Friday, June 28, 2013

And the Winner is.....

Congrats to.....
Brooke Hazel official winner drawn by Rafflecopter!!! 


I am so very thankful that you took the time to stop in, read a bit of what was on my heart and put your name in the hat to win.  That means a lot to me, it means you chose to make extra effort. 
That sure makes me smile!!!  It also means most of you were not the winner...boooo!! 
So, I created a very special discount just for today, just for you who happen to click over here to read yet again.  (continental US only)

Follow THIS LINK to my online equine, bovine and flower gallery. . . . .enter your email addy, choose the gallery called All Photos then,
Choose any 1 of the following items
    -10 x 20 Lustre (Prints)
    -16 x 16 Lustre (Prints)
    -12 x 24 Lustre (Prints)
    -16 x 20 Lustre (Prints)
    -16 x 24 Lustre (Prints)
Use the promo code PERFECTGLASS at checkout,
 and receive 50.00% off, limit 1 per cart.  This offer is only good for today, so bear that in mind!! 

Oh, and a bit of advice on cropping while I have you here. 
If it is square, then choose a square size!  I know obvious, right?? 
If it is looooooong and narrow, then 10 x 20 or 12 x 24
If it is rectangular, then 16 x 24 is best, but in most cases 16 x 20 will do (not that I recommend it, I love them full out how I have designed them to look, so loosing some of the image to cropping is blah!!!)

Blessings to you,
Jennifer

Monday, June 17, 2013

Belief

Welcome to the Monday stop of the  Perfect Clouds Virtual Book tour!!!  Brought to you in conjunction with:
Laura Kurk, author of Glass Girl and Perfect Glass
Rajdeep Paulus, author of Swimming Through Clouds!

I am still in the middle of Perfect Glass, sneaking moments to read it in my busy momtographer life and loving it along the way.  I want to talk more about that, but I really want to start with a little history.  So bear with me for a tiny bit.

 May 2011....picture me with my shiny new bottom of the line Canon Rebel, and nifty fifty (50mm 1.8 prime lens) struggling with all my might to create something beautiful.  Now picture a friend who was willing to believe in me enough to struggle though it with me!!   Oh wait, you don't have to, I have one of the shots from that day to share with you.

 I won't make it too big, as the flaws in it pretty much bug me beyond belief.

This is my friend Laura Anderson Kurk. She had this endearing patience and belief  in my possibility long before I had evidence of success.  She still quietly cheers me on in her own still and tender way. 
 It blesses me. 
Yup, Laura has been blessing me for many years.  I won't bore you with stories of our young mom adventures, including how we drove for miles one day with crying babies just to eat pie, or how I have seen her dressed up from head to toe in a super heroine costume, or how our shared love of a certain mentor probably had us chasing goats (in hopes of making them faint for the joy of seeing our children laugh) more times than we would care to admit.
So, so many good memories, sigh!!!

Here is something else I remember with such clarity.   Laura was with me the very first time I walked into the North Pasture at Tranquility Ranch discovering horse babies for the first time, back in 2011.
You just can't fully picture it, and appreciate it unless you have stood there.
  It is a pasture long and narrow, completely surrounded by trees, closed off from everything but the air that hangs there and the stunning beauty of a herd of painted horses. You can stand there, with the sun glancing off of their backs and shining through their tails breathing in the scent of them and think you have the ability to understand the full awesomeness of it, until you see nestled down low in the grass a newborn foal.  Then, your center shifts and you draw in your breath and the world as you know it changes.

 Well, I mean. . . that is what happened to me.  It is what happens to me every time I set foot there to shoot photographs.  Laura recalled to me, how I literally stood with my mouth held agape in wonder that first time we were there together. 

Goodness, I have gotten off track!!!  Horses. . . does it to me every time.
I am going to get back on track, and back to the reason you are here reading today.

We were supposed to be talking about Laura and her new book!!! It just so happens... the fella in her story well, he is the hard working son of a cattle rancher.  Ummmm, and of course he has a horse!!! 

I knew when I read the following passage in Glass Girl, I would have to share the book with you, my horsey loving friends.
"We raced through the moonlight, my hair tangling behind me. I closed my eyes and focused on the sound of hooves hitting the ground.  The force of the wind in my face made it impossible to breathe until I dropped my head and buried my face in Henry's jacket.
      There was a boy.  There was a horse. And there was speed.  It was older than time, really. I hated for it to end."

Okay....yes, it is a love story (with a  tall handsome rancher's son, horses and cattle to boot).  But, it is sooooo much more than that.

You can find it here. . . it is a mere $2.99 for a digital download.  I got mine loaded right onto my android tablet via a Kindle app, and was reading away in seconds!! 
And, lucky you...since this may be the first time you are hearing of this, you won't have to wait for the sequel like I did.  It was killing me!!! 
Perfect Glass was released June 1st, you can find that here!
It is also a digital download, which makes for instant gratification!!  My schedule right now is such that I keep my tablet close to my bed and sneak in a few pages each night before falling asleep to the feel of my tablet sliding out of my sleepy fingers.  (ummmm from sheer exhaustion, and not from boredom)
I am enjoying reading from the perspective of both Henry and Meg, alternating randomly through the book.  I spent the better part of the year I was engaged to my hubby with him in the mountains of Montana and me attending college in Arkansas, so I am definitely identifying with the yearning that comes from being apart.  There is also nothing like trying to be the best you that you can be, while not having the direct contact and support of the person who loves you most.

I sure have a soft spot for the aging artist in the story, Jo Russell.  Being an artist myself, having spent time in rooms filled with paint, brushes, canvas and the ache of possibility from wishing to create in a way that people will understand; I felt like Laura really got that right!!  Her descriptions of those places and feelings almost seemed pulled right from my own memory banks, like she had been there with me. I hope you will give Jo as much a chance to touch your heart as you do with Henry and Meg.



Now I just know you are gonna love these books, I know you will.  However, just for stopping by and listening to my heart for a bit I am giving away a copy of this image to those who would care to enter a drawing to win it.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Laura and Rajdeep are giving away a few things too!! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway





PERFECT CLOUDS Tour Stops:
Saturday, June 1 –  Laura Anderson Kurk
Sunday, June 2 –  Rajdeep Paulus
Monday, June 3 –  Melanie Brasher
Tuesday, June 4 –  Tessa Emily Hall
Wednesday, June 5 –  Melissa Tagg
Thursday, June 6 –  ReganStar McBeigh
Friday, June 7 –  April Hamrick
Monday, June 10 –  Diana Garner
Tuesday, June11 –  Stephanie Karfelt
Wednesday, June 12 – Bethany Baldwin
Thursday, June 13 –  Kim Vandel
Friday, June 14 –  Sarah Tipton
Monday, June 17 –  Jennifer Watrous YOU ARE HERE!
Tuesday, June 18 – Marni Jarman
Wednesday, June 19 –  Peggy Warren
Thursday, June 20 –  Bethany Jett
Friday, June 21 –  Amy Leigh Simpson
Monday, June 24 –  Summer Andrews
Tuesday, June 25 –  Arlette Geuverink
Wednesday, June 26 – Jennifer Murgia
Thursday, June 27 - JoJo Sutis

Ohhh and one more thing before you go. . . .

Follow the tour and you'll find out what Henry wants to tell Meg!!!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Passing Time

Raise your hand if you have a terrible problem with keeping a running blog roll. 

Hand raised HIGH right here. 
 Actually I used to write a daily blog...yes I said daily.  But, that was before I got my camera.  Well, technically that was before I found out that I love horses.  It has just been a downhill spiral since then.

I went in search of an old post to share with you from there...ohhh it was entertaining to look and read through my life at that time.  It is good to do such things and see true growth!!!
Here
is a post I will share that is very personal while still being equine related.  It was a pretty huge pivotal time in my life, which I still love/hate!!!   (There is a pretty huge chunk of my heart in that post, and it still makes me a bit uncomfortable to read it.)

Ohhh you need a quote to tempt you to head over, no problem. . . . .

 "I grabbed my baby tighter and tried even harder to bring in the reins in a way that seemed firm but not harsh!
The next few seconds are a complete blur. I remember being on the horse with everything moving in slow motion. My brain struggling to click away on solutions."


 It was the last time I was actually on a horse, and not stalking them on foot in my fun rubber boots.  You know I am no horsewoman, right??  I have maybe ridden 5 times in my whole life. 
Would I get on again, yes I think so.  Do I have a burning desire to...uhhhh nope not really. 
I don't need riding to get my horsey fix, just smelling the smell and clicking my shutter is plenty enough to keep me going back for more.

I hope that I have many more years of pasture prowling.  I want to just grow and grow in my ability to create a beautiful equine image. 
I feel pretty good about the progress I have made in the last few years!!!
2011



2013





Limited Equine Photography appointments are available, I love meeting new horse friends.  

Ohhh, and ummmmm don't expect me to be good at keeping up this blog writing.  I would rather be horsing around!!!

Please visit the Equine tab to see more of my current work.

Blessings to you,
Jennifer

Monday, March 11, 2013

Inspiration Ranch





Offering Hope. Renewing Lives. Inspiring Change.

 

The last few months have provided me the opportunity to shoot images for a very special place here in my home town.  Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch is "a non-profit, minimal fee, equine assisted therapy ranch. They offer exceptional equine programs in a loving Christian environment to children, individuals and families. Using horses to assist people with physical, mental and emotional challenges providing unparalleled therapy results."



 This amazing place agreed to allow me to photograph their horses...which I can tell you was a true delight.  Soon, they will launch a newly designed website which will include my equine shots.  (Eeeek, how cool is that??)  It was my desire to capture what makes each horse beautiful and uniquely perfect for this program....wowza, I had a blast trying to make that happen.  I also got to shoot a few client sessions, and marveled at the work being done for those in need.

Why Horses for Therapy?






"Horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. The size and power of the horse are naturally intimidating to many people. Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life. Horses mirror moods, too; they respond negatively to negative emotions, teaching the client that his behavior can affect others, and making it necessary to modify behavior in order to work successfully with the animal."




 They have a very diverse herd of horses who work in the program, matched individually to suit each person who comes for therapy!  Let me introduce you to a few!! 

 Zorro





 Leo






 Admiral






 Quito






Feather






 Bailey






 Gracie


While the benefits to their clients are powerful and undeniable....I think you should also know that the program is beneficial to the horses as well.  Let me share with you one horse story, that proves this to be true.

Gracie is the gorgeous paint horse in the last image above. 
You can see her pale brown paint spots, classic paint horse blue eye, and stunning natural 'eye-liner'.  She is a beauty for certain.  

What you can't see in that image though, is her story, which is told in more detail when you see the other side of her face.



Gracie found her way to a Galveston horse rescue shelter in October of 2012.  Her owners could not afford the surgery she needed to remove a cancerous tumor from behind her eye.  The rescue took her in, had the surgery done and assumed she would be there with them for the remainder of her life.
  
You see, the surgery took the cancer, but it also took the eye as well.   Now, if that wasn't bad enough, the tumor pressing on the nerve also left her with fairly severe nerve damage to that side of her face causing her lip to droop and her mouth to gape open. She was no longer a classic beauty, but a less than perfect horse with a history literally written on her face.



The workers at Inspiration Ranch met her just weeks after her surgery as she stood alone in a pasture still wearing the bandages from her surgery.  They looked right past that imperfection and saw her just as they see their clients...full to the brim of potential....strong and able to succeed with help and belief in what can be, not simply what seems to be.

Her imperfection, and her strength make her a perfect horse for this program.  She knows what it is to be less than whole.  She knows what it is to struggle with a disability.  She knows that she still has so much to offer in spite of that....WOW, she has so very much that she can teach those who will choose to listen.  Just being around her inspired me so very much. 
She is highly admired by the staff as well....
"She is a dedicated worker, very willing and smart, clearly having been well trained to do a job and quite responsive to the patients chosen to pair with her."

I have a friend who is an amazing equine photographer, who often creates fine artwork paintings from her images.  I commissioned her to create an image from a shot I took of Gracie.  When she heard what wonderful work is being done at Inspiration Ranch, she graciously donated her work toward this project.  We both wanted a fine art portrait of "the story side" of Gracie's face...an image to encourage others to give their all, despite what their disabilities might be.



  The corner decorations say "Love Unconditionally", is that perfect or what?? 
Thank you so much Kimberly of Chason Photos for your beautiful work!!!
You will want to find her on Facebook too...her work is a daily dose of beauty in your world.


Inspiration Ranch is always in need of volunteers, maybe it is a place that you could spend some hours....I bet you would end up getting far more than you gave; that's just the kind of place it is.

Hey, while you are there...give this fella a rub on the head, he likes that!!! 

 Smokey (The Barn Cat!)



 Blessings to you,
Jennifer









Sunday, February 3, 2013

Longhorns

One beautiful day back in November a photography buddy and I took a trip the the Flying ~D~ Longhorn Ranch in Magnolia Texas.

It was one of the most extreme days in the existence of this city girl to date. 

Those cows are huge, and intimidating, and they have horns that look like they could really do some damage. 
I am fairly certain (now) that they are overall pretty docile creatures, but I sure didn't know that going into this day. 
I was determined not to be a girly sissy and my mantra for the day quickly became "I will not let fear hold me back from this rare opportunity."  I mean really, how many people get to photograph longhorns up close and personal.  I would venture to say...few.

Since this was a gig, purely for my photographers enjoyment it has taken me some time to get all of my shots edited, especially as I worked through the holiday season. 

I am happy to announce that I am finished and the full gallery of images is available here.

(http://jdwaterhousephotography.zenfolio.com/longhorn)

Here is a little peek at a few of my favorites from the day.


























I called Ms. Dorie who is the owner of these amazing creatures and set up an appointment for early March to have another day to shoot them when spring has sprung!   Oh yes, I am looking forward to that for certain. 

Blessings to you,
Jennifer