2010 GRCA National Agility Gallery

(Click on the photo of Hawkeye for a larger view)

Here's the link: GRCA Agility Photos

One thing I've been dying to say about the GRCA trial: for it being a national, and therefore, I'm thinking, a pretty big deal, you folks sure were mellow. Maybe it's a Golden Thing?

Hemi

As with the MHGRC trial, two rings running simultaneously... if I missed your team, I'm sorry. And as with the MHGRC, I've included reference photos in the vast majority of of runs. There are a few though where I didn't. Contact me if you have questions about this.

A note on ordering: if you are interested in an 8 x 10 photo with text (like the shot of Hawkeye) just add "with text" along with your dog's name in the notes section when placing your order.

Thanks for visiting!

MHGRC Agility

Here's the link: MHGRC Photos

It was my pleasure to shoot photograph Golden after Golden at the Mile High Golden Retriever Club and the Golden Retriever Club of America National agility trials held last week in Greeley, Colorado. The trials were held Monday and Tuesday. I hung around Wednesday and was able to shoot a few portraits and take quite a few agility photo orders. (Thanks to all who stopped by.)

The MHGRC photo link will take you to an online gallery where you may view and order photos. The 8 x 10s with text (like Aine's photo, above) commemorating either trial are proving popular. If you would like this style, when you place your order just write "add text" in the notes section on the online order form. (It's pretty straightforward.)

I get payment questions from time to time: I accept either check or Pay Pal.

Limey

I shot a little bit of everything -- to the extent possible with two rings running simultaneously. On many of the Jumpers runs I feel like there were some nice team shots with excellent rear crosses right where I'd hoped they'd be. Several people have already ordered this particular shot, so do look for yourself. (OK, so the above of Tom Johns and Limey is not exactly that but it's nice nonetheless.)

Reason

I was also lucky enough to get some tunnel shots I am quite happy with. But you may have to work with me on this: I neglected to shoot (human) reference photos at times on the Excellent Standard runs but I did keep a detailed shot list of the dogs. If in doubt, shoot me an e-mail and I can help you locate your teammate.

Edge

Thank you very much to Warren Frizzell for the invitation to photograph the trials and to Warren, Mardee Kayser, Helen and others for all of their help on-site.

I should have the GRCA National photos up tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

Enjoy the gallery!

DOCNA Title Shots

Goose and Duck

Update: added the above photo of Belle because... well, because I can! Oh, and to show what a shot looks like with the "2010 DOCNA Nationals" text.

Thanks for the messages reminding me about the title photos. I decided it would be easiest to just post them in one gallery and let you choose. Here's the link: DOCNA Title/Ribbon Photos

The title photos come in the 8 x 10 print and high resolution digital sizes only. (Changing prices for photos in a single gallery is WAY beyond my html skills.)

Enjoy!

2010 DOCNA National Championships

Last Thursday we packed up the pack, my camera gear and printer, and headed south, to Grand Junction, for the DOCNA Nationals. It was our first, an event we'd looked forward to ever since I figured out the significance of the NAC qualifiers offered at local Utah trials in the summer of 2009. (Really, I had no idea what the big deal was about the NAC.)

Roxie

Suzie and I LOVE The Junction. The Stampes and others are probably tired of hearing us go on about how we'd like to move there... but to visit GJ for the DOCNA championships was the best reason yet.

Here's a link to photos from the trial: DOCNA National Championships Gallery.

Josie Girl

Personally, Suzie and I feel like we had a pretty productive weekend with Wyatt and Josie. Both got ribbons of every color. Josie's accomplishments are perhaps more noteworthy as she was in a deeper, more talented field. But I am very, very, VERY happy with Wyatt's Jumpers crown. He really got on it for me when it counted -- in spite of a really big handling error on my part in the finals! (Who botches jumpers, right? I do!)

If you ran in the Intern class, you might not find photos of your runs. I'm sorry about this. It was difficult to run Wyatt and shoot the same class. But this was Wyatt's last trial so, in all likelihood, next year, we won't have the same conflict!

Did you catch that in the last sentence? Yep, Wyatt is RETIRED! He went out with a bang and I am soooo proud of him. I will now focus on Cisco. And unless I am unable to bring it out of him, 16" jumpers need to be very, very afraid! (Just kidding, of course.)

Thanks for looking!

Great Salt Lake Agility Gallery

Nic

Here's the link: GSL Agility Photos

This was actually one of the more difficult trials I've shot in a while; with very few exceptions the 'money' shots were invariably backlit, which makes for horrible shots of black dogs in particular. It happens. It's why there are so many chute shots here and so few weaves, no tires, etc. But whattayagonnado? (Course designers, repeat after me: Run To The Sun!)

Still, it a was fun three days.

I love the chute, actually. Even though it is -- for me -- easily the most difficult thing to shoot well. That shot of Nic, at top, and some of the others you'll see in the gallery were worth the effort though.

Ivana

That leaves.... jumps. With jumps, I try to look for a certain angle. If you get lucky, you can find an angle conducive to a rear cross. If you get even luckier, some sort of synchronicity might find you. Can you see it in the above shot of Ivana and Katherine Emge? (Sorry for the decapitation, Kathy!)

Aine

And sometimes you can find an angle that lets you stack a series of jumps. I think that's why this shot of Aine is one of my favorites of the weekend. (Click on it for a better view.)

Anyway... Thanks for visiting and I hope you find something you like.

PS. From Thursday through not-quite-sure when next week, I'll be in Colorado, first at DOCNA Nationals, and then at Golden Retriever Nationals. (Wish Wyatt luck at DOCNA!) I'm afraid orders won't go out until late next week at the earliest.

Great Salt Lake Agility

It was nice to see old friends and make new ones this weekend. It will be a few days before I get the gallery up but I thought I'd post a few shots (with questions!) before we head out to Flyball practice this afternoon.

Question 1: How is it that Nic, and shelties in general, are so dang graceful?

Nic

Question 2: Why do border collies look like they've just seen a ghost when they come out of the chute? Is there something going on in there we don't know about?

Gyp

Ditto

Question 3: Can Indy (below) take a bad photo?

Indy

Thanks for looking and bye for now. And again, please check back in another day or two for the gallery.

More Soldier Hollow

It's Tuesday (and I am so happy to be home)!

Thought I'd throw a few more shots up. If you missed it from the last post, you can find the entire Soldier Hollow Splash Dogs gallery here.

Thanks for looking!