The hawk flew into the big picture window of my parent’s kitchen a couple of years ago while I was spacing out at the kitchen table. It knocked itself out cold, so I quickly ran outside and wrapped it up in a towel. I held it for about twenty minutes while it slowly came to. I distinctly remember being mesmerized by the talons, while I wondered if it would survive. Once it came-to it hopped out of my arms and over to the fence post about a foot from where I was standing. I then flew into the house to grab my camera and was able to get three or four shots before it flew off into the trees. I received a copy of the book from the publisher a couple of weeks ago and meant to photograph it, but I ended up giving it to my parents since it has their front yard on the cover. The printer did an amazing job with the printing. You can get the book at this link on Amazon.

While putting together a submission for Lonely Planet Images I decided to do a series of blog posts. Here is part one in my series on travel.

For the first time ever I am offering framed fine art prints. I’m doing a soft launch today with three collections: The California Desert Collection (featured above), The Abandoned Collection and The Railroad Boneyard Collection. I will be refining the offerings, but I wanted to get his launched so that there is still time for you to order these for holiday presents. You will need to register on the site in order to store your favorites and keep items saved in your shopping cart. You can always access the store through http://brendaernst.com/proofs/.

All framed fine art prints are 10% off through December 5, 2011 as an early bird special. Additionally, all friends and family can use the coupon code available only through liking Brenda Ernst Photography on Facebook for an additional 15% off through December 10, 2011. Remember, the early bird special of 10% off is only available through December 5th, so to get the extra whammy of savings, order by December 5, 2010. Please share this offering with everyone you know who might be interested in some original Brenda Ernst Photography Fine Art Prints. Thank you so much! Oh, gift certificates are also available if you know someone who needs some framed art on their wall, but don’t know if they’ll appreciate a 12×18 of my mug.

Ernst-100726-2677-1 Ernst-100720-0056 Ernst-100723-1802-1 Ernst-100723-1830-1 Ernst-100722-0752 Ernst-100721-0481 Ernst-100722-0911-1 Ernst-100722-0954-1 Ernst-100725-2261-1 Ernst-100725-2301-1 Ernst-100723-1661-1 Ernst-100721-0139 Ernst-100721-0402 Ernst-100723-1853-1 Ernst-100723-1902-1 Ernst-100723-1910-1 Ernst-100724-1925-1 Ernst-100724-2040 Ernst-100724-2067-1 Ernst-100724-2096 Ernst-100722-1160-1 Ernst-100722-1153-1 Ernst-100725-2338-1 Ernst-100725-2352-1 Ernst-100725-2368-1 Ernst-100725-2407 Ernst-100725-2532-1 Ernst-100726-2561-1 Ernst-100726-2793-1 Ernst-100726-2842-1 Ernst-100726-2995-1 Ernst-100727-3151-1 Ernst-100727-3154-1 Ernst-100727-3265 Ernst-100727-3415-1 Ernst-100728-3653-1 mts_screengrab

I apologize if the photo of the dog grosses you out or offends you. It’s been decaying in my neighborhood for a couple of weeks. At first it smelled awful and was being picked apart by turkey vultures. We would ponder how it died and whether it was a stray or a pet. Today it didn’t really smell anymore so I went up for a closer look, and although a bit creepy I also found it kind of beautiful how its detached fur blended with the leaves in an Escher-esque way. Then I noticed it was wearing a collar and then I noticed the gunshot wound in its hip.

I also took the last two shots of the expired 3000 speed black and white Polaroid film that I had loaded in my Land 340. Unfortunately, the last image didn’t come out.

Randy, Matt, Noah, Eddie, Damion, Andrew, Lauren, Nancy and Patrick of The Four Coursemen and Scribe

As many of you know I took the last few months off to take care of my grandmother in South Carolina. I didn’t do much photography during that time, in fact, I spent most of three months in the house or in the garden. Then last month my peoples from Scribe in Sonoma came out to do a dinner with The Four Coursemen in Athens, Georgia. I went to the dinner, had a blast, and made new friends. It was my first outing since March. I brought my Polaroid Land 340 and a pack of expired 3000 speed pack film that my friend Mark had given me a year ago. Here is a shot from that night last month. I went back for another dinner this past Saturday. The food was incredible once again, the wine and beer parings were fun and scrumpy, and the friendships grow. Now it’s Monday and I’m back at my desk, getting back to work and ready to shoot again. I just had to update my blog before I had to look at that old post of my spring garden any longer. I’ll be making some website changes and updating my portfolios soon. Here’s to change, new friends and new horizons…