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Michael Blount Joins Deborah Kalas PhotographyI am excited to introduce Michael Blount to Deborah Kalas Photography Studio. He will be working as my lighting assistant, technical expert, and second shooter for weddings and events. Michael began his interest in photography at the age of 15 when he received his first film camera, a canon AE-1 for his birthday. He graduated from Chadron College in Nebraska with a degree in Environmental biology. His interest in photography led to a job photographing for the Department of Interior in Montana, Nevada, California, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska and Texas.  He soon realized how much he enjoyed photography and wanted to make it a career. This led him to enroll in the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turners Falls, MA, an intensive photography program which focuses its curriculum on the art, business and technical aspects of photography and digital imaging.

Michael Blount Joins Deborah Kalas Photography

Children’s Portrait

 Michael is very excited about moving to East Hampton because he loves to spend his time outside and at the beach. He has a labrador retriever named Izzie, who is Buttercup’s new friend.

Michael blount joins Deborah Kalas Photography

High School Senior Portrait                                     Pet Photography
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As an equestrian photographer I am asked to photograph many aspects of horses, riders and horse care. For the past week I have been working with Jim Masterson, a renowned equine massage therapist and body work professional on his new book about caring for Dressage horses. The two horses we used were Grand Prix level Bacchus De Light owned by mystery writer Tami Hoag and Betsy Steiner’s horse in training, Conego.

Day One: The project started with equine artist, Susan Harris painting the skeleton of Bacchus. It took four hours of keeping the horse still and comfortable to complete the job.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Next, American World Championship Dressage team member and USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist, Betsy Steiner saddled up Bacchus and put him through his paces. It’s interesting seeing what bones he uses to perform the various dressage movements like, the shoulder-in, haunches-in, collections, extensions, and so on.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Day Two: Started again with Susan Harris painting the muscle groups on Bacchus. He was a good soul and put up with all the brush strokes of paint and tedious hours.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Once again, Betsy rode Bacchus moving him through advanced dressage movements including; piaffe, tempi, passage, pirouette. You can see which muscle groups he uses to perform these advanced moves.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Day Three: Body worker Jim Masterson went to work. The Masterson Method is a form of bodywork that relaxes the horse’s body and relieves his muscles, connective tissue, and structure of deep stress and pain.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Jim uses gentle and light manipulation of targeted release points; the movement of joints or junctions through a range of motion in a relaxed state. He observes the horse’s response which helps him know he is on the right path. When the horse releases the tension from that area, it is often accompanied by eye blinking, head shaking, and yawning.

Equestrian Photography: Equine Body Work Part Two

Conego, a seven year old luistano stallion stood for almost three hours without being tied, thoroughly enjoying the treatment. He was a champ at yawning, opening his mouth and showing his teeth wider every time.

The book project will target dressage horses and the common places stress accumulates and how to relieve that tension and pain. It has been an exciting project to work on. When the video is released and the book published I will let all of you know!!

 
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ARCHIVAL AND ORGANIC PHOTOGRAPHS

In today’s world, everyone hears about organic foods and archival products. In a way, they are similar. As a portrait photographer, organic and archival are very important concepts for me and my portrait photography studio.

I have been eating fresh and organic foods all my life. I either grow or seek out what’s local and in season and what is grown without harmful chemicals. The same goes for the products I produce for my photography clients. I start with a high resolution file that has been meticulously retouched for a natural appearance. The inks I use are fresh, the paper and mats are acid free. Just as a fruit or vegetable is harvested at the appropriate time, my prints are made with pigment-based inks , cured and archival with a lightfast rating of up to 108 years. The grandmother test is that a print should be unnoticeably changed for three generations. Refrigerating your produce helps some last longer after harvesting. Photographic prints generally last longer when they are kept out of direct sunlight, extreme heat and humidity. Take a look at the photographs below.

Archival And Organic Photographs

PAPER FOR PORTRAIT PRINTS: These family portraits were all made over a hundred years ago. Each has varying stages of aging. The print from 1870 shows the most signs of deterioration with uniform lightening of the tonalities. The image was printed on albumen paper made with egg whites. The photographs from 1900 and 1911 were printed on a fiber based paper and show almost no signs of fading, just a shift to warmer toned blacks. At my portrait studio, the inks are pigment based and the paper is acid-free. I also offer photographs made on an artist’s acid free watercolor paper which has a slight texture. It is museum grade and produces prints rich in tonality.

COFFEE TABLE ALBUMS, BOUND LIBRARY BOOKS:

The company I work with has a tradition of fine bookbinding procedures since 1942. The original founders and owners were trained in old world Italy from a fifth generation custom bookbinder and use the finest quality materials. Album styles range from very traditional through contemporary to avant-garde. They welcome photographer’s ideas and will customize the books to meet our client’s needs.

Archival and Organic Photographs

CLOTH DESK FOLIOS: I have a company that uses Japanese bookbinding fabrics, acid-free mats and their loving hands make the most exquisite desk folios. They produce their products as heirlooms to last for generation after generation. This is a concept I fully embrace. What I also love is that they will create custom folios to meet my client’s needs.

Archival And Organic Photographs

At my portrait studio, archival and organic is a way of life. Photographs made with pigment based inks, on acid-free paper, and mounted in products like books and desk folios will last many generations. If you have any questions about growing vegetables organically or eating organic food, please contact me as well. I am well versed on both topics!!