NEW GREYHOUND LINE - FASTDOGS NOTE CARDS - post 1

As you know, I am a bit of a greyhound freak. OK I’ll admit it - obsessed really. I would have considerably more than my 3 if space permitted. So, the natural conclusion, if you have greyhounds and a penchant for taking photos, would be that there would be many, many, many, many (that’s not nearly enough ‘many’s’ but you get the idea) greyhound photos on your hard drive. (enough actually to warrant a separate external hard drive) It is like how peanut butter goes with chocolate. Hmmm, I could use a Reese’s right now…

Anyway, I digress.

I did, I mean, I do - have many photos of greyhounds: and a photography business. The amazing thing was it took a question from a friend to put the two (hobby and business not peanut butter and chocolate) together. “Why don’t you have greyhound note cards?” Again…hmmmmm.

So my first official ‘line’ of cards is the greyhound line. (heh. Another plug. You would think you were watching Josie and the Pussycats with all the ad placement. Which, by the way, you would watch often if it was the favorite movie of your favorite niece and you had movie nights often) But again – digressing.

So here we go. A line of greyhound cards. All note cards, an original photo attached to a heavy cardstock in either cream or white, come with envelopes. Prices are:

$3.00 each
4 for $10
or 12 for $25

As an added incentive, a portion of all proceeds for the greyhound cards will go to AGR (Arizona Greyhound Rescue) or GAL (Greyhound Adoption League).

Oh, one more thing. As I have mentioned before all my photos are un-enhanced. I now need to modify that statement as some of the greyhound photos have been edited. Mostly cropped to get the hounds more centered in the frame but there has been some removal of hands and legs of owners, etc. I have learned it is not easy to get an action shot of a greyhound running. Most of the photos I get are of blurry grass and the end of a tail. So…please note - all the fine art prints are still un-enhanced, the greyhound note cards have been modified.

Oh, a second one more thing…I’ve posted the photos in 3 separate posts for easy viewing. When you place an order let me know the caption and the post. This is post 1. Thanks!

Willow and Ike - Nom Nom Nom

Izzy - after the squeaky


Butters - (The anti-greyhound)



Dana
This photo was taken by my niece - so ... copyright Alexandra Morrison

Squeaky - HUH?

Izzy - Cool Rider

Jovi and Willow - Gotcha covered.

Breezy and her squeaks

Willow, Breeze, Dru and Opal - Did you say "ride"?

Jovi and Charlie - "dude, move"

NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 11, 2009 - OPEN STUDIO TOUR

Hello All,

You are receiving this email because you have bought something from me, thought of buying something from me, stopped by my booth at a show and chatted, or are friends and family. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list. Thanks.

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A big warm welcome to all the new Backcounrty newsletter readers. Thank you for stopping by the booth at the Big Brother Big Sister art event and writing your name on that slip of paper; a brave thing to do. It was a pleasure meeting all of you.

Well I have recouped from the BBBS event. 3 days of fun, laughing, and entertainment. (Aside from the first day of the show when I woke up to a very sick greyhound and thought she was going to die before I got her to the vet. Little panic from me in trying to get all aspects covered so I didn’t ditch out on the show, close the booth early or miss getting her in to see the doc. Her ailment was not the result of licking a toad, sniffing the pesticides in the back yard or that she was faking. Thanks for the suggestions. The docs are not sure what it was, and all the tests came back negative. She is feeling better now after lots of meds and being grounded for 2 weeks.)

Anyway…the Backcountry offices have been busy, though quietly so. I have spent the last little while doing mostly product photography and going through pictures from my recent trips. The ones I am most excited about were taken during my jaunt down old Route 66 from Kingman to Flagstaff. Do I smell a new line of note cards coming up? Hmmmmm; classic cars anyone?

I did take some time Sunday to attend the All Soul’s Procession. We try to go every year and barring an injured back from installing a toilet (last year and a long story) we have kept to that schedule. So mosey on over to the Backcountry Blog (http://www.backcountryphotographyaz.blogspot.com/) to see a few photos from the most Tucson of all Tucson events.

And to the point of this newsletter – I would like to invite all you local Tucsonans (not to exclude my other readers, I’m just trying to save you a bit of gas money) to the Open Studio Tour this weekend. Since my studio tour consists of a camera and laptop on a desk and a scarred table hidden in the back room with some tape, glue sticks, an X-acto knife and a few pens littering the surface, I have decided to throw in with my sister, Lisa Marie, silversmith extraordinaire of Sirocco Design, at her studio. Way more interesting with lots of tools to melt, hammer and weld metal and many sparkly bits of jewelry. So please stop by to wonder at the behind the scenes of jewelry making and for photography tips and tricks. I will have my camera and laptop (my studio) with me as always.

And now for the latest installment of you free desktop photo. Vegas Jane, the hostess of the open house, wants to welcome you this weekend and let you know she expects to see you there.

I hope this finds you well.

Suzanne Morrison
Backcountry Photography
http://www.backcountryphotographyaz.blogspot.com/
http://www.backcountryphotographyaz.com/
backcountry_photos@yahoo.com

ALL SOULS

Halloween is a most favorite holiday in my family. We all hand out candy and do the typical Halloween things. However, one of my sisters spends a couple of weeks getting ready for The Annual Event – her haunted house. This year was the best yet with grown men screaming in terror, women crying in fear, and teenage boys tripping over themselves in their haste to escape. All in the span of the 25 feet from the end of the driveway to the front door.

Oddly enough the littlest trick or treaters didn’t think it was scary at all. That the dummies on the front porch swing didn’t gently reach out to brush your hand as you walked past confident in your conclusion that they were only clothes stuffed with blankets. That the tall grotesque masked mannequin near the front door didn’t silently glide in behind you after you had already run the gauntlet to reach the safe place - the front door and the cute girl pirate with eye patch and pink tutu holding the holy grail of Halloween – the bucket of candy – to just be standing there, hovering, towering, when you turned around to leave. And that the bloodied doll lying in a crumpled heap on the driveway wouldn’t come to life by twitching an awkwardly bent foot or winking one glassy unfocused eye. Tempered for all ages with the level of scary reflecting the level of cockiness and attitude from the trick or treater. Her house is legend. Neighbors come back each year just to see what is new and if they can escape without needing a second pair of chonies.

But my most favorite part of Halloween is that it means the All Soul’s Procession is just a week away. The event that says ‘Tucson’ better than any other event held in this town. One person’s idea transformed to 20,000 people remembering and celebrating loved ones who have passed. My family walks every year, face paint, dressed in costume and carrying a sign with photos of those we have lost. It is always tough when, gathered at my sister’s house getting ready before the procession, we ad new photos to that sign. The best years are those when we take the sign out of storage and without any modifications we are ready to walk. We prefer that the photo of my grandmother not have additional company.

This year I did something I’ve never done before, I actually brought my camera. And used it. Typically I want to just enjoy the life-sized horse model, the paper mache masks, the costumes and the drums. We were early this year, also something unheard of, and walked down to the beginning of the parade route. I saw it from the first woop of the police siren. When we got to the end of the route, we were so close to the beginning of the procession, we decided to walk back a block or two so we could watch the tail end of the parade. Then we followed the stragglers to the docks to see the floats cross the stage. I didn't take as many photos as I usually do during a photo shoot. Too many other things going on, I guess. And I apologize to anyone out there that I got with the flash. I hope the stars you saw were very short lived and you didn’t trip over anything while temporarily blinded.

I hope to see you out there next year. Bring your face paint, costume, masks and most importantly memories of those who you would like to honor during this incredible night.

BACKCOUNTRY NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 30, 2009

Hello All,

You are receiving this email because you have bought something from me, thought of buying something from me, stopped by my booth at a show and chatted, or are friends and family. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list. Thanks.

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Well some of you may be thinking to yourselves, “that Suzanne, she’s been mighty quiet with the emails, blogging, facebook and phone calls lately”. You would be correct (and rather observant). Yes, I did drop off the face of the technological world for the past week while traveling again with the Meteorite Men TV show crew as the production assistant and location photographer. We were in an area with no internet access and poor (at best) cell phone reception. When I did get reception it was because I was facing north while standing on the wall in front of the hotel with my right arm at a 45 degree angle and balancing on my left leg. And I had to be holding something disk shaped – a satellite dish worked best. OK so that bit is a little exaggerated; sometimes I could face northwest.

But anywho…I had a great time, yet again, and took many, many photos. Again. The shoot was extended, so I just returned home yesterday to pick up my girls from the most hospitable and gracious couple one could hope to know. They watched my 3 hounds for an entire week. Which placed the number of greyhounds with the potential to get into trouble at their home to 6. Mine, of course, were the instigators and encouraged their 3 to get into things they wouldn’t normally do. There they were hanging out behind the garage, scarfing dog biscuits, rolling snacky treats, betting cans of wet dog food on the ponies. I believe there was even a black market trade of one stuffed squeaky toy for 5 bully sticks. It was ugly.

But anyway…back to the point of the newsletter. I was gone and now I’m back and I have a show this weekend to invite you all to. I will be participating in the Big Brother Big Sister Annual Fair-A-Flair at Plaza Palomino (Ft Lowell and Swan) this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the 30th – 1st. Hours are 10am – 5 pm.

It is a huge show with hundreds of talented artists. A portion of the proceeds go to the BBBS program. So I expect to see you there and carrying bags containing purchases; even if the items are not from me, (though, of course, that would be best).

I have new fine art prints to choose from AND a new line of cards. That’s right, just in time for Christmas, birthdays, and the ‘missing-you’ card you have been meaning to send. It is the greyhound line. No not the bus, the dog breed. As you know, I have been shooting photos of greyhounds for a while. What you may not know is that I have incredible amounts of photos that when printed and attached to a piece of heavy weight card stock make spectacular cards that your friends and family will be honored to receive. In fact, you should carefully consider the number of individuals you will be sending them to so you are not faced with answering the question “are they card worthy” if you don’t have enough: as one of my friends does.

That’s all the new information I am going to spring on you in this newsletter. For now I am going to sign off with one last bit for you, your newest desktop photo. I was going to send out a photo of greyhounds to mark the launching of my new line of cards. Then I opened the door this morning to take the girls for their daily walk and was hit with air so cold, my lungs froze. Froze I tell you. I could feel the crystals starting to form with each breath. I had to check to be sure I was in Tucson. I thought for a moment I might have been teleported to Flagstaff. Nope, tiny white and green house, gravel drive, broken mailbox (Lisa’s to blame for that. Though in her defense, it was a big U-Haul). Yup, Tucson. Hello! What happened to seven shades of hell hot? So I’ve decided to send a photo that captures the cold suffered this morning by this desert rat.

Oh, I’ve added a number of posts to the Backcountry blog and will be soon (that’s a relative ‘soon’) adding the photos of the greyhound cards. Keep checking back.

I hope this finds you well.

Suzanne Morrison
Backcountry Photography
http://www.backcountryphotographyaz.blogspot.com/
http://www.backcountryphotographyaz.com/
backcountry_photos@yahoo.com

THE DAY

You know you haven’t had nearly enough sleep when you wake up and you can still taste toothpaste.

It was a late evening last night, following a long day. I didn’t think it was possible to cram so much into a 24 hour period. Like the proverbial 10 pounds of rocks in a 1 pound bag. Yesterday’s velvet bag was straining the seams, bulging at the sides and spilling over at the drawstring closure.

It started out with an early wake up to complete last minute preparations for the 3rd Annual Rotary Club of Tucson Classics Car Show that I didn’t finish before dragging myself into bed late the night before. I headed down to the show early and was pleasantly surprised and overwhelmingly grateful for assistance from Phyllis in setting up the booth, (whom had come over the evening before to help put together my new line of note cards, but more on that in a later post).

Setting up the booth was unusually difficult due to the distractions that kept driving onto the field in the form of some of the most beautiful cars I have seen. Ever. I’m not much of a car person, and even I realized I was witnessing something incredible as these works of art purred into their assigned parking spots. During a small opportunity to walk the rows of cars I managed to leave a huge puddle in front of the 2 Shelby Cobras as I paused, gaping and drooling in wonder at my all-time favorite car. The grass won’t need to be watered for at least another year.

Liz and Kent Vaughn, booth sitters extraordinaire charged with not only covering my booth for the latter part of the day but breaking it down as well, ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY, arrived so I could run off to my sisters wedding. (Thank you, thank you, thank you)

Then it was off to Beth’s wedding after a detour at home to change. Yesterday was hot. 7 shades of hell hot and dress pants and long sleeve shirt was like pulling up a chair at Satan's table, but again notice – no dress for me. Heh.

We met at Beth’s sister-in-laws: the girl’s command center and did make-up, hair and dress for all. Everyone looked absolutely spectacular in their wedding finery. Though the cloud of hairspray was thick enough to double as San Francisco fog. It was then off to Agua Caliente Park for an outdoor ceremony on the lake shore. Though Beth specifically directed to me I was not allowed to even pick up my camera during the ceremony, at about minute 2 I had to retrieve it from its resting place so I could capture the occasion. After the short ceremony, Leigh Anne, dear friend and second photographer, and I did the photo shoot. Then it was off to the reception at my sister Lisa’s house. With incredible food, ambiance filling every corner, and friends and family enjoying their time together it was a party to remember. It was early morning as we said good night to the last of the guests and Mom and I cleaned up before I drove the happy couple to La Paloma for the beginning of their new life together.

Here are some of the photos from the day.

BACKCOUNTRY NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 14, 2009

Hello All,

You are receiving this email because you have bought something from me, thought of buying something from me, stopped by my booth at a show and chatted, or are friends and family. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list. Thanks.

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Just a few updates for you all today. (Boy, can you tell I was just in Texas for 2 weeks?)

I have finally returned from the Big Travel Trip as the location photographer with the Meteorite Men TV show, which went from a planned 1 week, to a “really? More travel? Ummm, Yes.” 2 weeks, then to a “holy crap, can I be gone that long?” 3 weeks in the field. I did and I was and I had a great time. And I, of course, took many, many photos. On the order of: It was a good thing I brought an external back up with me – many photos.

Now that I have taken some time off (I know I will hear the collective gasp once that line is read) I am back to the grind. Coming up on the Backcountry agenda…my most important gig yet to date. This Saturday I will be doing photography for my sister, Beth – at her wedding.

And, you ask, how could she be photographer at her own sister’s wedding, shouldn’t she be in it?

Well, for one, I volunteered.

Then, once that was agreed upon, I negotiated the apparel requirements and there were promises made that I wouldn’t have to wear a dress. Heh.

This will all be taking place after my participation in the 3rd annual Tucson Classics Car Show.

http://www.tucsonclassicscarshow.com/

No, I don’t have a classic car, but I do have photos of really fast...err... dogs, well and nature, etc. I will be at the booth in the morning, then my good friend and extremely talented artist Liz Vaughn and her husband extraordinaire, Kent, will be taking over the booth for the afternoon so that I may get ready for the wedding. By not donning a dress. So when you come out to visit be aware I will be disappearing early afternoon, but the booth will be open for the entire time.

And why should I come out to a classic car show you ask? Well aside from seeing me, which is reason enough, a portion of proceeds go to the charity The Reading Seed which helps teach kids to read. Not enough? OK, the entry fee is $5 and you are entered into a raffle to win a Corvette. So…see you there. St. Gregory’s High School, Saturday October 17th from 10 AM to 5 PM, 3231 N Craycroft Rd.

Please check out the Hope Animal Shelter Barkin’ Ball, http://www.hopeanimalshelter.net/, Saturday, October 24 6-9 PM and the St Philips Plaza. There will be an auction and I have it on good authority there will be a number of great items to bid on. One of which is a framed 11 x 14 photograph of a translucent white flower from an outstanding local photographer. (Ahem, that would be me, thank you very much.)

And an early notice, so don’t say I didn’t warn you, I will also be participating in the Big Brother Big Sister Southwest Fair-A-Flair October 30 – November 1, 10 AM to 5 PM at the Plaza Palomino, Fort Lowell and Swan, space 79 in the east parking lot. There will be a follow up to this little announcement in the near future. Something for you all to look forward to.

But enough promises of future enjoyment, now for the immediate gratification - your desktop photo. This is for those of you who won’t get to see the changing of the leaves this year. I was reminded (hi Karen, welcome back) the Aspen leaves on the Peaks (in Flagstaff) are just starting their final blaze of glory for the year. Here’s a little remembrance of my trip last fall. Enjoy.

I hope this finds you well.

BACKCOUNTRY NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Hello All,

You are receiving this email because you have bought something from me, thought of buying something from me, stopped by my booth at a show and chatted, or are friends and family. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list. Thanks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well after a busy week at Backcountry Photography, we’re getting around to the post-show newsletter. Welcome all those I met in Flagstaff; I had a great time, as always, in your fair city.

This was the first show in Flag I have participated in as an artist. Though I must confess, I did miss goofing around with friends and hiking while Lisa (my sister who was in the next booth) works, I enjoyed meeting so many new people. And I still managed quite a bit of time to visit. Thanks to one and all who came down to the park and chatted, helped set up and brought us food.

We arrived back in Tucson late Monday evening and it was up early Tuesday to be on location at the set of the TV show Meteorite Men as the location photographer and production assistant. Geoff Notkin, one half of the Meteorite Men, has moved me out of the office doing product photography and into the field for the production stills! I have spent the past week in the field and am having a great time. After one day off I will be traveling with the crew for the next week of filming doing the location photography. So I am getting this newsletter out before hitting the road tomorrow.

One last bit of news…I have entered the Arizona Daily Star online pet photo contest benefiting a local animal shelter. First place in the contest (based on votes through donations received: a 5 dollar donation gets 5 votes, $10 = 12 votes, $20 = 25 votes, $35 = 50 votes, $50 = 100 votes and $100 = 250 votes.) wins a year’s supply of dog food. Those of you who know (or can imagine) how much 4 greyhounds can eat, will know what a great benefit (on top of raising money for the Humane Society) that would be. Here’s a link to the front page of the contest so you can read about it.

http://azstarnet.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=7928

(I hope this is a perma-link)

And this is the link to my photo entry

http://azstarnet.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=A&c=7928&s=1520504&i=1

Voting starts tomorrow (the 14th). So vote early and vote often please.

And, lastly, the most recent installment in the desktop photo series. A little reminiscent of our trip to Flag. This was taken after I forced Dena (Thanks Dena), my frequent chauffeur, to pull to the side of the road so I could shoot photos, yet again.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the photo.

Suzanne