As you may have noticed, it's not just for the dogs around here. *wink* I spend a great deal of time photographing people, places, and things. (I didn't want to be known as the Noun Photographer, though.)
It feels a bit silly to put my paw-print logo on people, and as of Spring 2017 I will be branding my non-pet photography as simply Van Valen Photography.
Over the coming weeks you'll notice the logo popping up on photos and replacing the old logo in my other galleries. And from here on out, when it's a photo of a person, place, or thing, it will feature the new watermark.
Why the birds?
I have a tattoo on my left arm, and it also features two swallows. They were originally favored by sailors, as an omen, a good luck symbol, meaning "home" or "going home." I love the symbolism, and as my last name features not one, but two letter Vs, it sort of evolved.
No matter where my travels take me, no matter where I leave bits and pieces of my heart, I will always return home.
In Memory of...
My tattoo (by Mat Clarke of Midnight Moon in Meredith, NH) in honor of my first husband, David. He passed away at the age of 34 from Marfan's. It was his heart that took him home. And it's the swallows that give me hope.