Game Over!

And what a nice trial it was. 

Thanks to ALL the GOOD folks at the Group IV Terrier Club for putting on this event. Thanks as well for allowing me to shoot. 

I only shot Open and Novice classes today. And there weren't really a lot of participants to shoot...

Here's a link: Sunday Photos

Sunday's shots

Today's shots: GIV Agility

Kristin and Gyp were awesome today. I like this particular shot for what it is visually and because it reminds me of Kristin, an EXCELLENT young handler who seems to have these sort of intense conversations with her dogs during her runs, moreso than most of us. I believe they gained something like 85 speed points today. I'm not really sure what that means but I think it's good. (Laugh at me tomorrow if this is some impossible number or simply for my sheer lack of knowledge on the subject!)

Because of the rain and because I ran Wyatt (who did GREAT today), I only shot Excellent Standard. Apologies to other classes.

It was great visiting with folks who came by the tent today to check out photos. I'll fill orders tonight and welcome anything that comes in next week. The online ordering process is pretty straightforward. I try to turn orders around in less than a week.

Hasta Manana

More Group IV Terrier Club Agility

Today's shots are up and here's the link: Saturday's Photos

I ran Wyatt (above) today -- and Suzie ran him twice. Hmmm. He is supposed to be my dog now. I guess if you define 'mine' as one-third of the time, then yes, Wyatt's my dog. (Mind you, she's also running Josie!) That girl just can't let go! 

Not a Q in sight but we had FUN. I've heard from several friends so far this weekend that getting little pieces is fine but that it's frustrating when it's just little pieces time after time. I hear you but I guess it's all about perspective... Wyatt had flat out had enough at last weekend's ASCA trial in particular and more and more in general lately. So to get the little pieces (big pieces, actually) that we got today was a lot better than the alternative...

See you on site tomorrow!

Group IV AKC Agility Photos

OK, here are some shots from today: Group IV Agility

A little heavy on the weaves -- my weakness -- but plenty of jumps and other stuff as well... I think this is one of Nona's briard's again. Don't you just love that hair!

You can either order online or find me at the trial if you're interested in a photo -- I can print a small number of shots each day -- or if you have a specific 'want' for your dog.

Enjoy!

Jessie - with a dog's point of view!

So, what are they thinking when you plop 'em down in front of the lights??? Well, here's a recent conversation with Jessie, Dot's striking dalmation...

Me: Jessie, hey. Good to see you. We'll have you sit right here.

Jessie: Here? Let's get this over with. [Yawns] Already bored!

.Me: Aw, c'mon, Jessie. It'll be fun.

Jessie: Not listening Mr. Photographer man. Going to sleep now.

Me: Would you do it for a cookie?

Jessie: Hmm. Where do I look?

Jessie: How's this?

Awww. Thank you, Jessie!

Hee hee. Truth be told Jessie was far from uncooperative! We actually had what we needed in the first few shots. It was only later that we caught that great yawn and the precise moment of the blink...

Merlin -- The Cat?

Yes, that's right: Merlin is a cat.

This is apparently clear to everyone except... Merlin, an 18 year old domestic long hair who has been with his owner, Denise, all of his life, and more than half of hers. But after our "sitting" you'd think he's a much, much younger man. 

When Denise asked me to shoot Merlin, I had reservations. I thought there was no way a cat was going to sit for the camera, especially for any length of time. But after Merlin got comfortable with strangers in the house -- Suzie gaffed (controlled the lighting) for me -- Merlin did in fact sit pretty, on his terms, in his favorite spot on the couch.

With the late afternoon sun coming through a window from the right, this shot almost lit itself. I just added some fill flash from Merlin's left. So the cool thing here was that Merlin, being the boss of me in this particular situation, actually helped/forced me try something new. 

The stalking shot is the one that most resonates with Denise though. It reminds her more of the active, dare I say something of a Bad A** Merlin was in his prime: a houdini, who could unlock kitty carriers and open doors, a thief, of jewelry and all things shiny, and an antagonizer of dogs.

Truth be told, I'm not entirely happy with the online versions of these shots. We went for -- and got -- some truly dramatic stuff. The Print of Merlin in the grass is, if I do say so myself, amazing. Surprised me, even. (Picking up a portrait at the lab, having that first look, is a such great feeling.)  If you know Denise, don't take my word for it. Drop in on her and check it out -- she'll ply you with her latest batch of homemade cookies and you won't want to leave! 

(Nothing after the jump this post.)

Agility crops... I'm starting to get it.

Both at the trial and in a few orders that came in this morning, I was asked about cropping photos. Here are two crops of Trace, Laurie Spease's very quick little corgi, which Laurie just ordered. Pretty good stuff. I especially like the jump. These examples are very tight crops of shots in which handler and dog were on the far end of the course but they will print up nicely.

So, yes, I can do crops! There's a comments section in the online ordering system where you can state your crop preference, or you can call or email and let me know what you'd like done. 

But I say this with a caveat: if there is an ocassion where the crop is just too extreme, I'll tell you I'd rather not do it -- and I'll work to get you the shot you want next time. Why? Because frankly, I've just seen too much inferior quality stuff over the years, stuff you all have paid good money for. Stuff that, in my humble opinioin, shouldn't have been allowed to see the light of day. And I don't want to be that guy...

Posting some portraits later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned! And rest up for Lynn Leigh!

Muddy Paws, Day 2

Here's the link: Day 2 of the ASCA Muddy Paws Agility Trial

(See the entry below or look under "Sites & Galleries" for yesterday's link.)

I didn't shoot nearly as much today. If you didn't trial Saturday, I tried to get you today. I shot the snot out of this briard (above); couldn't help myself!

On a personal level, Wyatt and I didn't have such a good day. The young man just did not want to run. Suzie and Josie did okay though. Methinks Josie is one to watch. It's gonna be a little while yet, but she's getting there!

Thanks for looking!

ASCA Muddy Paws Agility

Here's the link:  Day 1 of the ASCA Muddy Paws Agility Trial

I think I shot too much... 

More to come tomorrow. Enjoy!

All the way from Ohio... meet Toby

What to do on vacation, on the road, far away from your comfortable home studio environment, when you want a portrait of a very important person.... err, companion animal, who means the world to his family, and who happens to be... family? You enlist your brother-in-law to serve as set designer (yeah Jeff!), throw up a few sheets and turn an ordinary foyer into a home-away-from-home studio.

The end result is this shot of Toby, a three year old Corgi of the Pembroke variety. Hard to believe it, especialy when you spend a little time around him, but Toby was actually given up by his first owners and became a rescue dog before landing in his forever home with Jeff, Lillian, Catherine and Michael.

And since we think of them as cousins, we couldn't pass up the chance to get a shot of Toby with Wyatt (our corgi).

As corgis go, they couldn't physically be more different, with Wyatt's long, lean body and that fluffy coat, compared to Toby's stocky linebacker-like build with his beautiful short hair. Surely there's not a female corgi who wouldn't absolutely drool over one or maybe even BOTH of them!

Probably the most remarkable thing about Toby is his drive. We had serious discussions about whether to whisk him away in the middle of the night and make him Super Agility Corgi but for some reason we thought better of it...

(Nothing after the jump this post.)

Agility Photos!

It took much more work than I thought, but I've finally built an online 'storefront' for last weekend's USDAA Agility Trial in South Jordan! 

Here's a link to the gallery:  Agility Photos!

It was a wet but fun weekend and we had a blast. Wyatt, our litte bundle of paradox, (above) ran much faster than usual, probably because of the cool weather and the fact that we are now running him at 8" instead of 12". Had I not been guilty of some poor handling at a key moment in Steeplechase, we might've even finished in the money!

As for the photos, the site is organized in sections; select your class and go right to it. I'm new to the crazy world of html (code) so please, please let me know if there are any issues. 

We are now only taking orders by e-mail, telephone and snail mail but we hope to be set up with PayPal soon.

Enjoy the gallery!