgeous as usual and the kids were total charmers. While we created quite a few lovely traditional portraits, I thought I'd use this one for the blog. That's one impressive set of feet that family is sporting. I'm sure if Melanie sees this she's going to kill me.

Olympic National Park- Last month, we spent nine glorious days in Olympic National Park. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. Covering over 1,400 square miles, the park occupies a large portion of the Olympic Peninsula. From Pacific Coast Beaches to Temperate Rain Forests, the park has something for everyone. The first part of our visit was spent on Lake Quinault. We had a lovely view of the lake and took full advantage of the hiking in the Quinault Rain Forest.

Hiking through the damp fog shrouded forests, it was easy to let go of the day to day worries. The trees were blanketed in mosses and the forest floor was a carpet of ferns. Photography was both a challenge and a delight. Like most dense forests, it can be difficult to find orderly compositions. There's almost too much in front of the camera to capture in a meaningful way. With patience and an open mind, the photos eventually reveal themselves. In this case it was the backlit leaves of the foreground vegetation that inspired me.

There's this feeling of being small and insignificant that's inescapable in such a place. It's an oddly reassuring feeling. Walking through this forest, my typical suburban life seemed so far away. I have to admit, I didn't miss Walmart, fast food, or road rage one bit.

After several days spent in the forests, I started to see it in a different light, literally. In such a dense forest, light is a commodity in great demand and short supply. There's a play of light and shadow as the sun arcs across the sky, hitting the lower valley floor only when it's at the right angle relative to the hills, mountains, and neighboring stands of trees. The light also has to muscle it's way through the fog that often shrouds the forests. When it breaks through, the nearly monochromatic palette of cool greens and blues suddenly becomes warm and vibrant. A whole new vision of forms, color, and texture is revealed.

We also spent a few days along the Pacific Coast at Kalaloch Lodge. The lodge sits right on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. What a change from the beaches here in Florida. I was immediately impressed by the pounding surf as it rolled onshore. I have to admit, it seemed a little odd to be wearing a sweater and long pants on the beach in September. Still, I enjoyed the familiar cadence of the waves, the chatter of seagulls, and the feel of the sand beneath my feet. The skies were heavily overcast for most of our visit along the coast. Again, it was quite a contrast to the sub tropical beaches I call home. My usual approach of shooting early and late in the day to take advantage of low angle sunlight had to be revised. Instead, I turned my attention to compositions that took advantage of the more subtle merging of land, sea, and sky under heavily diffused light.

Perhaps my favorite part of visiting the Pacific Coast was exploring the tide pools. Pools of water, left by an outgoing tide, reveal an amazing variety of wildlife including anemones, starfish, sponges, barnacles, and small fish. It's amazing how these animals thrive in such a brutal and constantly changing environment.

After out time along the coast, we spent several days along the north side of the park. We even managed to take a ferry across the Straight of Juan de Fuca for an afternoon stroll through Victoria, British Columbia. I haven't had a chance to go through all of the photos from this wonderful trip. I hope to have some more posted in the coming weeks.

Wow, I have been so busy lately that I'm behind on blog entries. The last few months have been booked solid with projects and portrait sittings. I recently completed submissions for the Bully Breed issue and the German Shephard issues of Popular Dogs magazine. I had some great models and I can't wait to see which images are selected. I just received my copies of the Pomeranian issue and the Toy Breed Issue. LMEimages had over 20 images in each one. Foxy Lady, a favorite model graces the cover of the Pomeranian issue. I just love her smile!

I did manage to squeeze in an afternoon canoe trip on the Hillsboro River on Labor Day. After sitting out a thunderstorm under Morris Bridge for about half an hour, the light and conditions became magical. The cool rain on the warm water and ground created a light mist that veiled the cypress trees. What a relaxing way to end the holiday weekend.

Dakota is just one of many recent portrait sittings. This happy 14 year old was a joy to shoot. He always seems to be smiling. It was a pleasure meeting him and his mom who takes great care of this geriatric sweet heart.

I've just finished shooting for the 2008 Greyhound calendar. Like last year, I'm down to the wire in getting in getting the images to the publisher. This year's calendar will be in color and packed with photos of the beautiful Greyhounds of Tampa Bay. The calendar will be available for purchase by mid November. All proceeds benefit Greyhound Pets of Amerca/Tampa Bay. There are limited quantities of the calendar. If you're interested in reserving one, let me know. I'll make sure you get one before they're sold out.

A local women's biker group sponsors an annual "Poker Run" to benefit GPA/Tampa Bay. Here's a photo of the event coordinator, a club member and some terrific dogs. They were all good sports to stand in the mud of low tide overlooking Tampa Bay. As you can see, a thunderstorm was brewing in the background.

This photo was captured in almost the same spot as the previous post with the ladies and the Greyhounds. The storm started moving in fast, creating a dramatic sky, complete with a rainbow and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background.

I can't forget Wally. He's a kitten in the adoption center at Pinellas Animal Hospital. He was a riot to shoot. It's not obvious from the photos but he's a little lover boy. He purred up a storm as soon as I picked him up.

This is a composite of several frames. Wally here may grace a notecard set before too long.

Next week we're off to Olympic National Park for some rest, relaxation, hiking, and photography of course. It will be nice to get away for a little break before all of the holiday portrait sittings that are quickly filling my calendar.

The other night while in the middle of a pet portrait sitting, I was told by Wendy Kelly, Animal Behaviorist extraordinaire that she had just captured a Peacock that was wandering the busy streets outside the office. She was wondering if I wanted to shoot some photos of it. OF COURSE I WANTED TO PHOTOGRAPH THE BIRD!!

As Wendy decsribed how she chased the bird down the street, I was wishing I'd had the chance to shoot that as well. It's not often one sees a woman chasing a large gaudy bird down the middle of the street narrowly avoiding traffic, motorists honking, staring, wondering what the heck was going on.

I only had about fifteen minutes between pet portrait sessions. With the help of several staff members at Pinellas Animal Hospital, the Peacock was corralled onto the backdrop. He was reasonably cooperative but there were a few instances when he let me know I was too close.

I was hoping he would display his wonderful tail feathers but he wasn't in the mood.

Wendy contacted the Humane Society who agreed to pick the bird up. Apparently there's a "Peacock Round-up" going on. The birds are then relocated to a Sanctuary.

Once again, I'm raising some orphaned squirrels. This little girl just recently opened her eyes. Luckily, at this age, they tend to sit pretty still after a nice big meal. In a week or two, I'll be chasing them with the camera and will likely end up with lots of frames of them looking like a brown blur.

Here she is sitting in the viewfinder of a vintage Autocord. It's a wonderful medium format camera that still works perfectly after more than fifty years.

With six cats about the house, one might think the squirrels are in constant danger. In reality, the cats are so accustomed to having squirrels around, they do little more than give them a disapproving glance as they intrude on the set or walk by during feeding time. That said, I would never leave one of the squirrels unattended. Cats, after all, are cats.

Work continues on the Greyhound calendar. We're getting down to the wire and still have a number of shoots planned. I absolutely love their big expressive brown eyes!

It's true....most of my dog models work for food. Most of them work for toys too. Dax here was more than willing to do whatever we asked of him as long as a treat or his favorite frisbee was involved.

Of course, there's a fine line between an incentive and teasing. They can get pretty cranky if you don't actually give them the treat you've been dangling in front of them while shooting frame after frame.

Actually, Dax barks on command. That's what he's doing here, not growling or showing his teeth. He was amply rewarded for his cooperation. I have no idea what was up with all the drool. He normally has better manners than that.

More photos of Dax to follow in a few days.

Here's a sweeter side of Dax. He's gorgeous. Weighing in at over 100lbs. He's a very heavy lap dog.

What a terrific week it's been so far! I'm working on a magazine submission featuring German Shepherds. Last night, I had the opportunity to photograph three wonderful officers and their K-9 partners from the City of Pinellas Park police department. Working in a warehouse during a routine training session, I was able to witness and shoot the dogs as they searched for drugs, caught the "bad guy", and worked in tandem with the officers. Their focus and exuberance for their work is truly impressive. Even more impressive is how readily the dogs go from beyond intimidating to relaxed and submissive with a single voice command. That was very reassuring considering I was only a few feet away during much of the action.

The relationship between officer and K-9 is a true testament to the strength of the bonds that form between humans and dogs. Whether a family pet or a working partner, there's no denying the vital role dogs play in our society.

My thanks to the City of Pinellas Park, the officers, and of course the wonderful dogs for giving me this opportunity!

A total shift in gears.....This past week, I also had great fun shooting the children of the staff at Pinellas Animal Hospital. Having shot most of their pets, it was time to shoot their kids too.

While shooting them, it occured to me how similar a portrait session with a kid is to a portrait sitting with a pet. I found myself using the same toys to "inspire" the kids that I use with dogs (I swear I didn't give any of the kids a milkbone.) Their tolerance for the process, the span of emotions, and the clear message they send when "enough is enough" was nearly identical. My youngest child model even had an "accident' on the backdrop, a common occurrence with puppies.

So, it's been quite a week so far. From kids to K-9s, it's been fun and inspiring. The best part is that it's not over yet. I have two more shoots before the week is done.

It's times like this that I really love what I do!

Like most photographers, it seems there's always some new gadget or piece of equipment on my wish list. This past Monday, the lens I've been drooling over for some time finally arrived (gotta love it when that UPS driver shows up at the door!). Of course, I had to take it out for a spin, just to make sure everything was working as it should.

It was already late, only about an hour of sunlight left so I headed towards the beach, just a mile from my home. As I left the house, I noticed some clouds heading in from the east. By the time I'd made it out onto to the beach (less than five minutes) the clouds had caught up.

I had a feeling I was about to be treated to a show as the incoming storm clouds met the light of a setting sun.

Sure enough...the sky started it's show, as if on cue. Every second brought changes in the color and light. The drama in the quickly moving clouds was mirrored in water surface. Just as the sun was about to dip below the horizon, the entire sky became a surreal tangerine orange. After that, as the sky became darker, it was the lightening that claimed center stage.

These images, and quite a few more, were shot within the relatively short time span of forty minutes. The visual dance that happens when the setting sun meets an approaching storm is always a treat.

My new lens perfomed flawlessly. I'm thrilled to be adding it to my arsenal. I actually bought it for portrait and event shooting but I'm happy to see it has a place in my bag as an all around terrific lens. I shot quite a few frames of birds on this short outing and am thrilled with those results as well.

[note: My new lens is a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR. The photo with the danger sign was shot with a different (wide angle) lens]

I just finished a large submission of images for Popular Dogs upcoming issue on Bully Breeds. I had the good fortune of shooting some terrific dogs for this submission. Included were two Bull Terriers, two English Bulldogs, and a variety of Pit Bulls, all wonderfully willing models.

I had a hard time choosing from the series but for a look at some of my favorites click on the link below, click the proof tab, and enter the password 1

Click here for some of my favorites

My thanks to: Barnes, Dime and Rainbow, McBride, Champ, The Pound Puppies (on loan from the humane society), James, Porsche, Sin, and all the puppies from Diablo Bullys

There is nothing more important than spending time with family. Shared experiences, secrets between sisters, the love of parents for their children, are all woven into who we are and what we'll become. As families grow, it's sometimes hard to find time to get together as a group, to reconnect and remind ourselves of those all important bonds. When the opportunity to get together presents itself, we owe it to ourselves and our families to take full advantage. That's exactly what one of my pet portrait clients recently did. She organized everyone for a picnic at Ft. Desoto Park (which was recently named the best beach in America by the way) I was honored when she asked me to photograph the event.

From a photographer's perspective, light is the single most important factor in creating great photographs. While we all hope for great models, great surroundings, and great interactions, light can make or break the final outcome of an image (at least technically). The best light for photographing people outdoors is when the sun is at a low angle or better yet....softened by an overcast sky. The worst is when the sun is right overhead and direct. Harsh shadows, squinting eyes, and extreme contrast are all the result of this "worst" light.

On the day of this event, the sun couldn't have been brighter. The sun was blaring. Even when facing away from the sun, eyes were squinting from the light reflected off the sand and water. I confess to being very worried about the final outcome of the shoot. I didn't want to use artificial light (flash) to fill in shadows or even reflectors because that would require more controlled and posed photos.

Luckily, light became a secondary consideration. I quickly realized this family's joy and exuberance would be all I needed to create some great photo memories for them. I stopped worrying about the light and just focused on them, their interactions, their playfullness, and their willingness to cooperate with the process.

What could have been a photographer's worst nightmare became a photographer's best case scenario.

My thanks to Theresa for inviting me to shoot this fun family event!

While I tend to prefer more subtle backgrounds, I couldn't resist shooting this black and white kitten against a red backdrop I picked up a few weeks ago. The past few weeks have been incredibly busy with pet portraits and some shooting for an upcoming Bully Breed issue of Popular Dogs, published by Bowtie Publishing. I've shot some great dogs for the submission and should be posting some of the images soon.

This black and white kitten is just one of many currently in the adoption center at Pinellas Animal Hospital. She was great fun to shoot. She's also very lovable. She'll make a great addition to the family lucky enough to adopt her.

It's after midnight and I'm editing images from one of last weeks shoots. This is Porsche and I just had to post her photo. Now on to the rest from the shoot which includes six of Porsche's beautiful puppies.

No matter how much you plan or prepare, shooting pets always brings surprises. To begin a pet portrait sitting with spedific poses in mind is usually an exercise in futility. Jet here was the exception. His owner Jeanne specifically requested an image of him in this pose. I warned her it might not happen. Jet, eager to please his new owner surprised me by striking a perfect pose.

What was supposed to be a simple portrait shoot of a Pit Bull Puppy was anything but.

I was hoping for a nice straight forward portrait with the puppy looking into the lens with happy curiosity. While he wouldn't look into the lens, he sure liked touching it with his cold wet nose. I think I spent more time cleaning my lens than shooting photos. After some time, I gave up on the portrait and decided to just let him play. A kitten in the adoption center was eager to get out and join him. They both played together chasing toys until the puppy made the mistake of once again putting his nose where it didn't belong.

The kitten wasted no time in letting the puppy know that was not a nice thing to do. After a hiss and a swat, the play resumed.

I was left with no formal portraits but lots of fun out takes. That's just the way it goes. The pets dictate most of what happens. All I can do is try to respond to their lead.

This past month as I've been cleaning up my image archives, I was reminded of the many influences that have shaped my way of seeing and photographing the natural world. Artists and the art community as a whole continuously evolve in style and subject matter. This evolution is the result of a variety of influences including world events, contemporary trends, years of experience, and experimentation. Perhaps the greatest influence is the work of other artists.

Viewing the work of others, understanding how they think, why they make certain choices, what influences them, and how they choose to look at the world, is in turn inspiring and motivating. Next to the natural world itself, the comminity of artists is my greatest influence and harshest critic. It's that influence and criticism that pushes an artist to go beyond their comfort zone, to learn how to both gain control and relinquish control for a more emotive end result.

Over the years, I've had the good fortune of studying under some terrific artists. A few years ago, I took a course with William Neill. William is a well respected Landscape/Nature photographer with a regular column in Outdoor Photographer Magazine. Since the course, we've remained in contact. HIs work and words continue to influence my own. His connection to the natural world is so clearly apparent in his work. I was pleased to find out today that he has started a blog. This is great news for outdoor photographers and those who simply appreciate beautiful photographs. I encourage you to have a look for yourself.

William's Blog