Tugs On My HEARTSTRINGS

More Dependable Than MANKIND

This baby I purchased for love.

He leaves our farm tomorrow for downsizing has become eminent.

He has only lived with me since 2010

A perfect gentleman he has carried many through the woods.

Never bucked, rolled or had attitude.

Unconditional love of an animal can really embrace you.

He never lies when he looks you in the eyes

You touch his face and his eyes soften.

For this I know he loves me.

And that is why my heart is breaking.

Sunny your soul graced our lives with pleasure.

I have found you a great home for now!

Maybe one day we will reconnect as promised if ever a need!

As I apply for photography jobs globally

Cambodia

Washington D.C.

California

God only knows where I will be going, cuz I don't.

Farm is as it will be here for us.

But I must move toward the green.

Sunny; true blue and the light of you many felt.

Giving thanks for the gift of you.

Take care of your new momma, she's a good one.

My perfect man.

XOXO

FAITH

Cherokee Indian Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. 
He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. 

 He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. 

Maybe even some human might do him harm. 

 The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. 

It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. 
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. 

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach  out to Him.

Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see Him doesn't mean He is not there.


"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

MARK GROWDEN

photograph by karen kuehn NM

"Karen Kuehn is an absolute pro. 
She is the finest photographer I've had the pleasure of working with - ever." 
 Mark Growden
 
MASTERFUL MUSICAL MIND

My favorite instrument is the accordion.  After hearing some interesting piece on a friends wall on face book I searched for more of this mans music.  Mark Growden is more than meets the eye...he holds the kitchen sink full of musing his poetic style in lyric.

I was in awe of the textures and humor and yes the darkness of his masterful mind.

I saw that he was arriving to NM for a gig so I contacted him to do a shoot out on the Mesa prior to his show.  It was quick and we got many cool images as he warmed up for the evening event. 

I remember thinking what a cool guy?  And as I read more about him I thought of how difficult it is to make a living performing.  You drive endless miles state to state to get your name and vibe into the world.  Mark is everywhere and yet, not yet a millionaire in the making I hope for him.  Not unlike Tom Waits I find him curious and creative.

He leaves the listener wanting more of his total experience.

Carnival meets the garage on the road.

He also has a great eye for images. We are friendly on instagram where he posts one gorgeous image after the other.  
He's an artist to the core.  I imagine whatever  her touches has seeds creative ambition and very cool results.

Sweeter are the making of images for the sonic musing.

http://markgrowden.org/

Art Buyer's McCann Erickson

Snap shot at McCann Art Buying department.

 Wendy Leahy, Andrea Kaye, Sonia Zobel, Amy Siegel Salzman and photographer karen kuehn 

"Karen Kuehn is a true talent. It was my privilege to have worked with her on a multitude of MasterCard "Priceless" ads.
 Her beautiful images helped to bring this iconic campaign to life.
On set her creativity was electrifying and contagious.
 She not only produced images we asked for but always had options we couldn't have imagined. 
Karen is a great photographer, a unique soul, a lovely person and a heck of a lot of fun. She is the real deal!" 
- Sonia Zobel

Art Buyers that made a huge difference in my life.

It started with a phone call for stock for Master Card.  One shot of a boy with a puppy, and a girl in a slip and Andrea Kaye needed a baby shot so I scooted up to the neighbors loft to do a baby portrait.  I wanted to be a photographer that these gals could count on.  I could deliver and as it all unfolded I got to be the main photographer for a very special series of images for this client.

We did about 20 ads as I recall.  Unheard of  at the time.

It was a huge blessing to my family.

An account that I will always feel much gratitude.

Now ten years later I am not in the thick of NYC where ad accounts are awarded more to the locals than the photographers living more remotely.

I am always promoting and trying to get under the radar of the new as well as the seasoned art buyers.

I worked directly with most of the gals and not only did I do my job I learned so much from each of their styles.

I t was my pleasure to work with all of you.

Call anytime

1 505 401-5987

I love  working and forever hopeful to be part of any team.  

 karen kuehn Photographer        

TEAM SPIRIT

 photography by karen kuehn

"Along with amazing pictures Karen brings a zeal and lifetime of expertise on her projects. 

She has endless energy and doesn't miss a beat, I remember the laughs and great conversations as much as the work.

 Need ideas? She has tons, and can improve the work on the spot with ease.

 Not to mention she's totally a blast and a beautiful person." - Wes Warren: Art Director

Jorge, Karen and Wes; our Art Director 

TEAM takes a Village is putting it lightly when it comes to making images in advertising.
Thirty years of experience.  I've worked with many art directors on ad accounts. Wes has a strong sense of what he wants and he is super open to your ideas too as a photographer.

Especially if it makes the agency and all involved look great!

Working with Wes was easy and having to piggy back a TV shoot and another agencies needs as well added more details to manage for the end results.

Wes made my job easy as he was able to see the conditions and how I could maximize our times slots and juggling bad weather and multiple people with needs.

Basically Wes is a chill art director, calm, quite and wide awake.
His brain is skipping ahead with ideas...and we sort of just arrive at the same place at the same time.
So fun to feel that energy with another creative. He was so appreciative of me as well.
Which in turn makes a shooter want to produce the very best they can for the project at large.   

I was so lucky to be aligned with him and I hope that we will one day again pull some images together for what we do as a team I feel is of great value.

Many photographers have ego thinking they do it all!

Its never the case when you work on a commercial or even a magazine assignment.

In the case of our health care client

(names unmentioned ad agency request)

We may start with a art director recommend but ultimately the art buyer is the key person that brings a shooter onto a project for review.

In my case Dana Eisenberg; stands with the mane of a lioness head of her pride.
A total pro, quiet and confident art buyer.
Never misses a beat.

Sort of like the head cook.

An Art buyer pulls all the ingredient's to the project and than we all manifest the best image possible.

The teams are fairly big when it comes to doing ad work.

Client

Ad Agency

Art Buyer

Artist Rep or Self

Creative Director

Art Director

Copy Writer

Account Team

Photographer

Producer

Assistants 1,2,3

Digital Tech Team

Hair & Make Up

Wardrobe

Extra assistants 

Handlers for kids and animals

You name it and their is a professional on it.

Always a pleasure to have a buttoned up team.

Rebecca; Producer and Dana; Art Buyer in between the down pour.

Weather pending, the show must go on!

 Great Team till we meet again . . .

 

Best Coffee Ever

 

 MOUNTAIN PINION COFFEE

One of many tasty beans ground at our little home spun coffee shop.

Barry and Laurie have managed to make some of the most flavorful beans for home brewing.  This morning as I sit and check emails I found these funny images posted by friends.  I 've been a big fan of odd humor and even more so my morning ritual like many to sit and really enjoy my first cup of coffee.

Against all nutritional facts its the coffee that fuels my start of each day.

I have gifted many bags of the Mt Pinion.

The Branch Coffee shop has clients all over the world.

Some in celebrity status.

When I go to Burning Man I bring at least 20-30 bags for gifts for my pals.

A sip makes you hum yum...

Bosque Roasters; like a warm friend meeting me at dawn, every day.

You can count on it.

As a photographer whose up early and prone to late nights working.

My coffee of choice.

Many other options as well, here' s the link.

http://bosqueroasters.com/

Four Agreements

Screen Saver Be My Guest

Please feel free to enlarge and post anywhere good for you.

Ruiz shared the Four Agreements so we could be better people.

He said if you practice these four ideas your life will improve 75%.

Good Luck

New Years Day Ritual

Sage Your Sacred Space

http://www.steppingintofreedom.com/ho/despacho-ceremony/peruvian-despacho-ceremony

Started the New Year off with pal Candy.

Farm work, a walk on the Rio Grande, BBQ steak and eggs than off to town to partake 

in a Peruvian Despacho held by Sally in her sacred space.

13 Light Works attending including myself.

Shamanic love held high by all souls prayers and song.

Bay leaves and flowers, lama lard and spice, we all made our offerings.

All the beautiful elements to wish for prosperity in the world.

We prayed for all of you.

We prayed for joy and we got messages for the year.

It will be filled with joy and pain, for change is not easy but essential for growth.

Love energy is not charged with anger and frustration but rather an energy like the 

Dali Lama reflects; joyful with humor and relaxed rather than that of those with venom.

I asked for lightness for all beings, friends and foe.

I with all of you a great new year filled with abundance.

May you overflow with Joy.

Kintus (coco leafs)-My 9 Bay Leaf Offerings

Namaste