I’ve started participating in a pet photography “blog circle” this year. I’ve joined a number of other professional pet photographers who blog every week on a certain topic, then link to each others blog posts. It’s a great way to challenge ourselves as photographers and get some more exposure as well.
This week’s topic is “Fill The Frame”. Often times a photo can have more impact by zooming in or getting closer to your subject, sometimes really close. This was a challenging assignment for me as I have always tended to keep my distance from my subjects, both people and animals. I’ve never felt comfortable “crowding” a subject. With people I’m a little shy and feel a little awkward getting too close. With animals I’ve always felt it put them more at ease to keep my distance. I’ve compensated for my uncomfortability by relying on long telephoto lenses that let me zoom in from a distance. But I found in this instance that even with a zoom lens I needed to get closer to my subject than I normally would. This assignment definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and that’s a good thing.
My subject for this assignment is a beautiful 4 year old Lab named Sydney. I asked Sydney’s mom to tell me something about him and this is what she wrote –
My name is Sydney and I am 4 years old. I was born in the frozen tundra that is known as Winnipeg, Canada. My mommy flew up there to pick me and my brother Bailey up and we got to go on two plane rides to get home. Mommy and my uncle Robert who came with her were both really, really nervous because we were not allowed to make any noise or cry as it would disturb all of the other passengers, and if we did, we would get kicked off the plane. Well if you know me, you know that my favorite thing to do (other than chew things up) is to speak, so that was asking a lot of me. I was a good boy that day and only whimpered once or twice during the over 12 hours it took us to get back home.
I’ve made up for it since!! I talk all the time, to everyone. Sometimes a little too loud and people get scared, but all I’m trying to do is say hello – except maybe when I go to see the medicine woman, then I use my really loud voice to try and make her stay away, but she never does. She just laughs at me and says I’m really silly so I always jump on mommy’s lap hoping she’ll protect me. I’ve had to do this quite a lot in my short life, because like I told you, I like to chew things….pretty much everything, which keeps mommy really busy. I’ve chewed up my toys, I’ve chewed up my stitches after having been neutered, I’ve chewed up mommy’s furniture, and the latest thing I chewed up (and ate) was my leash. Needless to say the medicine woman and I have become really close (but don’t tell her that, I’m still going to try to scare her off by speaking loudly to her every chance I get).
Mommy and I have done a lot of fun stuff together and had a few adventures. We’ve gone on lots of road trips to Savannah, Georgia which we really love. The first time I went, I got to go with my older sister Emma who has since gone up to doggy Heaven, and the last two times I’ve gone with my little sister Sadie. She’s really little, but I love her, except when she jumps up on top of me and tries to ride me like a horsey. We’ve also gone to the beach, which I love, the swimming pool which I don’t love so much and always end up jumping into mommy’s arms. I don’t like it when my paws can’t touch the bottom. We also go to the park together and have a lot of play dates with lots of other doggies. My favorite thing of all is to play with all the doggies. I never get tired. I can run around for hours and hours, but the best thing of all is when mommy comes home at the end of the day and my sis Sadie and I get to cuddle with her on the couch. Oh yes, and tummy rubs, gotta get those as well. Mommy just enrolled us in an Agility class so I’ll let you all know how that works out – I think we’re going to have a lot of fun! See you on the playground!! Woof!!!
There are a lot of other talented photographers participating in this blog circle. Don’t miss out on these other great posts. Next up is Jessica Wasik with Bark & Gold Photography, celebrating the joy and love between Pittsburgh pet and their people.
I’m a lab mom so I love these photos. Sydney is just gorgeous! Love love love the last photo (all of them actually.)
Thanks! They are special dogs for sure. I had actually finished up the
session and was standing next to the car talking to Sydney’s owner and
got the idea to do that last photo. So I pulled the camera out again.
Some of my favorite photos I’ve taken came “after” I’ve finished a
session and then saw something that caught my eye. When starting out as a
photographer I was reluctant to get the camera out again in these
situations and trouble the owners, but I’ve learned to trust my
instincts now. :)Try to guess what he’s looking at in all these photos.
Hint – it begins with the letter “f” and ends with “d”. Lol. Typical
Lab.
Heart melting, love the shallow depth of field on all of these and beautiful lighting!
Thanks!
Love that last image with the reflection!
Thanks!
Looks like you hit it on the nose, John (no pun intended). Welcome to the circle. My fave is the last image with the car window, but I love all nose images!
Thank you!
Oh, Sidney is a gorgeous dog! Fabulous macro shots. My favorite is the last one in the car – close up with just enough “background” to tell a story.
Thank you!
I think the first image is my favorite but they are all lovely!
Thank you!
Car window shots are everything! Nice work!
Sydney is gorgeous! I’m very envious of those beautifully trimmed feet! Beautiful photos.
You captured the lab personality, always so happy.
Beautiful images of happy Sydney and love the words of “mom”. My favorite is the last image with the car reflection and that bokeh – awesome! I love paws and since I’m such a bokeh fan, that one is a favorite, too! Great post and welcome to the group, John!
Thanks! I almost didn’t take that last image. Already had my camera in the bag. I’m glad I did.
that’s often how it is, isn’t it? Glad you did too.
I just love Labs! You did a fantastic job capturing details that just say happiness. Well done!
Thank you!
Beautiful shots – I especially love the lines and reflection in the last photo!
Thanks!
I love her pink nose! These are gorgeous, the lighting and Sydney!
Thanks!