Dachshund Jailbreak
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Thanks Doug Sasse for contributing this tale about your pet, Schatzi the doxie, to the Top Dog Blog.
Dachshund Jailbreak
Do dogs think? I believe they do. I became a believer when Schatzi, our dachshund, joined the family years ago. He was a smooth, black and tan little charmer, insatiably curious. So much so, that my wife and I felt we couldn’t leave him alone upstairs when we left the house to go to work. We constructed a kennel for him in a large basement closet that had no door. We turned a cardboard box on its side and filled it full of rag rugs to keep him cozy and warm. A chicken wire fence, nailed to the doorway, would keep him in and prevent him from exploring all of the treasures in the basement. Or so we thought.
One day, we returned home to find Schatzi, trotting ecstatically about the basement, like a little black and tan Tennessee walking horse. We immediately saw how he was able to escape. Although the fence was too high for him to climb over, he found he could push his cardboard box up next to the fence, jump up on the box, and then jump the fence to freedom. As he took his victory lap around the dark room, toenails clicking rhythmically on the concrete floor, we knew we’d have to move the little Houdini upstairs.
After “baby-proofing” the entire house, we brought Schatzi upstairs for good. Schatzi enjoyed a life of comfort. Upstairs had sofas where he could lounge, televisions for him to watch, and all of the snacks he could wheedle out of his people. Before long, he wheedled his way into our bed, where he slept every night for the rest of his life.
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Top Dog 2011 First Best Dog Photo
Monday, January 30, 2012
I feel silly about having taken almost the entire month of January 2012 to list my ten favorite doggie pictures of the previous year.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 first best dog photo.
The White Boxer, Gibson, and the Great Dane, Gretel, are neighbors and friends. Their owners often leave the chain link gate open so that the two can roam either yard to play and laze side by side in the Florida sunshine.
The dogs are well mannered. I did not have to do anything in the way of coaxing them to get into position. They just found their places on the seamless paper and patiently waited for me to take pictures.
In this instance, photographically speaking, the expression "The sum is greater than the parts" is apropos.
Gibson
Gretel
Top Dog 2011 Second Best
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Marley is an Australian Cattle Dog. She is old. Her hind paw sticks out due to injuries and arthritis. A dignified dog, she deserved a flattering photograph. Although Australian Cattle Dogs are work dogs, Harley is a couch potato. Her owner mentioned that even as a puppy, Marley exuded calm—an exception to the breed.
Last July 7th, I posted a blog about Marley's photo shoot. Ian Goss, from Down Under, read the article and responded.
In Australia these dogs are generally known as Heelers, either Red or Blue, depending on colouring. Along with Border Collies and Kelpies, Heelers do most of the animal herding in this country.
Like all working dogs, they are bright and engaging, but can be [very] destructive if not given enough to do. I read years ago that a blue heeler in California bit and deflated a car tyre!
One aspect of the breed that is disconcerting is its very sharp bark; it sounds like it could peel paint! While I have known a number of heelers and really like the breed, I seem to be stuck with Kelpie crosses. Keep up the fun stories!
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 second best.
Marely's Portrait
The Camera Original
Top Dog 2011 Third Best
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Italian Greyhounds are miniaturized versions of Greyhounds. This breed came into prominence in Italy during the fifteenth century. However, diminutive Greyhounds date back to ancient Egypt.
I had an opportunity to photograph a friend's pair of Italian Greyhounds last March. The dogs were patient and willing to sit and stand in several different positions throughout the duration of the photo shoot.
These dogs are the epitome of canine elegance.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 third best.
Gracie and Eo In Color and Black & White
Top Dog 2011 Fourth Best
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Last June, a pet boutique vendor in the next town over orchestrated a publicity stunt to break the Guinness record for the largest simultaneous dog wedding. The goal was to wed 300 couples. With intermittent rain and temperatures hovering in the mid-nineties, people opted not to bring their dogs out to the local mall parking lot that evening. However, about eighty doggie couples did attend the event. Among the 160 dogs, this couple tied the knot.
These dogs live across the street from each other. Their owners coordinate their walks so that the dogs are able to spend time together. They often have play dates. The dogs arrived at the event in separate cars. Among the throng of humans and canines, they spotted each other well before their owners did. The dogs made a beeline towards each other.
After the silly tongue-in-cheek ceremony, I captured a photo of the newlyweds.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 fourth best.
Newlyweds
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Top Dog 2011 Fifth Best
Monday, January 9, 2012
You may call me indecisive. Once again, more than one image shares a slot in the top-ten countdown of crème de la crème 2011 doggie pics.
For those of you who visit the blog from time to time, you have seen a disproportionate amount of space devoted to Dachshunds. Wieners occupy a special spot in my heart. They are jolly, willful, and clever. For the most part, I overlook their yappy tendencies. Most of the Wieners that I encounter in Central Florida have a fondness for hunting lizards and pushing their snouts into the sandy ground searching for grubs.
Longhair Wieners are often met with "oohs" and "ahs." Their shorthair counterparts elicit giggles and smiles.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 fifth best.
Etta's Girls
Etta brings her dogs to my studio every year for a group portrait. These dogs are quite the pack; they are inseparable. I owe a lot to Etta. She opened my eyes to the fact that when it comes to Doxies, two are better than one, and three are more fun than just a pair. My math is correct.
The Wiener Boys
Cooper and Louie are busy dogs. They love to go on car rides with their owner, Craig. The dogs and Craig are good friends of mine, so we see each other often. Cooper, the black Wiener, is about five years old. Louie is barely eight months old. Cooper is actually the bigger dog, however Louie is jockeying for the alpha role. These photos, taken seconds apart, display Louie's relentless efforts to displace Cooper. Cooper is unconcerned; he does not hesitate to put Louie in his place when push comes to shove.
Top Dog 2011 Sixth Best
Saturday, January 7. 2012
Three pictures share the number six position. Each picture shows dogs in the "sit" position. The dogs pictured in the black and white photos are black and white dogs. The Bloodhound's coat is a study of varying shades of rust. Thus, he appears in color.
The chief attribute among these dogs is the letter "T" for T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 sixth best.
Scooby
Scooby is the beloved pet of Dave, who mows our yard. His dog won a weight-loss contest sponsored by a local veterinary clinic. Scooby lost over thirty-five pounds in a three-month span, bringing his weight down to 136 pounds. To celebrate the dog's success, I took his picture gratis. I spent hours in the studio with Dave and Scooby, a middle-age hound. Scooby is set in his ways. Although Dave pleaded with him to make nice for the camera, the dog did whatever he damn well felt like—not posing for a picture. After a couple of hours, Scooby finally sat down in a suitable position.
Prior to losing weight, Scooby was physically unable to sit. At the time I took this picture, being able to sit was still a novelty, and it afforded him excitement and pleasure.
Oliver
At the time I took this picture, Oliver was about a year-old. He is a Rat Terrier. I admire him for his joie de vivre. He is a four-legged perpetual motion machine. Not inclined to sit still for more than a trillionth of a second, he is exhausting. The combination of Oliver's patient owner and my split-second shutter-button-reflex is what made this picture a success.
Snooki
Snooki, a mix-breed dog, posed for one of my photography workshops. I met her the day of the workshop. Her owner told me that she rescued Snooki from an abusive environment. I figured that Snooki would be a tricky dog to photograph. My hunch proved correct. I only managed to take five pictures of her in the workshop. None of the students coaxed a pose from her.
I do not object to having a non-compliant dog model in a workshop situation. It is important for students to be familiar with all types of doggie personalities. Snooki is what I call a "scaredy dog." Her claws tore into the seamless paper. She let out a sad and loud scream and then ran into the corner of the classroom.
A pretty dog she is. I was lucky to get this picture.
Top Dog 2011 Seventh Best
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Here is a longhair Chihuahua. This little dog sat patiently for the camera. His owners mentioned that he often sticks his tongue out. I did not take offense.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 seventh best.
I opted to photograph this dog with a black background and low-key lighting to accentuate his silvery coat and rust-color accents.
This pictured required a lot of work in Photoshop to bring out all of the shadow detail without blowing out the highlights.
The Specs
Camera: Sony a850; Lighting: one main strobe in conjunction with a white reflecting card, one background strobe; Shutter: 1/125; Aperture: f/16; ISO: 200; Focal Length: 70mm.
Top Dog 2011 Eighth Best
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Boxers are smart, goofy, and friendly. All of my "Boxer" clients are hugely devoted to their dogs. Despite Boxers' tendency to slobber, they are a blast to photograph. I typically photograph dogs head-on. This particular dog however did not care to look into the camera. I managed to capture her profile instead.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 eighth best.
This dog sparkles. Unfortunately, the tiny picture above is not capable of showing off the beautiful micro-detail of this fine canine. The crop below shows the jewel-like quality of her eyes, an up close and personal view of her saliva bubbles, and her lovely nose
Top Dog 2011 Ninth Best
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The unanimous choice for the number nine slot is this picture of our pet, Jazz. It shows her lazing by the dining room window. She owns this spot. For nearly a decade, her claws have scraped the paint off along the bottom surface of the baseboard. Although I have yet to witness her in the act, the circumstantial evidence is damning.
This is not an outstanding photo. It is similar to the type that millions of people take of their beloved dogs. The strength of this image lies purely in its purity. It is an accurate portrayal of a beloved subject going about her daily routine.
Behold; the Top Dog 2011 ninth best photo.
In deference to those that are interested in the technical aspects of photography, this picture was taken with an Olympus Pen EPL1 camera and the 14-42mm kit lens. The JPG file from the camera went through basic color correction, contrast adjustment, and cropping in Photoshop CS5.
The Specs
Shutter speed: 1/30; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400; Focal length: 42mm (84mm equivalent in 35mm film).
