Author Archives: butlerbd

Saint PAWtrick’s Day

Posted in Animals, Georgia, Humane Society, Photography by

As some of you already know, I live in a town named Dublin, which is located in the middle Georgia area. It was named by (you guessed it!) Irish settlers who thought the land reminded them of home. (I wish…) Dublin is about halfway between Atlanta and Savannah, which made it useful in trade of agricultural, textile, and other trading. It was also chosen as the site for a Naval Hospital, built in 1945 to convalesce those suffering from Rheumatic Fever. It is now the Carl Vinson VA hospital, which is where I work. I love my job, and Dublin is a nice enough town of roughly 16,000 people.

Anyway, I ramble… The town is named DUBLIN, after Dublin, Ireland… and of course, Saint Patrick’s Day is kind of a big deal around here. The town hosts a parade and other family activities. It’s a lot less boozier than Savannah, but kid-friendly, and makes things interesting for the locals. I’m not Irish at all (or at least that I know of… I’m Scottish, English, Cuban, Spanish, and Italian, actually… I describe myself as 25% Hispanic and 75% Generic White Girl) BUT I enjoy any kind of holiday and an excuse to act sillier than usual.

The Humane Society got in on the action, hosting a “St. PAWtrick’s Day” Dog Costume contest. And of course, since I am the volunteer photographer for the shelter, I was asked to come on down and shoot the event. It was going in the paper, website, and Facebook page, so, off I go with my camera in tow.

It was pretty cute… Here are a few of my favorites:

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Copywronged

Posted in Photography by

Something strange has happened.

One of my favorite images has been “stolen” and reused. When I say reused, I mean hundreds of wallpaper websites are using it. Literally, hundreds of hits came up when I did a reverse image search on it. Everything from demotivational posters to Facebook pages to bar advertisements to music pages, there it was. Here’s a snippit of what came up (with many more from where this came from):

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The image is about 4 years old. I took it during my 2nd year of pharmacy school, with my very first DLSR, the Canon Rebel XS and a “nifty fifty” 50mm f/1.8, nonetheless. It is of my friend in pharmacy school. He asked me if I would go out and take some photos with him and his guitar, and being an ambitious little wannabe photographer, I happily obliged as a birthday gift for him. It was a blast! One of the best photo shoots I’ve ever had, and one of the most successful shoots I ever had… or at least I thought it was great. Toward the end of our venture around Savannah, he told me about this mechanic shop nearby that had some old junk classic cars out back. We stopped by, checked out the cars in the back and I positioned him in front of an old Cadillac. I took his whole body first, but then I realized that the guitar aligned with the Cadillac’s grill and I knelt to take a photo up close, without his upper body in the photo. About that time, the owner of the shop came out, and I apologized for disturbing him. He laughed and said, “Oh hell, I don’t know why anyone would want a picture of that junk, but take all you want!”

Turned out to produce one of my best images, even to this day it is one of my favorites of all time.

This is it:

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^ Notice I added a watermark? Yeah.

 

So, you might be wondering… Does it bother me that someone stole my image? Yes and no.

#1. It’s my image. I took it, it is my work. Stealing is stealing.

BUT… at the same time…

#2. I posted it on the internet (on my Smugmug) without a watermark. Oops. This pretty much gives anyone access to it. If I post it out there, well, it’s a risk.

So, if I hadn’t, then we might not even be discussing it, or talking about what a cool picture it must be… which brings me to…

#3. If someone has “stolen” the image, it is because it was good enough that someone wanted it. That is flattering. It tells me that if people want to use it. They like it. They want to put it on their Facebook page to promote their business, or on their blog because it looks good.

This tells me that it is good enough to get on iStockphoto or something of the like. So, in the end, I guess I am flattered. And of course, I can always hire DMCA to do a takedown.

Really, though, I wonder if it bothers my friend… it’s MY image, of course… but after all, it’s HIS crotch that is all over the internet. 😉

Music In Review 2013

Posted in Music by

506b086674c5b64b05001245._w.270_h.190_s.fit_Since the Grammy’s were last night I was feeling musical and honestly, there’s not a better way to reflect on a year of your life than listening to your music playlists. One of the beauties of using the streaming music client Spotify is the ability to do just that, and I want to share with you a few of my favorite songs I listened to (a LOT) in 2013. Now, they aren’t ALL from 2013, mind you, (there are a few songs from the 60’s and 70’s on here, just because I have rediscovered them and listened to them 2 million times this year). The list below includes songs I really liked this year, for some inexplicable reason or another.

Shall we begin?  In no particular order… (links go to Youtube)

BONUS (JUST FOR FUN):  THRIFT SHOP (8-BIT NINTENDO VERSION)  (Oh yes, yes I did.)

Miss Livi {Pet Photography}

Posted in Animals, Photography by

Miss Livi tends to get overshadowed by my dogs often in my work… but she is beautiful and deserves some attention as well. She got some catnip for Christmas in the stocking from her “Grandma”, so I took a cute picture of her rolling around under the bed the other day after playing in it.

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Canon 6D with 50mm f/1.2L in low light room, no flash (under the bed) 🙂

Doggy Bath Day

Posted in Animals, Joys of Dog Ownership, Photography by

One of the best parts of my weekend is that one of those days, my puppies get their weekly bath. In general, dogs tend to smell unpleasant after a week of running around outside, playing rough, and not getting their bottoms cleaned. Think about it… you would too, if you didn’t bathe but every 7 days.

I decided to document the event in photos. (Ryan said I was mean to just stand there and take pictures.) Personally, I think dog bath pictures are pretty fun.

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Duncan

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Buckley

Thor

Thor

 

Bonus 🙂

Buckley B&W

Buckley B&W

 

Canon 6D and 50mm f/1.2L

A Shag Rug and The Number 2

Posted in Animals, Joys of Dog Ownership, My Comical Existence by

When I first moved to Savannah, my Dad did me a solid and offered to buy me some furniture so I wouldn’t have to sit indian style on my apartment floor while I ate my shrimp-flavored Ramen noodles. He took me to Rooms to Go and let me pick out a couch, a matching chair, and a set of tables. Because I was such a wonderful kid and made his heart swell with pride for starting pharmacy school, he even let me get a matching shag rug to go with the set. It was the best rug.

That living room set endured a hell of a lot.

One Sunday night, while I was diligently studying for Biochemistry, I left Baron (my miniature American Eskimo) unattended on the floor playing with his toys. He had been to the bathroom and was playing peacefully until bedtime… or so I thought. Suddenly, a horrendous smell crept through my olfactory, past my blood brain barrier. It was so offensive it cauterized my nostril hairs and resulted in a Niagra-esque cascade of tears. In search of the source of the odor, I scanned the room until my eyes fixated on my sweet little puppy. When our gaze met, he immediately interpreted this as an invitation to run batcrap crazy around the room. Before I could form the “N” in “NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!” he blazed past me, running circles, all over the rug, all over the couch, all over me, creating an all-encompassing vortex of sh*t and stink.

What I soon discovered was that Baron had produced the foulest of all poops on the rug (my beautiful rug), then proceeded to run circles through it more efficiently than any NASCAR driver I know… thus distributing it evenly all over the room. My fluffy white dog was now a gradient of doo-doo brown from his tip toes to his ears, and a feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me. I wept.

At this time, I concluded that there were 2 things that had to happen… Clean the dog. Clean the living room. Not in that order. Well, maybe in that order.

I grabbed the dog and threw him in the bathroom and slammed the door (as if he understood). I paced. I grabbed the cleaning supplies and emptied a bottle of Arm and Hammer on the carpet/rug/couch/chair. I called my Mom.

I’m sure she thought I was dying.

Me: *sobbing* “MOM OH MY GOD THERE IS CRAP EVERYWHERE AND BARON IS COVERED IN IT AND I AM COVERED IN IT AND THE RUG…. THE RUUUUGGGGGG. *incoherent babbling* IT’S ALL COVERED IN IT EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE AND I HAVE A TEST TOMORROW AT 8:00AM AND I AM GOING TO FAIL!!!”

Mom: “Okay. Baron. Number 2. Test. Gotcha. I’m on my way.”

And just like that, my Mother came to my rescue… all the way to Savannah. Mom of the freaking year.

I managed to wipe away my tears and wrangle Baron into the bathtub. I am pretty sure it was the worst bath of his life (and certain it was the worst bath of MY life). I uncapped the pet shampoo and covered him with the entire bottle. He was not happy, but neither was I. Unmerciful, yes. Cruel, no.

And I didn’t make an A on that Biochemistry test… or even a B that time… but I learned valuable lesson even more important than purine and pyrimidine synthesis…

Tears won’t wash away crap… but 16 ounces of “Perfect Coat: White Pearl”, 2 bottles of “Arm and Hammer Pet Stain and Odor Removal”, a roll of paper towels, and a phone call to Mama can sanitize even the most unfortunate “shituations”.

Baron

FYI… My arms aren’t that hairy… (that’s my Dad giving Baron a bath in the sink).
Baron now lives with my parents… NO, not because he made number 2 on my rug. I still love Baron very much. After my Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 and underwent a radical prostatectomy, he was forced into retirement. You could tell it was really weighing on him. When I visited home, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the company of my dog, Baron. When I moved home for advanced rotations, my Dad became very attached to him, so when I left home again (this time permanently), I let Baron stay. While it was heartbreaking to give away my sweet little bundle of fluff, I knew it was a sacrifice that would be worth it for my Dad. Those two are inseparable and spend every minute together. I’ve never seen either of them happier… and by the way, my Dad has been completely cancer free for over 4 years now. 🙂

{ Drucilla & Chuck }

As most of you know, I am somewhat of a regular at the local Humane Society. I show up ever so often, camera in tow, prepared to crawl into dog pens and photograph scared, dirty, and unhappy animals. It’s challenging to capture the spirit of an animal when they are often lost and heart broken. I am diligent, however, and will not leave until I catch a glimpse of this dog or cat’s soul, just so a potential adopter can see the beauty that I see.

I say all this, not to brag on myself. I need no congratulations or pat on the back. However, I would like to acknowledge someone else who is far more diligent than myself. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some very dedicated, amazing people. The director, George, his wife, Dee, some of the workers and volunteers at the shelter (like Reggie, Cindy, and Debbie, just to name a few) who have been more than helpful during my visits. One particular volunteer, however, I have become most fortunate to know.

This man is a Navy veteran, dog lover, and as a journalist, he is one heck of a good writer. His name is Chuck Warzyn, and despite ups and downs in his own life, one thing is certain: he WILL go to that shelter at least 3 days a week and walk those dogs, and he WILL go to that shelter and give them all fresh Kong balls filled with peanut butter, and he WILL ensure I am updated on what photos need to be taken/changed/moved/deleted/replaced. And he does it all so eloquently, whether it be by telephone or e-mail.

On my way out of the shelter on Saturday, Chuck mentioned that he wanted a photo of Drucilla, the resident Irish Deerhound, jumping up with her paws on someone’s shoulders, just to demonstrate her size to any potential adopters. He happily volunteered to be the “shoulders”.

This is what we got…

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I just loved it.

Humane Society Furry Faces {{ DEC 7 }}

Posted in Humane Society, Photography by

Dublin Laurens Co. Humane Society, Dublin, Georgia

www.dublinlaurenshumanesociety.org

Phone:   478-272-5341

 

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Look at that sweet spotted nose!

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Man’s best friend

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This is my happy face!

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Sweetest face ever!

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Big brown eyes and 2 pointy ears

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Are those treats you have?

 

 

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Dirty little face and a big sweet heart


Meeting Miss Lawton

Posted in Photography, Random by

In Boneventure Cemetery, there is but one monument that stands out among the rest. Although it is not towering high, or even massive in volume, it has drawn myself as well as hundreds of others to seek it. It’s a plain statue. A portrait of stone. To say it is simple would be unjust, but it truly is. It’s just a young girl, in the likeness of the deceased, posed ever so appropriately at the side of her own grave. She looks as if she is weeping for the loss of herself. But alas, she is not weeping. She has no eyes, no true expression, just spheres of stone. If you look close enough, you may see them. You may even believe them to move. Her mouth is posed open, in just a slight way. You cannot tell if it is meant to express surprise, loss, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness. Part of you wants to tell her that she will be okay. But then you realize, she is not real. It’s an illusion and an image which has ingrained itself into the minds and continues to haunt all of those who visit… Including myself.

Her epitaph reads, “Allured to brighter worlds and led the way.” What a beautiful sentiment. Such a nice way of indicating someone has passed. I can somehow picture the statue, coming to life, with her flowy dress and clutching her flowery wreath, running through the flowers and trees, finding a brighter world. All the while, the mortals (we) follow her lead…Not knowing what is next, but following, nevertheless…

There are many tails about Corinne Elliott Lawton, the person who came before the corpse who now lies in this plot. Stories have spun through the centuries until a tale of unattainable love and suicide is concocted, and is now fed to tour groups daily. Alas, it is but a fable.

Corinne, living in the dark times she did, was stricken by an illness. According to her mother’s diary from around that time, it appeared to be a severe respiratory infection of some sort. Or perhaps even a dreadful common cold. (Yellow Fever epidemic? Pneumonia? The Flu?) Days passed, and Corinne appeared to be doing better, however the illness reared its ugly head once more and finally took Corinne down with it. Written in her mother’s diary, Corinne drew her last breath on January 24th, 1877.

Corinne’s father was of nobility, of high rank in the confederate army, hence the elaborate statue you find in Boneventure. He commissioned a famous Italian artist to create the likeness of his beloved daughter and turn her into stone. Now she sits there eternally.

He did a fine job.

Meet Corinne.

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