Calling My 3 Giveaway Winners! :)

I would like to congratulate the WINNERS of my latest giveaway!! The lucky readers to "POP out of the (technological) Hat" are............
....(all these dots represent a little drumroll)........

1. Malibubunny
2. Ruth S.
3. Painter Mommy

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You may each choose 1 print (up to 8"x12") from my Etsy Shop and email me (within my blog profile, just click "email" under Contact) and let me know what address to send the print to. Have fun choosing! :)

And, now, regarding the requests to see photos from the multi-day shoots that delayed the posting of winners...

Though I'm thrilled and extremely proud of them, I can't post photos from the YOGA/PAINTING SHOOT just yet-- there is an agreement among the models, artists, and myself not to release yet for assorted reasons. But those will be up on My Flickr page as soon as possible. However, I CAN post a few from my "Sierra Nevada Fall" shoot... :)

And yes, that IS **SNOW** you see... we camped overnight-- it was a little chilly! And by "a little chilly" what I really mean is, "Awww, Jeez, WHY did I not remember GLOVES?!" Anyway, it WAS beautiful and I very much enjoyed it... hope you do too!
























































As the BLUR of Life continues to fly by, I may not get a chance to blog again for a bit... In the next 3 weeks or so I've got visitors coming (my wonderful parents), a not-so-wonderful audit from the city re: a home business permit (don't even get me started on THAT!), a new job to find/acquire (out of +/-200 apps, I was one of 10 to be offered the part-time job I recently applied for, BUT... get this, my background check didn't come in before training began so... back to the drawing board).

And, oh yeah, "This Just In"... We're MOVING too! The opportunity to move into a nicer, bigger house, with more individual work space for each of us AND a big yard (for the same price we're paying now!) just kinda hopped into our laps, so... with little notice, but excited smiles...here we GO! Commence project move!

And so it is that, once again, I find myself swamped but in no position to complain. I hope you, too, find yourself in no position to complain. :)

The "Vow NOT to Recycle" GIVEAWAY!!

10/19/08 Update-- This is just a quick one to let you know that the giveaway has officially come to a close! As it turns out I'm actually away on a yoga photo shoot out of town, but... if I get a chance I will draw winners & do a post on a break or something! If that doesn't work out, I will do it as soon as I return! :)

GOOD LUCK to you all and THANK YOU SO MUCH for supporting my little enviro-giveaway!

I LOVED seeing all the wonderful ideas and support of reusing!!!!

For all those lovely souls who've been following and know me, I'm sure you're wondering (and possibly a bit irate)...

WHAT?!?! Did she really just say "vow NOT to recycle?!" Well, yes, I did. And I'll get to that in a just a wink, but first... I'm bursting to share this... just yesterday I met with a gallery owner and it is confirmed that I am having another gallery showing. BUT, not just another gallery showing... I'm actually the SHOWCASED ARTIST for this one!!!! I can barely believe it and I'm soooo grateful and... just... humbled by my good fortune. I know very talented artists who have waited 10, 15 years for a showcase show, so I'm NOT taking this lightly! But, more on that in a post soon... that is not what this post was scheduled to be, I just couldn't help burst a little... :))

I've promised lots of wonderful people another Giveaway and right now, I'm delivering on that promise... So... the "Vow Not to Recycle" Giveaway:

You're probably thinking that's a pretty shocking statement for one who so openly professes to love the enviroment... one who dedicates her photography (and some of its proceeds) to protecting nature... one who has named this very blog "Beholden to Nature!"

And I answer, unashamedly, YES! I did say that. And yes, I AM holding a givewawy of 3 of my photographs that *requires* you to take a vow not to recycle in order to enter!!

So... what's the deal with that?? Here's the deal... This stems back to my wonderful days of teaching environmental science at Outdoor Science School.

The awareness I'm looking to heighten with this giveaway is that recycling *is* good...
But REUSING is better, FAR BETTER!

What I'm asking of you, is to vow NOT to recycle *when Reusing* is a viable option. In other words, yes it is good if you recycle all those bottled water bottles, much better than adding them to a landfill... or to the Texas-sized garbage heap of mostly plastic that is currently floating in our oceans. BUT, recycling all those bottles still requires a lot of energy use, and does release some chemicals into our enviroment in the process.

So... the BEST thing to do for our environment is to SKIP bottled water (and all manner of other "disposables") all-together! Buy a filter for your faucet or your fridge (the fridge variety cost less than $20, and even with the cost of replacing cartridges SAVES money vs bottled water). But more than saving money... it saves lots and lots of plastic water bottles. And when you go somewhere, take your water with you in a stainless steel bottle, like a klean kanteen. As if saving money and the environment weren't reason enough, add your health into the picture. Plastics really are bad for you and really do leech into your water-- that's why, when the bottle gets warm, your water tastes all "plasticy." I can tell you, that does not happen with these... they're made with food-grade stainless steel.

You can look at your daily routine and come up with MANY ways to reuse instead of recycle/dispose... a towel instead of a paper towel, reusable containers instead of plastic bags for storage, etc...

Big fan of your morning Starbucks... or Peet's... or (insert favorite coffee shop here)? Take your own mug! Many of the chains offer a whole line... or you can get one at just about any store. Also, most coffee shops will charge you less per cup if you bring your own mug to fill-- good coffee shops DO reward us for caring about the environment.

I'd LOVE to have this turn into a discussion too-- offer up your ideas for ReUsing instead of throwing things into those garbage or recycle bins!


The Giveaway details...
∆∆∆ What's up for grabs? 3 photographs from my shop (your choice, up to 8x12). Only one photograph will be allowed per winner, if you win twice, another winner will be chosen.

∆∆∆ How do you enter?
≈VOW to ReUse (instead of recycle or throw-away, whenever possible). *Required to Enter*
To do this, simply leave a comment on my blog, stating your vow to reuse. Basically, it's the honor system, and you get the good or bad effects of your own truth or lie. :)

≈Become a follower of my little blog here (also required to enter).

The following are not required, but highly encouraged, and each will earn you an additional entry ;)
≈Blog about this giveaway

≈Subscribe to my monthly mailing list (just email me at kennafosterphotography@gmail.com and ask to be added to the newsletter).

≈Follow me on twitter
≈Become a fan of my brand new facebook fan page
≈Post this button into the sidebar of your blog (or on your webpage, myspace, or Facebook).

**Please leave comments on this blog post indicating each of the things you did (and include a link, if applicable) to get credit for your appropriate number of entries.

Entries will be accepted until... midnight (Pacific time) on Sunday Oct. 18th!
HAVE Fun with this and GOOD LUCK! :)

Red Wine on a Cool September Evening

Tonight I spent an hour and a half doing shots of red wine. ... I mean, uhh... shooting a bottle and a glass of wine... hmmm... I mean taking pictures of wine... with a camera (while, of course, sipping wine).



















I found that both of these wines (Bogle Vineyards 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel & Clos du Lac 2006 Meritage) made the *perfect* compliment to a September Sunset... they're as tasty as they are beautiful.



















I know what some of you are thinking, and NO, I did not drink 2 bottles of wine tonight! If I had, I'm fairly certain that I could have put this post together! ;)

Expression of Gratitude... (aka "STOPS")

Now, before I get all mushy, I have to let you know that next week, I'm going to hold another GIVEWAY on my little blog here... a "Save the Parks Giveaway," so make sure to come back & enter to win! But that's another post, today brings... gratitude.











As many of you know all too well, photographers do some annoying things from time to time... things directly related to being, innately, a photographer. That compulsion that gets the greatest shots, also commonly stops whatever was happening when "that moment" of perfect light/beauty occurred.













I think the real reason photography uses the term "stops" to describe such an integral part of the process is that it inserts STOPS in everything! You know... it interrupts things like taking a walk, admiring a sunset on the beach, having a conversation about your day, eating a meal, making a meal, enjoying a morning cup of coffee (or an evening glass of wine)... pretty much everything that happens in a day (well... almost everything)!













It takes someone very patient, understanding, and supportive to take all those "delay of game" moments in stride... someone who actually respects/understands/supports that unending pursuit of capturing beauty, not just tolerates it. And, even then, it takes a LOT of patience!


Does that wonderful and amazing soul really receive gratitude befitting the gift... the gift of Time? For ALL the times that gift is given?













So, this post is for those extroardinarily precious souls... the ones that enable our pursuits of passion and dreams, without guilt or consequence.


I love you Jhon, and I can't tell you in BIG enough words how *very grateful* I am for your support & acceptance of all my many "stops."

How did I get ready for Second Saturday today?

Well, yes, I know I *should* have been doing a whole number of things to make sure I'm absolutely ready for my Second Saturday display this evening at "Park Your Art" (5-9pm @ 2031 K St., Sacramento-- by McMartin, for those who are local and might want to come say hi!).

Buuuuuut... see, there was this pair of dragon flies hanging out in my little garden this morning when I went to water and... well... you know how people always ask, "Do you have any pictures of dragon flies?" I do, but only a couple and they wouldn't hold still for long so they're not as good as I would like them to be. However, this whole morning/early afternoon was cloudy/sprinkly (further leading me to feel less like getting ready for 2nd Saturday), AND encouraging the Dragon Flies to be still, perfect models for a long, Long time! I couldn't resist it! Didn't have time to really go through and edit/crop/pick faves/etc... these are just a few shots.

So... here's how I spent my day preparing for Second Saturday! Hope you enjoy as much as I did!
(Oh yeah, photos from the CA State Parks shoots to follow in a blog post very soon--promise!)




Can you see the Dragon Fly, nestled in at the edge of the chives and the former Cilantro/now Coriander going to seed?





















Now, off to shower, eat, & pack the car in... less than an hour! Yikes!

I forgot to laugh... and it's been Hell!

I'm in the kitchen, cooking dinner tonight (nothing really good and fresh, gourmet and full of herbs like I so often used to make) but... at least I'm cooking! For myself!! This is the really impressive part (Jhon's working tonight and I almost never cook for myself lately-- takes too much time from work, and I'm always behind it seems). All of a sudden, our normally quiet little neighborhood is transformed by, not one, but two cars revving until the engine nearly screams, squealing tires, screeching brakes, ya know... agressive sounds. I start to think of bad things like them hitting my car, or my neighbor, or doing something malicious, or... "Stop it," I think to myself. "Think of what you want, not what you don't want. Think of something good."

So... I did, I thought about what I want. Though I've half-heartedly talked about what I want lately, I've not settled down and really just thought about what I want. I haven't really visualized it, and felt the good feelings of it. Looking back over some of my blog posts, especially the last, my feelings of being overwhelmed, as opposed to excited are obvious. I know the problem, and, in theory, the solution. Yet somehow, I've been unable to implement the solution lately.

But tonight, I did visualize something good while cooking, and it made me come up with a great idea. As I sat at the table eating, it occurred to me that I haven't had very many of those lately either... I've just kinda muddled along, working hard on the ideas I was having before I started working so hard. That's when I remembered the importance of balancing "doing" with "just thinking." How could I so easily have forgotten that that's when all my good ideas come?

Fast forward to after dinner...
I took tomorrow off (well, "off" of travel to get home/internet work done), so I give myself permission to relax and enjoy tonight. I scan our bookshelf, looking for a bit of something to fit my mood tonight, something uplifting... I need to get back on track here... something I can just kind of read a chapter or 2 of, and then get to bed at a reasonable hour...

My eyes stop on "Life's Greatest Lessons, 20 Things That Matter," by Hal Urban. Using a bookmark placed years ago, perhaps shortly after college since it was a graduation gift, I surmise that I've read Chapter One (SUCCESS IS MORE THAN MAKING MONEY) and Two (LIFE IS HARD... AND NOT ALWAYS FAIR). Really?? That's all of "Life's Greatest Lessons" I read?? It seems unlike me, and not very encouraging. "Hopefully I've learned more than that on my own," I think.

Commence, Chapter 3 (LIFE IS ALSO FUN... AND INCREDIBLY FUNNY). How ironic... I've had so little time for play, fun, or laughter lately. Now, I won't spoil the best quotes and gems of the chapter for those who love a good read, but it talks of the author's pursuit of serious disciplines and cultural movements that left him too serious and unsatisfied. It discusses scientific proof of the powerful health benefits & healing properties of laughter, as well as giving examples (Edison, Einstein) of the necessity of rest, play, and laughter in accomplishing large, arduous undertakings. Apparently, "Both discovered early that to work too hard or to think too intently for an extended period does more harm than good." Edison kept a cot and many notebooks of humor in his lab, enabling him to endure all the frustrations and long hours he passed through in his work. Another gentleman, Norman Cousins, designed his own healing program involving delving daily into all positive emotions (faith, love, hope, laughter), after being given a 1: 500 chance of surviving more than a few months. What he went on to accomplish after that is quite a story. Basically, the chapter discusses the importance of laughter, play, and rest to our health, head, work productivity, and relationships. Thinking back on the last year, and especially the last few months, I realize that I have figured out more than chapters 1 and 2... I knew the importance of all these things, and the balance of them... I just forgot. Forgot to balance work and seriousness with laughter and play. Both are good... but not to the exclusion of the other.

And I think of the good ideas I haven't yet accomplished, and those I have. I realize the importance of trying something thoroughly, but also the importance of allowing yourself to give up on a good idea that isn't working as well as you had hoped. That's the only way you have time to pursue (and create) more good ideas. And for the first time in a while, I stop feeling so overwhelmed. I'm ok. Better than ok, I'm proud of my accomplishments, grateful for my good luck and the kindness of others, and I'm excited... excited to sleep well and wake to begin a new Chapter tomorrow. The book chapter is WE LIVE BY CHOICE, NOT BY CHANCE. And we shall see what the life chapter brings...

And then, as I close the book, reflecting on all these thoughts, I hear the screech of tires, skidding around the corner, the engine whiiiIIINING to accelerate our short block, then tires squealing to meet the STOP sign, starting the cycle all over again.

And I think, "Thank you..."

What NOT to Do??

So... here's my schedule for this week (which I'm supposed to have been posting more regularly for folks I've met at Art Fairs but haven't had much time for). Why? Well, back to the "here's my schedule this week" part...

Monday- Fill/Ship orders, restock, *try* (unsuccessfully) to finish building website, and generally play catch-up with all things home and internet.
Tuesday- up at 4am to go to South Lake Tahoe to sell my work for my "Tahoe Tuesdays." Gone all day. And repeat at...
Wednesday- Sell work at market in Cameron Park.
Thursday- Switch hats (work Whitewater raft guiding in Coloma).
Friday- head south for Stockton Art Walk.
Saturday- midtown Sacramento for "Second Saturday" showing.
Sunday- sell work in El Dorado hills for market/event there.

(Mind you, many of the places listed are approx. 1-2 hours drive).


Now, I don't mean to sound ungrateful or unappreciative-- I'm VERY grateful for the warm reception I'm finding out here and all the opportunities being presented. I think that actually is what makes this so tough. I'm finding myself unable to keep my energy up and I'm falling behind on activities/priorities/obligations/etc... I know some people do a fantastic job of keeping a schedule more chaotic than that and big kudos to them (and envy) but I am coming to realize that for me...

Something's Gotta GO!

This routine of getting to bed at midnight and up early, then driving all over (to events that sometimes are productive and other times leave somewhat to be desired) is taking too much toll on my health, sanity, time spent actually doing photography and with loved ones... ya know, the stuff that makes life rich.

It's a tough decision for me to make (I tend to want to take advantage of all opportunities offered to me) but, I have to face facts and facts is... I'm losing steam. So, as I have for the last couple of posts, I'm going to assure you that I HAVE NOT forgotten you and am working to make changes to allow me to catch up soon... just not sure what all those changes will be yet. But they will be, and they will be soon! :) Stay tuned next week...

And, as ever, warm wishes for a wonderful week filled with laughs, beauty, and all things joyous!