Typist: Bethany
When my brother and I were in school full time, my family did most of our traveling in the summer. The annual forlorn feeling of saying farewell to most of my toys as we packed everything into another storage space quickly gave way to the excitement of a new summer of adventures on the road. While our travels back and forth across North America always included visits to various family and friends, it was when we arrived on the shores of Chautauqua Lake, New York, that young nomadic me felt at home. Once the family van was safely parked near the big white, bat filled barn at Bompa and Nee Nee's house, I didn't waste a second thinking about the stuff in storage thousands of miles away. The dogs and I splashed in the creek, ran in the grass, and lounged on the stone porch. At this young age I learned that every nomad needs a place that feels like home, pets too.

Dogwood Photography Photo Challenge Week 10, Portrait: Environmental
"Show a subject in their natural habitat. Their place of work or hobby is a great start. Tell their story with the environment."

While I do not consider cages and crates to be the pet's natural habitats, they truly enjoy time in their own private spaces, at home or on the road. Photographing the pets in their place of work or hobby, which I hope the dogs, cat and cockatoo would agree is being out on adventures or at sports, is what I do all the time. Don't get me wrong! I love it. But photos of the pets at home, at rest, was more of a photography challenge. Plus, I captured these photos just before Jason and I left on the first pet-free trip we have taken in almost two years. It comforts me to see how relaxed these furry and feathery nomads are just hanging out at home.

Where do you feel most at home?

This post is a part of the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Photography Challenge. Please see more of our photo challenge posts here.

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Typist: Bethany
Ah, red. It's one of my favorite colors and a photo challenge theme like artistic photos with a color theme is exactly why I wanted to join another year long photographic journey. All week, I have been pondering "how can I shoot that?" every time something red catches my eye. As usual, it is the pets that not only inspire but guide my imagination. When Leo showed an interest in the red ribbon I was removing from the Christmas wreath, I decided to set up a creative photo shoot with a white cockatoo in red.

Dogwood Photography Photo Challenge Week 3, Artistic: Red
"Shoot whatever inspires you. Red should be the focus of the image. Don't be afraid to be creative."

Leo playing peek-a-boo with the ribbon, manipulating it with his beak, and enjoying the crimson sparkles was very entertaining. It was also excellent for my parrot to have a positive experience with red which has occasionally proven to be a color he doesn't like. Perhaps his instincts remind him that somewhere in the wilds of New Guinea, there is a Triton cockatoo predator flashing a subtle red warning. Soon after our staged shoot, we had an accidental red encounter with Jason wearing his headlamp in the driveway. I am sharing these photos as well because, first, I totally love them, and I also think this second red cockatoo shoot speaks volumes about a photographic journey. I pondered what red photo I would take all week, I set up a complex photo shoot, yet the perfect red artistic photo was just a step outside with what inspires me sitting on my hand.

This post is a part of the Dogwood Photography 52 Week Photography Challenge. Please see more of our photo challenge posts here.

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Happy Holidays!
-Leo & Bethany, plus Jason, Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley, & Amelia too

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Typist: Bethany
When Leo is out and about I am often asked "what does he eat?" The sight of an adventuring triton cockatoo thrills many but all that is toted along inside his travel case can look puzzling. Leo always travels with at least one huge, dark, leafy green hanging in his Popemobile, a foraging toy full of pellets, a dish of spring water and a dish of fresh food. This fresh food is a spoonful of the casserole that Jason or I make for Leo each morning. We layer brown rice pasta, sprouted mung beans or lentils, winter squash, butternut squash or carrot baby food and unsweetened canned pumpkin into a small glass bowl. After 20 minutes in the toaster oven, we mix the hot dish with a small amount of plain, non-fat yogurt and chopped chard, kale or collard greens. We serve Leo his all organic casserole and he happily digs in. The types of baby food and pumpkin are chosen because of they are high in vitamin A. Serious health issues occur in parrots with vitamin A deficiency. Even birds like Leo who never eat seeds can suffer immune, tissue and organ trauma from a lack of vitamin A. So pumpkin is a delicacy in our house or when traveling, year round. The dogs also like pumpkin from the can or whenever Leo drops it. We are such a healthy bunch of Cascadians!

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