New Gallery Site and more!

This past weekend I was the official photographer for the Heart of the Valley Dressage Show held at DevonWood Eq Ctr.  I have uploaded the photographs to a new proof gallery site.  I am still getting set up and moved in to this site but HOV photos are all there for viewing and purchasing prints, digital files and a variety of items such as aprons, tote bags, day planners, calendar greeting cards mugs and photos printed on aluminum as well as canvas. 

 The site will also serve to host photo proofs from my private sessions as well as some of my fine artworks offerings.  So while it is far from finished, it is a functional start ready to start serving my clients and customers in 2013.  
Photo proofs from 2012 are currently still available at my other sales site.   I chose the new site because it is alive with improvements being made that keep my business moving forward for clients.  It has so much more flexibility for design, product offerings, updated social media integration,  links to information and forms for my business as well as workshop info and my blog. 

I will be listing more products that will be available directly through me as well. 

Workshop Update
My first workshop for amateur photographers at Wild Turkey Farm filled quickly. We are looking forward to an exciting day on June 1.  Thank you all!

My second workshop, to be held 2 months later on July 27th at Narnia Farm just south of Wilsonville has a few spots open.  I will be putting out an update soon.  The deadline for early bird registration at a discount is June 30.     Link to registration form  

My next competition to photograph will be in high desert sagebrush country at the Central Oregon Dressage Classic to be held at Brasada Ranch.   Photographic services are by sign up.

The Birthday Party

 I when I heard that the thoroughbred mare Lady M had turned 30 years of age and was having a birthday party, I knew I had to include her in my elder horse project.  As the fates had designed, I was showing my dogs in conformation at an AKC dog show just one hour north and well in time for the party which would normally have been 2 hours drive south from my home.
 Lady M was dressed in her party best, a light sprinkling of glitter on her coat and a colorful, sparkly party hat (that she was most patient about wearing) Lots of goodies and a wonderful cake just for her of fine ground carrots.  She wasted no time eating it all and appeared to take all the party and guest fuss in stride. 
Lady M and Sarah Kress have been together for 24 of Lady's 30 years.  I'm thinking that the Lady helped to raise Ms Sarah and the bond between the two of them was very apparent.   Lady M looks fabulous for her 30 years. She looks fabulous if she was just half that age.  I wish her many more healthy happy years.

Photo Session in The Enchanted Woods

To be candid, this past winter I have been in a creative slump.  Just nothing was percolating for the past 3 months.  Sometimes you just can't force these things and just need to direct focus elsewhere.  My focus has been showing my dogs in conformation classes, planning the remodeling of my 1958 Airstream and planning my two summer photography workshops. With the days growing longer, I started to feel a spark of creativity and thought I should take advantage of it.
I have long had visions of doing a series of horses in the woods. I was starting to get some visions that I wanted to play with.  This past weekend I got together with my friend Stacie Burgess for some photo shoot research.  Stacie is a good git er done co-hort with lots of ideas and seemingly a huge secret room of talented and creative friends.
 She also just happens to have one of the best photo subject horses around in Nadia, her lovely gray Andalusian mare.   Add in Stacie's beautiful friend Maeve in wood nymph attire, an enchanted woods and some almost but not quite indifferent light and voila!  This is what came out of my camera.   Isn't it fun!
 Hopefully we will have a chance to work with something along these lines at my July 27th  Equestrian Lifestyle and Portraiture Photography Workshop.  Anyone feeling like this type of photo session would be awesome, starring YOU, drop me a line, we can chat and see what we could set up.  Its not that hard and it is so much fun. 

March Happenings.

 My work is featured this week in the  Cavalcade Equestrian Fashion and Culture Blog
Check it out and explore the rest of Danielle Demer's online collection of equine visual and material culture where she maintains a focus on art, fashion, decor, accessories, and design concerning all things equestrian and equine.

I don't do very well at categorizing or explaining my work, I think I am too busy creating it. So it is fascinating to me to read how others interpret it.  It is like receiving a gift when I receive feedback and especially when it is so descriptive and positive! 
"Mary Cornelius's photography is particularly impressive due to the many styles and emotions she is able to capture. Her personalized farm call portrait session work is just as beautiful and elegant as her fine art photo portfolio. The selected work featured below merely provides a tiny glimpse at Cornelius' vast and varied photographic compositions." 
 ~ Danielle Demer., Cavalcade

Thank you for this invitation to share my work with your readers Danielle!  
 
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 Dressage Show season is coming up in the Pacific NW. 

Already a few shows have been held.  My first show for 2013 is Heart of the Valley Dressage in May at DevonWood Eq Ctr.  Photographic services at the shows are by sign up.  I have a new option for signing up in advance.  You can fill out the interactive PDF form save it, and email it back to me. Then send a check by mail or pay at the show.
Below looking oh so handsome if one of my favorite photo subjects Quantro.  He and Leslie Chapman had just completed a test in the rain. Nice light to photograph in, but wet horse and rider!

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

I am hosting two photography workshops this summer.  The first one is June 1 at Wild Turkey Farm in Wilsonville.  It is geared towards Amateur hobbyists.  We will have class time and time out in the pastures photographing the foals and young horses that are bred at this world class facility.
This workshop is very nearly filled, just a few spots left!

My second workshop is July 27th at Narnia Farm.    This workshop is geared towards intermediate-advanced amateurs and professionals.  We will be photographing horse and human subjects in costumes and exploring light, composition and various other techniques including tips on  connecting with our subject matter to put the best of them into our images.  A session on Photoshop techniques will also be part of the day. 

We are just beginning to accept registrations for this workshop.  We are starting to get some really fun and exciting models lined up to work with.  This should be a really fun day.

To help lead this workshop, I am bringing in my friend Kim Vickrey, a fine art photographer with horses and humans as her specialty, and professor of graphic arts at Arkansas State University.  Kim is the originator of Tutu Couture, a really fun photo session that she offers in her area.  It is really catching on.   I think it looks just darn fun! Did I mention fun much?   I could say FUN a few more times. I think its a great concept to obsess on! 
 

You can get more information on the workshops with links to the registration forms by clicking on the workshop tab at the top of this blog.