Oct 7, 2011
Well, the weather lately is definitely telling us that Fall is upon us. Lovely colours, sunny days, crisp temperatures and maybe a little time to recover from all of summer’s adventures. In honour of that, this week’s theme is all about s-l-o-w-ing it down and chillin’. We were asked to capture animals napping, lounging, relaxing…you get the picture. And so, I present Muffy, sleeping peacefully. Look at that face – don’t you feel all relaxed now?
Now, please head over to California and see what Ali Peterson of Skyy Blue Photo has for us this week! And be sure to follow the blog ring around until you come back here (where you will need a nap after all your travels!).
Sep 30, 2011
This week’s theme was to convey the thought of motion through photography. This week Posh Pets did something a little different to showcase that we do not just photograph dogs and cats.
Fortunately for me, this week I met Peck. During his “portrait session” Peck definitely spent some time checking me (and his own reflection!) out in his aquarium. I love how this photo turned out! The colours are fantastic – his orange body fairly jumps out against the blue of the water. You can also see the motion of his delicate fins as they moved in the water – soft and billowy. These subtle movements were further amplified in his reflection. To tell you the truth, I think he liked being the centre of attention!
So, now please click through to Steph Skardal and see her take on motion. You can go all the way around the blog until you end up here with Posh Pets and Peck.
Sep 23, 2011
In our house, mornings definitely have their routine. I think they are a comfortable part of our life because you can go about getting things done without much thought – a great benefit if you are not one of those “morning people”. Living as long as they have with us, our kitties have learned our routine. Although honestly it is hard to say who trained whom – whether they adapted to our way of doing things, or the more likely idea that they trained us! In any case, we get up out of bed each morning (usually because we have been nudged/licked/pawed/meowed-in-the-face by the resident felines) and begin our day with feeding Ripley and Lady Jane. Then, and only then, do we get something to eat.
Amidst all of this activity, Lady Jane has discovered something very important. We humans drink milk! At this point in her life, Lady Jane knows if we are having cereal (which means milk!) or toast (which means no milk…sigh…). If we indulge in the former, she levels a stare at us urging us to please hurry up and finish. She does this only because she knows she will get the little dregs of milk at the bottom of the bowl. Sometimes, when it is particularly urgent in her mind, she will perform a little “prairie dog” pose in order to encourage us to hurry up. The other morning was such a morning, and you can see Lady Jane simply cannot restrain herself from reaching our a paw as the bowl is being lowered. Look at the concentration on that little face!
The other routine we have is “first to the bed”. After all the feeding and necessary morning business has been done, Lady Jane insists on finding herself a spot on the yet-unmade bed (we like to leave it to “air out” before making it each morning). She loves our bed and, once she has found a spot, will do her best to render herself un-moveable. Here is her look of, “You wouldn’t be so heartless as to move cute, loveable me…would you?”
Note: I often get asked about Lady Jane’s left eye. Simply put, half of her left pupil does not contract in bright light and it has been that way since we brought her home from the shelter over 14 years ago. However, Lady Jane is one of the happiest, contented kitties I know, so she doesn’t let this little thing stop her. It does mean that her depth perception is a little off and sometimes she misjudges things. But, that is what makes her our furry, clumsy, little goofball.
And there you have it – our kitty’s morning routine! Now, please check out Amy Riddett of Bark This Way and see what the morning routine looks like in her home.
Sep 16, 2011
The idea behind this week’s theme was to get nice and close to our subject. Really close. So, I took the opportunity to use my macro lens to see what I could see…it is amazing how cool individual things can look when you focus on them completely.
Here are my cat, Ripley’s, ear! The left one to be exact. Ever ready, ever alert! You can even see his little vein running around the perimeter.
Here is his tail. I’ve always love the “ripples” in his tail!
I love this one in black and white! Again, this is the tip of Ripley’s paintbrush tail – just as he leaves because he is tired of having his photo taken, yet again!
And, just to show how a macro lens can be used for more than just close-up photography, here is Ripley enjoying the morning sun. I love the way the light falls on his face and bathes his profile in a soft glow.
Now, check and see what everyone else in the blog circle came up with. Please start with Cynthia Wood of Georgian Bay Studios and then continue all the way around until you end up back here!
Sep 9, 2011
This week, we are at the halfway mark since Project 52 started! In celebration, we were asked to go back and re-do a theme. We were given the choice that it could be one that we missed or one that we just wanted a second try at. Well, Posh Pets did just that!
You may recall that back in May, we had been asked to conduct an impromptu photo shoot with an animal we had never photographed before. I had really enjoyed that the first time around, so I took another stab at it. Meet Lola (who coincidentally as the same name my subject first time around). This time though, Lola is a beautiful siamese-mix. Here she is, looking very elegant.
I love her speckled ears! And you know what? Ears was one of our previous themes. So, I guess we did two!
In her garden, up close, you can see her beautiful blue eyes.
Now follow the blog ring around to see all the different themes for this week. Start with Blue Amrich Studio and take it from there! See you next week!
Sep 2, 2011
For this week’s theme of humour, I thought it might be fun to take you behind the scenes and see some of the “out-takes” of one of my favourite sessions. The in-between shots are sometimes the funniest and there are some “classic” poses that all pet photographers have come to know and love. I warn you: These will not win any awards, and they rarely make it into the Client Gallery. But, they certainly give me a chuckle nonetheless. Here are 3 for you to enjoy!
First up, at some point in every session, the dog or cat will stick its tongue out at you. As a pet photographer, you just have to develop a thick skin and not take this as any indication of what they think of you or your photography. Or the treats you decided to tempt them with. Besides which, they look so cute doing it.
Secondly, there is the gratuitous bum shot. There is always more grass to sniff or interesting things to look at than the photographer. Again, it is good to not take it personally. This particular pug showed me her bum so many times, I just decided to photograph it! Her mom thought it was hilarious.
Lastly, I have named this one “Use the force, Luke”. Somehow, she just looks like Yoda trying to move an x-wing out of a swamp. (I hope I haven’t dated myself with this last description…no one reading this is actually asking, “Mom, what is she talking about?” Please tell me no…)
Hope you have enjoyed these! Please now go and see the work of Liz Stabbert and see what she has posted for this week! And follow the blog circle all the way around until you end up back here! And, as always, please feel free to leave comments 🙂
Aug 26, 2011
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…”
This week’s image was to be something that reminds us of summer. If you live around here, you know that weather in Toronto this week was crazy! We had a fearsome windstorm and downpour on Sunday, felt the after effects of an earthquake on Tuesday and an amazing “light show” from a thunderstorm with tornado watch on Wednesday evening. What a way to end the summer!
But that is not how I remember summer. Living in Canada where we enjoy a true snowy winter, my memories of summer are simple. And so I present to you my image for this week – sunlight playing on lovely, green grass.
Now, please click through to see the amazing image Dana Cubbage Photography posted this week!
Aug 23, 2011
It was with such sadness that I write today. For I wish to introduce you to Rico – a gorgeous dog, a loved family pet and a profound loss.
We met Rico, an 8-year old Golden Retriever on a hot day in June. Before we got to his home, he had already had quite a busy day. In anticipation of his photo session, he had just been to the groomer so that his coat glistened in the sun. His human “sisters” had recently returned from the United States so that they could be photographed with him, and that had meant much excitement as he welcomed them home. Also, devastatingly, just 4 weeks earlier, he had been diagnosed with advanced lymphatic cancer. It really was no surprise then, that Rico was a little tired that day. But as ill as he was, Rico’s love and attachment for his family shone through.
For those who say that a dog does not smile, I ask you to look at Rico’s images. That is a doggie smile! Between frames, Rico would lie down to rest. Or, nuzzle the closest family member. Endearingly so, it became evident that every one of those smiles was for the family that he had shared his life with. For a couple of hours on that June day, Rico gave his family a precious gift – himself.
Two weeks later, Rico was gone. When the end came and the most difficult of decisions had to be made, Rico was surrounded by the family he loved. We had a very emotional Ordering Session. Looking at these images again, his Mom said to me, “you have captured every look and expression he had in his 8 years of life”. We talked about what he had meant to the family. We laughed. We even cried. In the end, the family chose the images that had Rico with his “humans”. I have no doubt that they will be displayed prominently on every wall in the home.
Rico, you were at the core of a loving, close-knit family. A family who misses you dearly – every single day. But your love, loyalty and legacy are forever captured in these images which will be treasured always. Good-bye, sweet Rico.
Rico, laughing at the photographer! (I think he liked our jokes…)
Rico’s best smile. Just look at those soulful eyes!
Aug 19, 2011
Welcome back to Project 52!
When the theme for this week was chosen, I was excited and, at the same time, a little daunted. Why? Well, mainly because it is completely different from how I normally process images. We were encouraged to use “textures”. For the uninitiated non-photographers out there, please let me explain. Textures are essentially a picture file that you can overlay over the top of your initial image, thereby providing a “finish” to the final image that wasn’t there when you shot it. Clear? Hmmm…let me try again. Imagine what the image would look like if you photographed something through gauze or some other translucent material. Wedding photographers will often do this when they take an image of the bride behind her veil. Well, this is the same thing, except that it is done after the fact using software.
The benefit of this type of post-processing is that, as I discovered, you can take a fairly mundane image and evoke a certain whimsy. My inspiration for this week’s image is a story I remember from childhood, entitled The Velveteen Rabbit. It clearly described what it meant when a childhood toy was “Real” – a quote that still bring tears to my eyes when I read it. Every. Single. Time. As the old Skin Horse explains to the Velveteen Rabbit:
“Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand… once you are Real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
With that, please enjoy this week’s image. Two old stuffed cats (who remind me of my own truly live cats), sitting on a table, somewhat “hugging” each other. Initially, a rather simple image, but I love it!
Now, please check out fellow pet photographer Ann Kearns and see what textures she incorporated into her images this week. Over to you Ann!
Aug 14, 2011
It seems that I am behind blogging some of our recent client sessions. Every session with Posh Pets is unique and special, so I like to give them all their moment to shine. Today, is no exception!
This time around, I would like to introduce you to Leila, a lovely 3-year-old black pug. One of the first things you will notice about Leila is that she is petite for her age and breed. (Her Mom is sometimes stopped by strangers asking where they can get a pug like that.) There is, however, a reason for her size – she has a few health issues. But, as her Mom told me in the pre-session consult, it is as if “she didn’t get the memo that she is sick”. Well, was she ever right! Leila brought to her session boundless energy and a very obvious zest for life. Which is why her Mom said that, in the past, she has only ever gotten images of Leila as a “blur”. But we got some beautiful images for Leila’s mom as well as her original foster mom who Leila still keeps in touch with.
Leila, you are truly an example of how to not let our circumstances dictate how much enthusiasm we will have for life. Nor how much love and enjoyment we can bring to others. Here are some of your images. Enjoy them with your family as they love you very much!
Next: Not to be left out, Leila’s older brother Reilly got in on the action and his own photo session. We will post some of his amazing images here soon!
Aug 12, 2011
I remember the day I first tried wine – I thought it was pretty horrible. I did not understand how people could wax poetic about how great a particular wine was or that they would be willing to lay down hundreds of dollars for a sought-after bottle. However, as my palate developed, I discovered something. It isn’t that I did not like wine – I did not like cheap wine. Given the price of my first glass, in truth, it probably was pretty horrible.
My 50mm lens is like a fine wine. When I started in photography, I did what a lot of new photographers do – I purchased a zoom with the biggest range I could find. Afterall, all those numbers on the side of the barrel seemed to be the most bang for my buck. However, as my style developed, I came to appreciate the value of a “prime” (fixed) lens. That, and lovely large apertures. Which, as I quickly discovered, are never cheap. Eventually, that brought me to the day that I stood in a local camera store, handed over my credit card, and purchased my very own 50mm 1.2 Canon lens.
So, this week, please enjoy…A Girl + A Sleeping Kitty + A 50mm lens.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Please take a moment now to follow the blog ring around and see what other 50mm lens images are posted. You can start with Texan resident Judy Babinski of Dog Biscuit Photos by clicking here.
Jul 29, 2011
This week’s theme was “repetition”. Well, the week just flew by and so I leave you with something a little different – here is an image we took while we were in Santorini, Greece. These hardworking donkeys are everywhere on the island and they help the residents and visitors navigate the steep Caldera. In this case, they are returning home for the evening after helping carry the luggage for a local hotel, a process they repeat every day. I also love the repetition of the donkeys all in a row and the steps – this is one of my favourite images from the trip!
You also get to participate in “repetition” this week by clicking through each of the blogs in the blog circle. So, please check out Karla Ogilvie and see what repetition she saw in the world!
