As an equine photographer and equestrian for over thirty years, I like bringing new approaches to photographing horses and riders. Typically, locations are at a stable, a pasture nearby, or at a horse show. Clothing may be jeans, jodhpurs or show clothes. Thinking outside the box I look for alternatives for locations and clothing.
Last fall, I purchased Sarco, a four year old Irish Sport Horse/Belgium Warm blood by Darco. I thought long and hard about what photographs I would like to make of him. One of my hobbies is International Ballroom Dancing. Dancing and riding have so much in common. You have a partnership. You need balance, rhythm, timing and precision. You can’t worry about the last step you took or you will miss your next step. You may have a course to complete at a horse show, or a quickstep routine for a competition. Every time I ride I am looking to be one with my horse. Moving across the ground, rising and falling I feel our energy. I had my photo assistant make my dreams a reality. Wearing one of my ballroom gowns I climbed aboard Sarco and went for a ride.
Next time you decide to schedule a portrait session for your horse, let’s brainstorm and come up with what best represents the relationship you and your horse have.
Deborah Kalas Photography is a home based business. Thursday, it was completely overrun by two chefs given the task of making 95 cakes of all sizes in less than 24 hours. The kitchen remained off limits to all house inhabitants including Deborah Kalas, Mike Blount, her new assistant, and the nineteen year old cat, Pumpkin Pie. The thirteen year old Welsh Corgi, Buttercup was the occasional floor sweeper who failed to report her delicious findings to the rest of us. The scents of cakes wafted through the house all night and day making sleep and work a delicious task. Noon on Friday the coconut crème layer cake and upside down blueberry cake [ a semi ridiculous idea since when you turn the cake upside down the blueberries fall out] were packed up to ship out. I was reminded several times these were recipes that their employer had provided them with. Not their own!
Both chefs are graduates of The French Culinary Institute in New York City. I had no doubt that they would complete their task on time. With powdered sugar all over one and a day’s worth of beard growth on the other it’s a good thing they created these masterpieces privately.
When I think back to where this obsession with cakes and baking may have begun, I am reminded of an early photograph I made at my mother’s house twenty-one years ago. The occasion was my birthday. My mother was making the most delicious carrot cake. This particular day she had two helpers in the kitchen, her grandson’s Kristofer at eight months and Jan who was two and a half. Perhaps tasting the cream cheese icing, there was a chef in the making captured forever in the moment of a photograph.
Watch for more upcoming food blogs. It looks like chefs Kristofer and Gabriela will be spending the summer in the Hamptons cooking for a variety of restaurants and private clients.
With spring upon us, my studio in Palm Beach, Florida relocates to The Hamptons in New York for the summer. There are always a few weeks where travel elsewhere is possible. This year my trip started in Los Angeles. It was marked with the special occasion of my older son’s twenty-fifth birthday. He accepted a new job in February 2013 and relocated from Santa Barbara. Less familiar with LA, I was looking forward to seeing his new apartment, where he worked and the neighborhood he lived in.
After a walk up the mountain behind his apartment, our first stop was to The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. I have always wanted to see it. It houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs.
J. Paul Getty Museum
The museum has beautiful gardens. With mountain side viewpoints of Los Angeles, I was able to see in the distance where my son’s new job is, a magnificent modern structure “Downtown”. Wandering around the outside of the building was as interesting as the artwork.
From Los Angeles, Jan, his girlfriend Allie and I traveled to Santa Barbara for the weekend. We took a horse trip high into the mountains in Goleta and could see the ocean from the highest point. We went to a lovely French restaurant off the beaten path for his birthday dinner. Of course the occasion had to be marked with a portrait of Jan and Allie. Sunday we went to the art fair held regularly along Cabrillo Boulevard. Over two hundred artists show their wares.
Jan and Allie
When the weekend was over we returned to Los Angeles. On Monday I spent the day food shopping to make the traditional meatloaf farewell dinner. I flew back to Florida to wrap up business, delivery equestrian portraits to dressage clients and drive north to East Hampton.
Along the way, I came across a mustard field full of horses. With “My kingdom for a horse” as my mantra, I had to stop.
Virginia
The studio in Palm Beach had started in 2000 when I took my champion jumper to the Winter Equestrian Festival to compete. After winning circuit champion in 2007 he is now retired and lives on a beautiful giant farm with endless pastures in Virginia. I stop and see him going to and from Florida. These days, he has found a pasture buddy. They equally torment each other for entertainment. Adam, the dark brown horse, looks strong, feisty and full of himself for a thirty year old. He gets an entire bag of carrots and some apples too!!
Adam
The final leg back to East Hampton I see a tranquil horse in a giant field of wheat. I contemplate times past with a quiet peacefulness and feel thankful for all of my adventures.
