Category: Pet Photography

Project 52 | Week 21 – Black and White

The theme for week 21 of the Project 52 Pet Photographer’s blog circle is “black and white”.

This week I am digging into the archives for photos of one of my favourite subjects for black and white photography, my beautiful Sadie-Girl.

Sadie entered my life as a 5-year-old English Springer Spaniel who had recently lost her elderly owner.

I had been tentatively searching for a second companion for my little Shih Tzu, Coco. My hope was to find a smallish dog to be his playmate.

A friend emailed me about Sadie’s plight and wondered if I might be interested. I knew nothing about the breed but it sounded like she would be a bigger, more active dog than what I had envisioned as a playmate for our little Coco Bean. None the less, Roland and I decided to go and meet her.

Roland fell instantly in love and, sure enough, Sadie joined our family that same day.

She was indeed larger than what I had planned for, with energy to burn and an insatiable appetite to play in water, but she was also the most gentle of souls. We quickly came to realize how blessed we were to have her.

This last photo is one of my favourites… Roland, Sadie and Coco.

He loved his dogs. And they loved him.

“Tu me manques.”

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” ~ Ted Grant

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “Black and White”, visit Jo Lyons Photography, the down-to-earth dog-loving photographer for cherished dogs of the Great Lakes NSW. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!

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Project 52 | Week 20 – Golden Hour

The theme for week 20 of the Project 52 Pet Photographer’s blog circle is “Golden Hour”.

The golden hour in photography refers to that short period of daylight just after sunrise and just before sunset… shadows are long and soft, colours are warm and more evenly dispersed, often resulting in a golden glow.

As it happens, the early morning is often when you will find Lacie, Odin and I out and about, enjoying the first light and our first walk of the day. This week was a little more challenging as the early temps dipped unseasonally low, well below freezing. None the less, here are some photos from a gorgeous cool spring morning earlier this week.

Lacie is my perfect little model, but she often looks like she could use a pair of sunglasses. Yes, it’s true, dogs will squint in the sun and find it a bit uncomfortable just like us humans. Not sure why I was surprised by this, but I was. So now I try to capture Lacie with her face turned slightly away instead of directly facing the sun.

Odin doesn’t quite have a handle on this modelling business yet, so when I was able to capture this pose, I was excited, and a little more accepting of Lacie’s squinty look. Sorry Lace… some doggie sunglasses are in the works, I promise.

“The golden hour – that hour of sunshine where the world looks the way it looks in your dreams.” ~ Danny Wallace

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “Golden Hour”, visit Elaine Tweedy of I Got the Shot Photography, watching pure gold from her patio in Northeastern PA while social distancing. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!

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Project 52 | Week 15 – In Search of Green

The theme for week 15 of the Project 52 Pet Photographer’s blog circle is “Favourite Colour”.

This sounds easy enough… but is it?

You see, my favourite colour is green and, as of this week, green is in short supply. One week ago the promise of spring with all its green was everywhere.

Then this happened…

A two-day snow event, leaving us with 15 – 25cm of the white stuff.

All the green was gone except for the little bits peeking out from under the snow on the evergreens.

Five days later and the snow is gone. We are not quite green yet… but we’re working on it.

Happy Spring!

“We sat in silence, letting the green in the air heal what it could.” ~ Erica Bauermeister, The Scent Keeper

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “wide open spaces”, visit Pet Love Photography, serving Greater Cincinnati, the San Francisco Bay Area, and destinations nationwide. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!

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Project 52 | Week 13 – Shallow Depth of Field

The theme for week 13 of the Project 52 Pet Photographer’s blog circle is “shallow depth of field”.

In photography, the term depth of field simply refers to the area of the scene which appears well in focus. When the depth of field is small, or shallow, the image background and foreground appear blurred, with only a small area in focus. A wider depth of field keeps most of the scene in focus.

A shallow depth of field is often used to isolate the subject from its environment while adding a pleasing artsy feel to the photograph. Obtaining the desired focus does take a little practice but the end results can be strikingly beautiful.

When photographing pets, I often strive for a shallow depth of field. I simply like the look and love how it makes the subject pop while adding some interest to the story being told.

The photo below is of our goofball, Odin. He had just come back from having his nails trimmed at the groomers. He did so well, and I was so proud of him. He, in turn, was exhausted!

The paws at the end of the day

And last but never least, here are a few recent hopefuls from the shelter. A shallow depth of field, with the resulting blurred backgrounds, in conditions where the backdrops are limited, allows for a much more pleasing adoption photo.

This week my heart is heavy. For the first time in many years, I will not be going into Winnipeg Animal Services to photograph the adoptable dogs. The COVID-19 pandemic has the shelter closing its doors to the public. Sadly, but understandably, this includes the volunteers. During this trying time, the amazing staff will continue to provide excellent care for the dogs. Adoption requests are being done by phone only.

No one, it seems, is left unaffected in this unprecedented time.

Stay safe, stay well.

“Always remember, your focus determines your reality.” ~ George Lucas

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “Shallow Depth of Field”, visit Elaine Tweedy of I Got the Shot Photography, serving pets and their people in Northeastern PA and surrounding areas. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!

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Project 52 | Week 12 – In Search of Colour

As of this week I will once more be participating in the Pet Photography 52 Weeks Project. This will involve one post a week with an added twist… a blog circle.

With this challenge, we, a group of pet photographers, are given a weekly theme. All participants will post a photo related to the current theme and then will link to the next person in the blog circle. By clicking on the link at the bottom of the post, the reader is taken on a journey from one blog to the next, all connected by the same topic. How fun is this!!

This week’s theme is “Colourful”… a bit of a challenge on the prairies in March.

On this particular cold, March morning we were up early. I happened to glance out the back window and was struck by what I saw. A bright red/orange glow had split our monochromatic winter landscape. There it was… our chance for colour! I hurriedly got dressed, grabbed the dogs and headed out, camera in hand.

Nature did not disappoint.

Heading home. Mission accomplished!

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” ~ Claude Monet

Project 52 _______________________
This post is part of the Pet Photography Project 52 blog circle. To see what the next photographer is sharing for the weekly theme, “Colourful”, visit Pet Love Photography, serving Greater Cincinnati, the San Francisco Bay Area, and destinations nationwide. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here. Enjoy!

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Adopt a Shelter Dog

These are the faces of this week… each one hoping for a forever home.

Bruno

Hooch

Kip

Rudy

“It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” ~ John Grogan

Related Links:
City of Winnipeg Animal Services
Winnipeg Animal Services – facebook page
Winnipeg Animal Services Petfinder page

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