Female Cardinal Portrait, featured on my "Products" page. Available as a fine art print on Canvas, Photo Luster Paper (inexpensive) and Fine Art Paper. She's sold out in the Limited Edition 20x30 canvas!

Blogging shares the experiences that result in goodies on my Product site .. check it out!

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Kristen Westlake in JOURNAL

Blogs are great because they allow people to add so much content and thought to their pages each day or week .. or minute for that matter .. as often as they choose and as often as they think.

I handle my blog as a way to express the stories behind my adventures .. writing about and sharing youtube videos, everytrail tracks and Iphone snapshots … it’s about the life adventure itself that I experience while on the trail or while in every waking (and sometimes dream state) moment.

As I work with my blog, I simultaneously work with my product site. The product site is content that is all the result of all the experiences that have … all the “being” of who I am results in writing, speaking, photographs as part of a story and as fine art prints.
Today has been an indoor day working hard to create the content full of rich keywords that will help viewers to find what they are looking for. The search button on my blog helps a person to find what they wish to read and the search button on my product page helps people to find images and products that they would like to buy (or add to a wish list).
Experiences produce an array of images for sale as fine art prints and a few other goodies that are in the works.. While I used to sell just a line of products that were pictures I have come to realize there is much more to share.

Images and story writing share the full experience of places I have been and the experiences that I have had. While a picture looks great on any wall, especially in its canvas form, e-books share the full story. E-books (more to come.. ) allow me to be environmentally friendly (though anyone may feel free to take the book to press and print one copy for him or herself!). Beyond that they allow me to share pictures and words, like all books .. but they offer the ability to add video and audio as well, making the book very animated and alive. I am looking to add forms to make some of the books interactive as well … and some of my workbook ideas (which are like a photo workshop in a book) will add forms that will eventually allow the workshop buyer to create his or her own PDF interactive book! …

Tracking my trails has given me a host of gpx files that can be uploaded into any GPS unit and used by anyone who wants a great trail to hike (and doesn’t want to get lost). Pictures of things to look for (and to photograph) will be part of the online and downloadable trail guides. You will be able to preview the trails in Google Earth or Google Maps before your feet ever hit the trail. This allows you to see the terrain and get a good visual of what to expect once you are there. Though the trail guides are about the trail, the tracking, and what to look for when you are out there, I also will offer some tips that include other parts of who I am and what I know about being out there… they will include various photography tips, trail fitness tips and trail nutrition and hiking tips.

I am excited about making more e-books to tell my stories and share my photographs as well as my own personal stories and life experiences regarding living the dream. I am also excited to make many trail guides and share them as well.. its exciting that our technology has gotten us to the point that as soon as I have written anything I can package it, zip it and you can buy it and download it right away! … be patient please in the meantime though .. I’m one person, working the electronic books and guides while I’m not out tracking more trails ….