My Original Plan for this Blog…

The purpose of this blog is to share my work. It is a many pronged process where I plan on sharing my hiking adventures, my photography visions while out and about, my creations in my little photo studio, and the notecards I had made several years back when I was planning on retiring from retail. It is a way to keep my photography going and to keep me going. And hopefully a way to sell my notecards, on eBay.

It starts with the camera a simple tool used to record things around me in this world. I started with a simple to use manual camera, as my experience grew, I went up to the much larger and clunky 6×7 camera to supplement the much smaller 35mm SLR camera. Then I quit for 20 + years. I got too busy.
My photo journey started again when I got a simple digital SLR 35mm camera, and on my days off from work going hiking with my German Shephard.

That simple digital camera only survived 2 hikes. It was too simple, I couldn’t use my many, much loved vintage lenses, and I accidently spilled some Gatorade on it, short circuiting the electronics. But I was hooked on photography again. I bought another used digital camera that was more advanced. I photographed anything and everything to share on Facebook. A power outage was an opportunity to get out and take photos of my dilemma

After a couple years I decided to step up my game and I had some notecards of my favorite shots made. I knew that I would be retiring from retail soon and wanted to have an avenue to support myself.

I had a website created and hoped to blog and sell my photo notecards maybe even my photographs. I left my retail job a couple of years earlier than I had planned. It opened me up to explore and enjoy. Everything was paid for, and I didn’t owe anybody for my work. It was freeing…. but my cards were not selling on eBay, or Etsy, or even on my website. I heard from many people Why should I buy notecards when I can use e-mail or Facebook? My website got hacked and I was constantly removing scams, I had pulled my notecards from eBay and Etsy. Tried relisting them again and nothing was selling. I became frustrated and angry, and the blog was reflecting that. Then Covid hit. I let the blog go because I didn’t feel it was doing what I needed.
I was following a photographer whose books I had read, and in one of his articles he mentioned another photographer that was a local to Oregon. I soon started following her and at the end of covid she offered to Do a 52 week photo challenge. I jumped on it and did some of my best most creative work over the next 4 years… I also wore out 5 cameras. Pretty easy to do when you are trying to come up with new ideas for the weekly challenge, and there are no limits… taking 100 photos a day was not unusual. I put together a small photo studio on my back deck where it was protected from the weather in the winter. If I had an idea, I grabbed the camera and started putting it together…. It didn’t matter that it was 25 degrees outside or 85 degrees outside…. While working on the challenge I ran across this troll doll with pink hair and he became a major influence on my photographs and the challenges.

Meet Pinx whom I have mentioned in the earlier blogs as my alter ego.

After a while there were 3 Trolls

and a few plastic dinosaurs they called lizards.
And Now

there are 8 of them and a whole bunch of dinosaur lizards

My whimsical side has evolved and maybe, new plans for notecards. But first I need to sell the older note cards, and the two new notecards I had printed this last summer.

So if you are interested in my notecards you can find them on eBay at deannedementphotography

And Thank You for taking the time to read my post.
Deanne

Things that bring me joy

These are things that are sitting on my desk that bring me Joy. But frequently are buried behind stuff on my desk.

So Today I unearthed them and took them out to my studio, I really only wanted the inspirational glass stones, but everything needed dusting so why not photograph them and then concentrate on my idea.
A couple of years ago for a photo challenge group I photographed the inspirational glass stones with some peacock feathers… I liked it so much I used the photo for my phone screen. Today, I felt it was time to rephotograph them especially since I had replaced the peacock feathers this last month.

This is similar to what I shot a couple of years ago but different because I now have more feathers… and a studio area to work in. From this basic shot I began to add things.

I started simple with dried bracken ferns and pine needles. things that bring me joy in the forest.

Then I added a little chartreuse moss that brightens up a drab juniper forest.

Added some fairy lights

Then got some closer shots.
My plan for these shots are, to pick a few of them have them printed by a local printer into Notecards, and eventually try to sell them on Ebay.
It all starts with an idea from things that bring me Joy

The End of 2025 Making plans for 2026

For the last three days the Troll family tribe has been on exploring trips. Poppa T, Pinx, and Aqua have been taking Lime, Pumpkin, Gemma, Blew and Pinky on tours of a couple of their favorite places to hike.
Monday it was Reilly Ranch Preserve.

They enjoyed the views towards the mountains over the meadow.

The different views from the overlook.

and the lizards wanted to see the views too


There were views of the Deschutes river below,

Pinky and Blew were assigned to make sure Aqua didn’t decide to go swimming again.
After their tour of Reily Ranch they decided to explore the area closer to home. So Tuesday it was Sage Ranch Canyon and Butte. they decided to warm up with a little rock climbing in the parking area.

Soon we were on our way down into the canyon a bit so we could do some more rock climbing up

Poppa T chose this route because he likes the view of the mountains as they climb the rocks to the top of the canyon. Because this area has coyotes, he also hired a couple of guards…

Well truth is that Nova and Aurora insisted that we were not going hiking without them.
After we got to the top of the canyon we headed south up to the top of Sage Ranch Butte.

There were a lot of trees to climb, and every snarly snag had to be checked out, soon though we were at the top of the butte.

After they climbed some rocks and checked out the flat areas it was time to head home. We chose the path that took us down the easy slope and overlooked the canyon wall we climbed up earlier.

For today Wednesday, Poppa T wanted to go to the mountains…. Yeah Right…. I simply explained that I had other plans and was going to the pool…. They thought that would be a good trip, but I said that they didn’t have swim passes and couldn’t go… Plus we had to clean up the photo area so we could start the new year with a fresh blank slate…..

So Good Bye 20….
Hey wait What are you all doing???

What do you mean we are not done photographing???

All right one last portrait session for 2025
Good by 2025…. Time to make photo plans for 2026

Aqua Troll is back home from his adventure.

For those of you who read my post a couple weeks ago, and those of you who didn’t, this story is Aqua’s big adventure story. For some reason Aqua decided to jump off the bridge at lower bridge campground across the Metolius River. He very quickly floated down river and out of sight around the corner.

Now he is back safe and sound.

Nobody is happier to see him then Poppa T. Except maybe me.
And what an adventure story he has to tell.

It all started with a handwritten note.

and a delivery from Fed Ex.

Apparently Aqua is the sibling finder and Blew had come from Texas with a message…

On the day Blew arrived we had a trip planned for the Metolius and just before we left for our hiking trip, he whispered the message to Aqua. There were more siblings lost in Florida…. and they too were trying to come back home.
So Aqua dove into the river in hopes of finding them.

I don’t know how he thought he would make it to Florida from Oregon, but he did.

According to his story he hopped a ride on a swan, that took him down river to lake Billy Chinook. He was ever so grateful for the swan coming along because that water in the Metolius was freezing cold.

At Lake Billy Chinook he managed to catch a ride on the Canada Goose Express heading south. He said it was quite a ride across the United States and was glad that the geese had charted a course south through Texas and Louisiana.
They had heard that there were some lost trolls in Florida, it would be no problem to find them.

and there they were hiding in the ferns.

They were so glad to see Aqua that they came running out to surround him. He told them that his plan was to book them all on a one-way flight through Fed Ex and that they would all be back home with Poppa T soon.

So, Poppa T’s Tribe is growing and while he knows there are other kids out there, he can be patient because they will find their way home.
Meet our new cast of Troll kids

Aqua with formally introduced Blew (on the left.)

Pinky (Pinx twin) And Lime

Pumpkin or Kin for short and Gema.
Looking forward to what adventures we can all get into this next year.

When the personal challenge changes mid photo shoot.

I had challenged myself to do another Christmas style photo shoot using the greenery I picked up last week, and some of the items from the first personal challenge. Somehow when you involve the trolls things don’t always go as planned.

Here are my items that I planned on using for the challenge. Lights were suggested from the first challenge, and I had some small white led lights, but I could not find them, so I threw in the red lights. But I don’t know it just wasn’t right.

and the trolls agreed with me, so we removed the lights

Much better but… Maybe some fairy lights? Could I go find some of those?

Now we are ready to start the photo challenge. Let’s get down to the basics and start.

We will start with the crocks and the manzanita.

Add the red velvet cloth, the fake and wooden apples and the feathers.

More feathers and the dried ferns

Perfect girl but…. You know…. Those gourds that we got last month?…. Maybe we need them too…

Yes, those are perfect…. Now photograph it…

Now add more twigs and branches

Ok girl we need….. You know that pretty turquoise vase? Go get it, let’s add it to the photo.

Now close in, get closer

Better now one more step forward….

Yessss…. Girl …. We like it… Your challenge is done.
What shall we photograph for our Next Challenge…..?

Impressions of a tromp through the woods

There is nothing better for me than a tromp in the woods. I love both the moist Evergreen forest and the dry gnarly juniper high desert. I also love collecting things with the idea that maybe I can photograph it. This blog is about the Evergreen forest. I love challenging myself or accepting challenges from friends on making photos for this blog. This specific idea came from another idea that evolved yesterday into nothing close to what I started with.
I blame the trolls for that. They can lead me astray from an idea with just a giggle and a suggestion.

Their suggestion this time was we needed my hiking boots and warm fuzzy socks.

Put some of the sticks and branches with berries in the crocks. Add some sparkly mini lights

Put in a cup of coffee and a couple of those vintage thermos’s I have. Don’t forget the hand clippers.

Yes, I think we have the photo now shoot it…

There is nothing like the good memories of a good tromp in the woods

A little on the wild side Christmas arrangement challenge

After our trip to the Camp Sherman Metolius river area, I came home with some good nature to use in flower arrangements. Thinking about what greenery and other natural items I had gotten and wanting to use them in several different arrangements to photograph, I searched in my own cupboards and photo prop areas for accessories that fit my vision. The initial idea to use more natural fauna from mother nature came from a couple books written by Ariella Chezar. I had read two of them and bought a third to inspire me. But I never got back to that book. The ideas though still hung out in my mind.
This first photo is all of my supply for this personal challenge. I could not use more than this, but I could use less…

I asked my 3 assistants to help me with this challenge, and they were all in. They love a good challenge. Poppa T keeps our schedule on track, Pinx really get’s into the project and our little Blew, well he is pretty shy but soon warms up.

We start with a few pieces of greenery.

after a while Blew really got into the project

Soon we were able to add the fake poinsettias and the matching swans

a little more tweaking and arranging and they decided that the arrangement was done

Except for…. Well the final portrait shot with all three of them

I would have loved to use real flowers. I really could see this with bright red Dahlias… but those are really hard to find in December….

A trip to the Metolius River area and Robins challenge.

Last week my Friend Robin asked me to go with her and another friend to collect greenery for wreaths. I did my last blog on that trip the with her and her husband. It inspired me to think about going out and picking some greenery for photographs. I don’t need much and don’t want to get too much because I would not be able to use it before it faded. Plus, I would not be able to go out again to another place and get something different. As life goes though thinking about an idea and going out and doing that idea, doesn’t always happen.
So Monday, Robin asked me if I liked challenges. I love photo challenges…. Her challenge was for me to go out with the dogs and take 5 photos. I modified it to taking the trolls and the dogs. Especially since the German Shepherds are too busy checking things out to be good photo subjects. Then she said “Oh and no Juniper.” Well Shoot…. I guess I have to go back to Camp Sherman / Metolius river Area. I decided that we would start as far out as we could go at Candle Ck Campground. Normally we cannot get there this time of year because of snow. This year no problem good dry road all the way…
I love worn out picnic tables in the national forest and this table had a lot of character.
So Robin…. Challenge photo #1


Poppa T, Pinx, Aqua and their little brother Blew brought several of their pet lizards to play in the forest. We wandered around the campground a bit then headed back towards the main road. Collecting nature and greenery on the way back.

We stopped at Abbot Ck bridge because the kids wanted to check things out.

And then we hear a squawk from the car…. Thomas Turkey thought this might be a good place to find some of his family

Challenge photo #2
We did a search but didn’t find anything not even a feather. So, we continued back to the main road and lower bridge campground Bridge 99. Where there was this beautiful reflection on the river.

The trolls wanted to get out and take photos of the river from the bridge

Challenge photo #3
It wasn’t long before they moved along the bridge railing to a better view

Challenge shot #4
Just after this shot was taken Aqua, (on the right) decided that he wanted to go swimming and dove off the bridge into the freezing Metolius river. I hoped that he would catch the swirl and end up against the shore at the campground but no he went for the rapids and around the bend. After that the photo session was over for the day. I do hope that if he decides to swim with the fishies he has a good time.
However we still have Poppa T, Pinx, and little Blew. I convinced them that we needed to set up the photo area and use the greenery and branches we collected.

Challenge shot #5

And so, another personal challenge begins, Making floral arrangements with Christmas in mind.
We love a good challenge….. and maybe Aqua will figure out how to join us again….