10 Ways to boost your Mojo
OK so what is your mojo – well my understanding is that “it is your internal energy, enthusiasm, power and inspiration that gets you moving joyfully in whatever direction you desire” Mojo is like the fuel you need to fulfill your goals and dreams
If you feel that your Mojo is more like a Nojo try these simple tricks to get it back in full gear.
1. Embrace the Peter Pan in you - think more like a child – they only see the possibilities not the danger. I really like a quote from Peter Pan “to live will be an awfully big adventure”
2. Be good to yourself, I am sure you know how to make “To Do Lists” well make a Self care list and write down all the things that would make you feel healthy. Like regular walks, fresh air , time to sit and enjoy your food not eating on the run. If it helps pretend you are writing it for someone else.
3. Defrag your mind – just like your computer your mind gets overwhelmed with all the things it has to process, so carve out 15 mins a day to meditate or pray.
4. Learn to live in the moment – let go of past and don’t fret over the future but truly live in the here and now. This is a very special gift I have got from photography - after all it’s all about catching the moment.
5. Live in an attitude of Gratitude – if you face each day from a perspective of gratitude then you will never have that familiar feeling of running on empty.
6. Mojo Stealer, learn to recognize people or situations that drag you down and avoid both – believe me you won’t miss them.
7. Look for the miracles in everyday life – it might be that just getting out of bed in a morning is somewhat of a miracle for you - if that is the case give thanks.
8. Kill stress – my easy solution to this problem is to call it what it really is! Instead of saying to yourself I am stressed say “I am overloaded” then itemize all the things that make you feel overloaded and either remove those responsibilities or delegate until you start to feel life is good.
9. Recognize time stealers – and get rid of them – for me it is my crazy obsession with farm-ville – for you it might be TV shows, or crossword puzzles. Recognizing where the problem lies is half the battle.
10. Eat chocolate – it makes all the cells in your tummy sing Halle Lulea – and just knowing that scientifically (unproven) theory makes my Mojo go
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Top 10 Reasons to Hire - A Sharper Image - Photography

Top 10 reasons you should hire a Professional Photographer
Well these are really good reasons why you should hire A Sharper Image actually

Whilst reading a marketing book recently, it posed a question that I felt worth spending a little time pondering.
The author suggested you put yourself in your client’s shoes and ask
Why should I hire you?
He was really trying invoking advertising copy and creating a unique selling proposition. But I thought that question warranted some serious thought.
So here are my top ten reasons to hire A Sharper Image - Photography
1. Top-of-the-line Equipment – My camera is worth more than my car, and I have a whole slew of lenses. Along with all the “Must have” pro accessories
2. Expert Eye – As a professional photographer I anticipates all the possible moments in an event. And know how to capture these moments and immortalize them in a single, cleverly angled shot.
3. Coaxing a Shot – I know it’s hard to believe but sometimes I have to deal with uncooperative subjects. This takes experience and patience to coax a shot.
4. Lighting Techniques – Another reason why you should hire a professional photographer is I know how to deal with different lighting conditions. I can gauge what kind of equipment is needed if the present natural lighting conditions are unsatisfactory and recognize what kind of light will make a photograph pop.
5. Focused Concentration – Hey as a professional photographer is hired to do one thing and one thing only, he or she will have the concentration that is needed to capture special moments in an event.
6. Education – I have formal photographic education plus attend workshops to continually upgrade my skills. Unlike the amateur who has barely skimmed the instruction manual.
7. Proper Etiquette – Years of experience has developed the proper way of acting in an event. I can document the event without being conspicuous.
8. Objectivity – During an event, there are a lot of emotions going on and if you hire a friend or relative, chances are, they will be too involved in the event to take excellent shots. A professional photographer who is outside an event can give this necessary objectivity.
9. Dealing with Other Professionals – The professional photographer will be able to coordinate with other professionals, such as a Judges or videographer or event officials, to make sure that every important shot is taken without getting in the way of other professionals.
10. Standards of Quality – I am totally committed to producing high quality photographs. After all that is my business.

Wild Horses Of Alberta

I had heard all kinds of stories about the “Wild Horses of Alberta” some people said they were farel horses meaning horses that had either escaped or been turned loose and allowed to roam and breed free.
Other people told me the number of supposedly wild horses was proportionate to the price of hay – meaning when times were tough and hay at premium prices people were guilty of just setting their horses free to fend for themselves and hopefully be accepted into the herds of wild horses.
Others claimed these wild horses were brought to Alberta by the first nations people long before the land was settled by white folks. The first record of large herds of wild horses roaming in the Sundre area was in mcDougals journals written in the 1800’s
So I was very keen to go and see for myself.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that there are free roaming horses in the foothills – this is a fact.
Bob and Doreen Henderson head up WHOAS - the wild horses of Alberta society and they are active in trying to protect these horses. They very kindly offered to take me out to see them.
I met the Hendersons in Olds and they took me and all my camera gear in their all terrain vehicle on out quest to find the horses.
Bob told me there were about 300 head but they live in small family groups made up of one stallion and his mares along with the youngsters. He explained the bachelor males who hadn’t yet managed to secure and females for themselves also live in small groups this is for both company and safety. Bears and wolves are their natural preditors in these parts.
I ask Bob about the farel horse theory and he said some horses do get tuned loose out here but most of them don’t survive the winter, domestic horses that are used to being fed good quality feed and fresh water really suffer. The streams are frozen all winter and there is no grass – only the hardiest of horses can not only survive but thrive and breed in these conditions.
We traveled about an hour and a half west of Olds and turned of the main road onto the logging roads, I was extremely thankfull that Bob was both driving and knew where he was going because everywhere looked the same - snow and trees - it would be very easy to get lost up here.
As we were driving Bob told me to look for both horse poop and fresh tracks as this would be our clues to finding these elusive horses.
We spotted several white tailed deer but after driving around for about an hour we still hadn’t seen any horses, then Bob stopped the vehicle and told everyone to get out quietly. He had spotted what looked like horses in a clearing. So I grabbed my camera and followed quietly behind Bob eventually we cane upon a family group of horses. The stallion was a very flashy chestnut with white stockings and large white blaze on his nose. He had 11 mares and youngsters in his group.
He was very aware of where we were and patrolled around his mares snorting and pawing the ground in warning for us not to get too close.
I was thrilled to watch the group interact and forage for food, and got some great shots.
Back in the vehicle Bob asked me if I still thought they were farel horses and I had to readily admit they were all of a very definite type.
They were all stocky horses around 14 hh , they had good bone and feathered fetlocks. They had rather large heads with characteristic roman noses, along with thick full manes and tails. These horses were not like any other breed I had encountered in Alberta.
Even though we are nearing the end of winter and you would expect to find horses living free - looking poor and malnourished - that is certainly not the case all the horses looked well and fat, their coats were thick but shiny. Some of the mares looked like they were in foal and even the young stock appeared to be in good health.
After watching us for a little while “Socks”decided to take his girls to a less populated place and he herded his family off into the dense trees. Bob explained they are not only very elusive they are extremely skittish and at the first sign of someone encroaching in their space they take flight.
So we set off to see if we could find more family groups.
We had a very successful trip and throughout the course of the came across 5 groups of horses ranging in size from 5 to 13 and all these horse had the same body type and were around 14 hh.
I am sure that without the help of Bob and Doreen to locate and track the horses I would have never found them.

Why I would rather be a HORSE than a Wife

Today’s blog is just for fun, but to be honest it really got me thinking.

Here are my Top Ten (and there are lots more) reasons why I would rather be a horse.

1. When you speak (neigh) people listen, and rush over to see what you might need – not so much when you are the wife

2. All your meals are brought to you including any special vitamins or minerals you might need.

3. Someone else cleans up after you allowing your nails (hooves) grow nicely.

4. Which means, “New Shoes” every 6 weeks – yea I love new shoes

5. You only work about an hour per day and always get time off if you are sick. No one expects you to just carry on.

6. Naps and early nights seem pretty standard practice. Not the exception

7. You not only get to smell the roses you sometimes get to eat them

8. Having your own personal trainer and style consultant is not just for the rich and famous it seems to me most horses have one. I just have a very critical 16 year old.

9. Even if you have a foal - someone else takes care of it for you – and worries about shots, doctors appointments, special diet etc.

10. Horses do get to “Retire” and just hang out with their buddies. Regardless of what happens to the economy or their stock.

The biggest reason and perhaps the greatest lesson they can teach us is the ability to “Just be what God created you to be”

Dressage is Poetry in Motion

Sharon Merkel Beattie
Canadian Dressage Candidate for 2012 Olympics – UK
I was so excited to hear that Sharon had been listed as a possible candidate for the 2012 Olympics, and wanted to support her in her journey. So I offered to be her “Official Photographer” and provide her with not only a record of her journey in picture form but also commercial images she could use in her Olympic campaign.
I had photographed Sharon many times as “Show Photographer” at various dressage events across Alberta but this would be special and I would be capturing not only all the action in the dressage arena but also some behind the scenes shots allowing a personal glimpse into what it takes to become an Olympic rider.
My first appointment was at a fundraiser event at Whitemud Equine Centre. Sharon and her beautiful chestnut Hanovarian mare Essence of Glory were to perform a freestyle dressage demonstration to music, with an opportunity to meet Sharon afterwards and ask her questions. It was a very cold Snowy day in January and despite the cold temperatures there was a fabulous turn out so see Sharon ride. Before she and Esa travel to California and prepare for the World Equestrian Games.
Hopefully the next selection if images will be in the sunshine - not snow

Who is Linda Finstad - Anyway?

Allow me introduce myself.

My name is Linda Finstad, I grew up in small rural community in England. Where it was normal for kids to learn to ride a horse before they rode a 2 wheel bicycle and I got my first pony on my fourth Birthday.
My childhood revolved around horse shows and pony club - what I took for granted back then, in hindsight was obviously a very privileged upbringing.
As my mother bought me very nice show ponies and hunters that were fit to
win at county level.
Horses were my life and it only seemed natural to work in the industry so I studied at Wrae Green Equestrian Centre for my BHSAI - once qualified I taught riding there for a couple of years before moving on to open a saddlery store. And once again I was back at the horse shows with a trade stand selling tack and country clothing.

I came to Canada about 14 years ago and for a while felt quite lost I didn’t know where the shows were held or how to get involved in the horse industry.
So in an attempt to re-invent myself I went back to school to learn photography this was a very challenging but rewarding process but it was only when the teacher asked the class “What do you really want to take pictures of” that it struck me Horses and Dogs of course. With all my experience not only in the show ring but also as a trainer I have an extremely good eye when it comes horses. This coupled with my formal photography training makes capturing fabulous shots so much easier.
I feel I my life has come full circle, and feel extremely privileged to be the official photographer at many horse shows and dog agility events throughout Alberta.
I really do have the best job in the world as I get to photograph some amazing animals and very talented handlers, horsemen and women.

In 2008 I was given the biggest commission of my entire career
The “Equine Heritage Exhibit” a photographic study of all the breeds of horses that make up the equine population of Alberta. Once this two year project is completed it will be housed in the Provincial Archive museum. Providing a snapshot in time of what “All” the breeds not only look like but also what they are used for. A fabulous resource for future generations.

I am truly blessed to spend my days capturing the beauty of Horses.
www.imagineitsold is where you can see my work

Live life like you nail polish color

Live life like you nail polish color
Wild berry is the name of my favorite nail color polish, to me is says - bold, exotic, bodacious, and it simply makes my nails look good.
Now I am a hard working girl and not the kind to enjoy beautifully manicured finger nails , they just wouldn’t stand up to my life style so when I say this delicious Wild berry color makes my nails look good I am referring to my toe nails. And you will just have to take my word for it as my toes are always jammed in work boots.
Just saying the name “Wild berry” makes me tingle with excitement and conjour up images of treking through a hot steamy rain forest in search of exotic creatures to photograph. Escorted by my own personal guide who just happens to look like a George Clooney and is devoted to my every need. Ok I am getting a little carried away now.
Don’t worry I am not losing it, I know just painting my nails wont magically create this fantasy life, but allowing your color to inspire your fantasy is a great starting point to making it a reality. Until I really thought about the name “Wild Berry” and allowed myself permission to daydream I had never even considered the possibility of visiting the rain forest. But now I have had those thoughts there is no turning back.
Living like your nail color can be a conscious choice so ladies choose carefully.