Local woman publishes two photography books

Photographs of area women from Tulare and Kern counties who love horses are being featured in a book offered by Karelin Sammann, a local woman with a passion for horses.

“Women and Their Horses” — is 75 pages of black and white photography. The book will take a reader through the barn and show arenas, demonstrating what women do with their horses, Sammann said.

Originally put together in book form in December 2010, Sammann is now promoting her book.

Shot with a 35mm camera, the book covers everything from drill teams, ropers, horse show ladies and barrel racers to working cowgirls, ladies with foals, children learning and getting ready for a show.

“My love of photography and the subject matter inspired me,” Sammann said. “I’ve been a horsewoman since I was 11 years old and a member of the Porterville Canterbelles. I’ve been involved with drill teams, as a rider and drill master — riding young horses — working on cattle ranches, packing into the high Sierra Nevadas.”

Because she loves to write, Sammann said she has also written verses and short stories to go with the photos displayed.

“The subject matter of the photos inspired me to write my feelings about what I photographed,” she said. “I have been photographing the Western life since the late 1970’s. The series on ‘Women and Their Horses’ was a favorite because of my background with horses. I am now a senior citizen and my life-long love of horses, whether packing mules, showing in western classes, or riding on an equestrian drill team, shows I’ve loved the life.”

Sammann has also published a second book, “Sierra Honeymoon” — a journal initially done in 1959 when she was married and spent the summer in the Sierras with her then husband Les Sammann, a park ranger. The book is filled with photographs and descriptions of rescues and the area, including Lewis Camp, Crabtree Meadows, Lone Pine, the top of Mt. Whitney, and fishing in streams and lakes.

“I converted the journal into book form with Blurb Publishing in November 2012 with the idea of Christmas gifts with a bit of history for my children and grandchildren,” she said. “I added some black and white photos taken during that summer. I also added color photos taken from my dad’s slide collection. My dad, Robert Karstaedt, M.D. was a local physician who truly enjoyed photography as a hobby. His photos are truly spectacular and make the book special.”

Sammann said she has received positive feedback, with friends calling the book ‘beautiful’ and one that would make a great bridal shower or wedding gift.

Her love for writing and wanting to preserve it in a nice book for her family and future is what inspired her to write it, she said.

“This is something I feel we all should have of our parents and grandparents,” she said.

Sammann graduated from Porterville High School in 1957. She left the area after marrying but returned in the early 1970’s and lives east of Porterville in the foothills, surrounded by horses and dogs. Married and divorced from Les Sammann, she has three children, Jodi Gibson, Staci Wilkins and the late Todd Sammann, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Sammann has always enjoyed photography and has had her own darkroom since the 1970’s. She works in the medical field at the clinic on the Tule River Reservation. When she is not working, she likes reading, cooking and being with her dogs.

Visit www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3849407 to preview or purchase the books.

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.