Dec 22, 2011
Meet this week’s lovely animals available for adoption at the Toronto Animal Services – North Region! As always, please feel free to contact TAS for more information about any particular dog or cat. You can also find out a few more details about each of them on the Posh Pets Photography Facebook page.
Here are Ridley, Quinn, Sampson and little Sara.
This week, we have 5 beautiful felines – Cream Puff, Rupert, Clarice, Ashby and Chester.
Thanks for visiting us this week – we look forward to seeing you again!
Nov 18, 2011
This week’s theme is exactly what it said – the best image from the week. Sometimes you know you’ve taken it, the second you click the shutter. This was one of those times.
Meet Denny. Denny is 3 months old and currently resides at the Toronto Animal Services where I volunteer once a week. He is a sweetheart of a Rottweiler puppy who is trying very hard to learn his manners. In other words, he LOVES to jump up and give you wet puppy kisses. Afterall, when you are only 3 months old, every day seems like a long time to wait for your forever home. And so you spend your days savouring every new experience as something exciting! Especially new people.
In order to get his image, we brought him into a grassy enclosure to let him off-leash. We really were not sure how this new found freedom would allow us to take a beautiful image and even acknowledged it to each other. As can be imagined, Denny spent the first 5 minutes running around, jumping up on us, giving kisses…we were starting to wonder if we would get an image that was more than a black blur. What to do? Well, I got out my trust squeaker and handed it to my assistant. She let out the *squeak*. And, with that sound, Denny sat down, cocked his head and gave this beautiful pose. You have just got to know – he is going to be a heartbreaker!
Next up on our blog circle is the talented Claire (Bear) Garrett of Australia’s Petography! Make sure you click all the way around the circle until you come back where Denny will be waiting for you…
Oct 21, 2011
The Project 52 gang is used to photographing their usual suspects – lovely, furry dogs and cats. So this week, we broke out of our usual modus operandi and went for something a little “wild”. As in, we were to photograph animals that you don’t find curled up on your bed or lying on your couch, but rather those that make their home in the great outdoors.
It was a great idea until the weather decided to play havoc with my plans. Unfortunately, the last few days in Toronto have been wet, wet, wet! My hope is that all the little creatures have found themselves a nice, warm, dry spot to curl up in rather than scurrying around as subjects for my camera. (Incidentally, the electronics of my camera doesn’t like this kind of wet either.) So, Posh Pets had to go back in the archives to last fall when we had spectacular colours and I photographed this lovely duck. Look at him, enjoying the day, with his little chest puffed out!
Next up in the blog circle is Scott Robinson of Aussie Dog Photography. (It is no doubt much drier in Texas!). Please check out his work and then make your way all around the circle to you come back to Posh Pets. See you next week!
Oct 14, 2011
The Project 52 theme for this week was chosen as a tribute to Steve Jobs who passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. The group was asked to post an image created with iPhone or iPad and then it was quickly expanded to include any smart phone or device that can take quick “point-and-shoot” photos. It gave everyone a chance to show that it is not the camera you have, but the person behind the camera that makes the image. So, here we go…
Here is Lady Jane hiding her eyes to block out the light as she sleeps. I love it when she does this!
And here is our groggy girl just waking up from a lovely sleep…
Both images were taken with an iPhone and processed using Instagram.
Next up in the blog circle is Photolab! Please check them out!
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!).
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!
Jul 22, 2011
This week’s theme was completely about seeing the light and shooting into the sun. Goes against conventional wisdom in some respects, but the results can be beautiful! So, my goal was to find some amazing sunlight…
Well, Toronto had a heat wave this week and yesterday, there was records broken. As the mercury soared higher and higher, any thought of taking an animal outside to photograph was foolish. In fact, I went about my day singing the Noel Coward song…mad dogs and englishmen go out in the noonday sun! (If you want to hear the original, click here.)
In the midst of all that heat, Ripley asked to go outside. I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted. So…I opened the patio door. He put one paw outside and then, as animals are wont to do, looked at me like I was a mad woman for having turned on the heat outside. He spent the rest of the day in this position in front of the air-conditioning.
Outside, it looked like this. How I love some gorgeous flare!
As for me, I did what any self-respecting person living in Canada would do. I went out and got an Ice Cap from Tim Hortons. It seemed the right thing to do, as I needed something to backlight!
So, how are you beating the heat?
Jun 24, 2011
This week’s challenge was to create a high-key or low-key portrait. Sometimes, if a pet is not used to a studio portrait session, it can be a blessing. They have no idea what to expect and so the flashes are met with interest and curiosity. Not so with my usual model, Ripley. After enough studio sessions, he knows what those large, black, suspended boxes do and he does not approve of it one bit. They even have the audacity to “beep” after they fire as if to taunt him. So, this week I decided to post an image of Ripley from a few weeks ago. It still makes me laugh for here he is talking. To the flashes. They are his nemesis and he is letting them know that the war is on.
Next in line is Blue Amrich from Chelmsford, MA! I have a feeling she went low-key for her image. Please check her out and the rest of the other photographers in the blog ring!
Jun 17, 2011
Accoutrements is the french word for “accessory”. So, this week’s theme was designed to celebrate the little things that make our animals happy. The last report I read said that Americans spend a staggering $41 billion on their pets annually. Proportionately, I have no doubt that Canadians spend about the same. Obviously, there is a lot of food and vet visits in that number, but I am sure that there are lots of toys and treats and designer coats as well.
Our two cats are no different. They too have their toys and so for this week’s image, Posh Pets photographed their favourite toys.
First up, we have the catnip mice. These truly have some kind of power over our felines. The orange tabby, Ripley, will roll all over the floor clutching his mouse tightly to his face. It is one of the few times he loses his dignity and with happy abandon shows his belly to the world by lying on his back. My grey tabby, Lady Jane, takes another route. She also clutches her mouse tightly, but is content to simply sit there and lick it. And lick it. AND lick it. It is like she thinks it is some kind of popsicle, when in reality it is just a big goobbery mess by the time she is done with it.
The second items are the ubiquitous foam balls. We buy them in different colours which is probably of little importance to the cats, but it makes the humans feel good.
You can tell that Ripley in particular is quite attached to his toys. I initially took them out quietly to photograph them. I probably got one or two shots before Ripley came and to make sure that I was not doing anything untoward with his possessions. The result is that those are his feet and face in my images.
Well, that is it for this week! Next up, please check out fellow Canadian, Holly Montgomery of Mutt Shots Photography. We cannot wait to see what she found this week!
Jun 3, 2011
As Posh Pets continues with Project 52, I am posting an image for this week that I think captures the simple theme of “love”. For nothing is stronger than a mother’s love, be it human or animal.
We happened upon this mama cat and her baby during one of our travels in the country of Bulgaria, more specifically the ancient city of Plovdiv. The “old city” is beautifully restored and has an abundance of little shops, lining winding streets, in which you could happily get “lost” for hours. We had decided to enter a local craft shop to see what we could buy when we came across this scene. Technically, the cat was a stray. This we learned from striking up a conversation with the lovely shop keeper. She explained that mama had appeared one day and the she had kindly given her some food. Seeing as the cat continued to come around, she eventually provided a basket for her to make a bed in. And then she had had her kittens. She had never left, preferring to carefully watch over her little ones, hugging this one as he napped (he opened his beautiful blue eyes for us when I took the photo).
As far as we know, to this day neither mama or her babies have names. They are most likely still living outdoors on the streets with only the kindness of one woman to rely upon. However, it was inspiring that, in spite of her circumstances, mama cat had not turned into an angry, fearful animal. Rather she had maintained her trusting nature and allowed us to approach her. She had remained true to her nature – a domestic cat. It made me think that maybe that that sums up the power of love. To be able, in the face of unfavourable conditions, focus positively on someone else important in your life. And to allow that relationship to prevent you from losing your humanity.
Now, it is time to travel around the world. Please check out Karla Ogilvie’s blog and see her interpretation of love!
May 27, 2011
There is a beauty in black and white photography that I simply love. To me, it seems to interpret a scene in its purest form – shadows and highlights – and therefore accentuates the light falling on your subject. And we know that photography is all about the light. So, without any further commentary, here is this week’s image in black and white:
As always, please check out the next photographer in our blog ring. This time we are going to Australia to check out Claire (Bear) Garrett from Petography. We will see you again when you make it back here to Toronto, Canada!
Apr 28, 2011
Hard to believe that another week has slipped by! But that is a good thing in Toronto – it means we are inching ever closer to the nicer weather. It also means we had another theme to work with at Posh Pets for our on-going Project 52. This week’s theme was blur.
If you spend any time with photographers, you will come to realize that they are generally obsessed with “sharpness”. They can wax poetic about how “sharp” a lens is, the “sweet spot” of any particular lens and how to properly “sharpen” a file for print. But, this week we needed to produce blur. And, more importantly, to ensure that it was not mistaken for the dreaded out-of-focus image. It was also important for us that the blur be created in-camera and not as part of some manipulation done with Photoshop.
So here’s our take on blur. Thankfully, my subject was patient. You should see the outtakes! (You are welcome to post your guesses on how we created the blur!)
Next, take a trip a little to our south to New Jersey to see Stacey Axelrod of Wacky Dog Photo’s image. Please start here and follow the circle all around. When you get back, you can post your guess!
