Local photographer featured in book signing
Local wester photographer Karelin Sammann will hold a book signing in Springville. The book signing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, December 12 at The Station.
Sammann is a 1957 Porterville High graduate who has won numerous international photo contests. She has published two photo journal books with photos from the area and stories that accompany the photos.
A little about myself: I grew up in Porterville, graduating from Porterville High in 1957. A few years later I took some Photography classes at the College and was off on a semi-professional western photo career. I’ve won numerous International photo contests.
Her book California Cowobys of the 80’s contains black and white photographs chronicling local cowboys on what they do during a day when new cattle are transported to the ranch. The story is a parable based on Sammann’s experience as a cowboy’s wife and participating in the day’s work. In the book, one can see the cows and calves being unloaded from the stock truck, watch the cowboys drag calves to the branding fire, hear the bawl of calves being branded, see what the cowboys are doing from saddling and bridling their horses, to getting syringes ready for shots, to seeing cows in a chute to be branded.
At the end of the day, cowboys move the cattle out to pasture and load their horses to go home for the night.
Readers are shown the early morning light, see the dust and see the
momma cow looking for her calf.
Readers of all ages will learn what happens on branding days on local ranches. The book sells for $22.
Sammann’s other book, Women and Their Horses, is a 75-page book of black and white photos depicting women of all ages with their horse. The book features barrel racers, a member of a local drill team at practice, members of a drill team performing, a woman bonding with a new-born foal and a woman more than 80 years old with one of her yearlings.
A section is dedicated to a young child watering her horse, a tiny tot riding her stick horse and an 18-month old on her rocking horse. There are other sections with action shots showing those preparing for an arena performance and the love shown to a horse by horsewomen everywhere.
Sammann wrote short short stories and verses for each photograph. The book is meant for all ages and costs $50.
Sammann will also have available at the book signing a 2021 Sierra Nevada calendar with color photos of the high-country bordering Tulare County. These pictures were taken by Sammann’s father, Robert Karstaedt M.D., a family physician well known in these parts by his many patients.
Sammann and her parents traveled the back country for more than a decade and the pictures for the calendar were chosen from the many slides Sammann has from her father. The calendar sells for $12 and would make an outstanding Christmas gift for anyone who tenjoys the back country.
Local author and popular Recorder columnist, Brent Gill will also be at the book signing. Gill has written two young people’s adventure books, Fire on Black Mountain, and the sequel, Snow on Black Mountain.
Both books are suitable as Christmas gifts for young friends and family members. These entertaining stories contain no swearing, no sex, and no violence.
The books are available for $14 each (cash, check, or credit card). Gill will be happy to sign and personalize them for anybody you choose.