Friday, December 6, 2013

New Animal Calendars

Yes, it's that time of year again when you're probably looking for a new calendar. Well, I just happen to have a bunch of new 2014 animal calendars, mostly from my Life Lessons series, which combines photographs of animals with funny and/or inspirational sayings to keep you entertained throughout the year. And today Zazzle is having a sale on calendars (and everything else) for 30% off. Just type in the code FRIENDSFAM13 when you checkout to get your discount.

So here's the lineup of 2014 calendars. Just click on the picture and you'll be taken to Zazzle where you can complete your purchase.

















Wednesday, December 4, 2013

50% Off Sale!

Now that we're into December, you might be looking for Christmas wrapping paper, cards, and ornaments. It just so happens that Zazzle is having a 50% off sale on those particular products (and more!) until tomorrow. Just type in the code HOLIDAYSMADE at checkout to get your 50% off. They're also having a 20% off sale on all products on the site, so check it out!

Here are some of my Christmas photos on various products. The first two products are popular enough to be on Zazzle's bestsellers lists.



I don't know if you'd call this a Christmas ornament exactly but it's one of my latest photographs and I thought it looked very cool on Zazzle's new pewter snowflake ornaments...

Blue Sky Heart and Clouds Snowflake Ornament

I must admit this photograph of a Santa squirrel holding a candy cane is my latest favorite. The look he was giving me was so endearing. So here he is again, on a couple of different Christmas ornaments...

 
 
By the way, the ceramic ornament pictured above has your choice of a Christmas tree, wreath, or pointsettias on the back.

Mugs are also 50% off until tomorrow, so here's one of my latest Christmas mugs...


So I hope you find something you like in my Zazzle shop, Fun Nature Photography. If not, there are plenty of amazingly talented artists who would love to sell you something!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

75% off Cards

Zazzle is one of the print on demand companies I use, where you can order my photographs (or the work of many amazing artists) on a huge assortment of products like canvas prints, cards, t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, postage...well, the list goes on and on! I thought I'd let you know about their 75% off on cards sale, which is their best deal yet. The sale is only for two days, so act fast! Just use the code 75OFFCARDS13 at checkout to get your discount. I believe the sale is only on the American Zazzle site but it's still a great deal even if you have to factor in the shipping costs. I have a very large Christmas section in my Zazzle shop, but here are a few of my more popular Christmas cards...

 


Just in case you aren't into squirrels (what?!), here are the Christmas cards my parents ordered from my shop the last two years. We don't get snow in the winters here on the west coast all that often but when we do, I make sure to take advantage of it and try to photograph some animals.



I've ordered Zazzle's cards in the past and I was very impressed by their high quality. And you know photographers, they can be very picky!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Time for Texture!

I've always been a fan of using textures to create a mood or add a more painterly appeal to a photograph. Maybe it's because I come from a family of painters (grandmother, father, sister and brother), but I like to blur the lines between photography and painting.


I've added textures various ways. Sometimes I add an actual painting I've done; sometimes I paint a texture digitally (in Photoshop); sometimes I photograph a texture (like bark, for instance), and add it to the photograph; and sometimes I buy textures.


Recently I decided to do a series of bird images using textures. I often add many textures to a photograph and play around with the blending modes in Photoshop.




I like to add inspirational sayings to my photographs occasionally. For the robin photograph I also added a diamond pattern, and I was going for a vintage look.



So that's a look at some of my latest images using textures. I encourage you to give it a whirl yourself!




textured birds art

Friday, November 15, 2013

An Elk in the Yard


Yesterday somebody pointed out this crazy video of an elk head-butting a photographer. IMHO, the photographer probably got way too close to a bull elk during mating season. Although it kind of looks like the elk is just playing in the video (several times I've seen young deer bucks do the same thing), the photographer put himself in a very dangerous position. Bull elk can be aggressive during their rut and I've learned to steer clear of them at that time. In general though, it's never a good idea to get too close to them. Usually it isn't a problem because they tend to run away when they see you.

But coincidentally there was a six-point bull elk in our neighbour's yard first thing this morning. My husband was walking the dogs when he spotted it contentedly chewing grass. By the time I got out there with my camera, the elk was standing just inside the forest adjoining the yard. He calmly watched me and although it was too dark to even focus properly, I took a couple of blurry shots. I heard another "crack!" in the woods and assumed that this was the same pair of bull elk that occasionally invade the neighbourhood and help themselves to bushes and apples from a tree that they've since practically destroyed. Yes, they are big boys indeed and they can do whatever they want!

The picture above is of a Roosevelt elk that I saw standing beside a neighbour's barn last year when his antlers were in velvet. I wonder if it's the same elk that I saw this morning. If so, his rack has become even more impressive and he isn't what I'd call shy.

You just never know what you're going to see around the corner here...



elk art

Friday, November 8, 2013

Christmas Craft Fairs


Yes, it's already that time of year again. If you live on the Sunshine Coast, you can find me selling my photography at the following Christmas craft fairs:

November 9 (10:00-4:00) & November 10 (10:00-3:00) ~  Early Bird Christmas Craft Fair, Seaside Centre, Sechelt, B.C.

November 16 (9:00-5:00) & 17 (9:00-4:00) ~ Sunnycrest Mall Christmas Craft Fair, Sunnycrest Mall, Gibsons, B.C.

November 30 & December 1 (10:00-4:00) ~ Crafts from the Hood, Seaside Centre, Sechelt, B.C.

December 7 (10:00-4:00) ~ Serendipity Christmas Craft Fair, Madeira Park Community Hall, Madeira Park, B.C.

I'll have the usual cards plus lots of Christmas cards, matted prints, canvas prints, magnets, two new Life Lessons calendars, and my two Life Lessons books.


Hope to see you there!
christmas squirrels art

Monday, November 4, 2013

Classic Cars...a Different Kind of Animal

This past August I took some time away from selling my photography at a craft fair and checked out the classic cars at the Show 'n Shine car show, held in Garden Bay on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

Well, I wish I had done this sooner! Year after year I'd been selling my work at the craft fair that's held in conjunction with the car show and I'd never taken the time to have a look at the cars. After seeing the beauties at the show, I think I've turned into a car junkie now!

Take a look at some of these lovely vintage cars...



I took photographs of just about every car at the show but these are the only ones I've processed so far. It's very time-consuming to process the pictures because I remove distracting objects like chairs, other cars, and sometimes even people in order to make the cars look their best. It's a challenge that I enjoy though, and I've been sharpening my Photoshop skills.

Next year I plan on skipping the craft fair...I'll go straight to the cars and spend more time photographing them. I really enjoyed the show and would like to take time to talk to the owners of these antique beauties. There's also a bigger show in nearby Sechelt called the Sleepy Hollow car show, held by the Coaster's Car Club. Even though I'll have to miss one of the year's busiest craft fairs that's held that weekend, next year I think I'll skip it in order to photograph the cars.


vintage cars art

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Mushroom Hunting

I've been out mushroom hunting a lot lately and noticed it's a very good year for shrooms! Although I haven't managed to find any chanterelles (my absolute favourites), I found plenty of boletes since I've been hiking in some new spots. Boletes can get kind of slimy when cooked though, so you have to dry saute them. So far I've made mushroom soup, mushroom sauce for pasta, turkey and mushroom a la king (with leftover turkey from Thanksgiving), and this morning I had an omelet with some boletes, red peppers, spinach, and cheddar. Yummy!

My other mushroomy news is that my photograph of pholiota mushrooms won first place in a local contest held by SHROOM (Society for the Hunting, Recognition, and Observation of Mushrooms).



The mushroom festival was celebrating its fifth year and our community hall was packed with interested people checking out the displays of mushrooms, cooking, and all kinds of mushroomy wares for sale.

It's not too late to get out there yourself and do a little mushroom hunting. Just be careful and make sure you know what you've picked if you're going to be eating them. I own a few mushroom identification books, just to be on the safe side. Mushroom hunting can be a fun addition to any hike.
mushrooms art

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Chipmunks on the Loose

I've lived here for 12 years now and I've never seen a chipmunk...until about two months ago, that is. All of a sudden they're popping out of the woodwork every which way.

There's been a continuous supply of berries to enjoy lately...


I caught this young one napping in the sun. He let me get pretty close.

Young Chipmunk

I thought that maybe the chipmunks were only to be found in the new area where I'd started hiking, which was more remote. But when I returned to some of my usual hiking spots, chipmunks started turning up everywhere. They seemed to be after the ripening native blackberries that grow close to the ground and across rocks.

I enjoyed watching this chipmunk family playing on a huge pile of rocks left behind by some loggers...


Of course, you know when families are involved, there are always family secrets...



I'm hoping the chipmunks are making a comeback. I really enjoy watching them streak across the path, their tails sticking straight up. They're more fearless than squirrels too, and lots of fun to photograph!

chipmunk art

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Fun with Rubber Duckies

I took my rubber ducky for a walk down at the Sechelt Marsh the other day and had a little fun at the expense of a mallard. Can you think of a good caption for the picture below?


The only thing I can think of is, "Mom, is that you?" If you can think of anything better, please let me know in the comments!

If you're interested in having this picture printed on any of almost 80 products, just click on the link below the picture and you'll be taken to my Zazzle shop.

Hope you're enjoying the start of summer!


ducks art

Monday, May 13, 2013

Wedding Invitations and More

Lately I've been designing wedding invitations (and one birthday invitation so far) for my Zazzle shop. Today Zazzle just happens to be having a 50% off sale on invitations so I thought I'd pass this along to you. Just type in the code HONORTAGRADS at checkout to receive a half-price discount on your invites.

Here are the invitations I've recently designed. You can easily personalize the information by clicking the "Customize" button.












Remember, the 50% off sale is for today only (May 13th). But check back often as I'm always adding new photographs and products and Zazzle has lots of sales throughout the year.
bleeding hearts art
forget me nots art