Pet Photographers Worldwide

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Photographing guinea pig and knitting

Not that this is Ginger's Halloween costume in the making — he's the only pet in this household that comes close to being on (or in) any sort of 'outfit'.


Sniffing, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

I just got carried away with the perspectives, not that there's anything wrong or purposeful to it — it was just because I could.

And I was quite intrigued by the colour of this yarn when I photographed it indoors during a rainy afternoon — it reflected the mood of the weather and became noticeably darker. I like how the light picks up the texture of the knit.

ISO400  |  f/2.8  |  1/200  |  24mm (38.4mm)


Inspecting, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.



Perspective, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Take me home

We had the privilege of meeting yet another 3 wonderful star dogs of AWDRI last Sunday.

It was a wet and chilly Spring weekend — these girls were currently boarding at the Vet for their health checks etc before being transported to their foster carer or a boarding kennel to wait for adoption.

We ‘borrowed’ the stairway at the Vet’s as it had the most natural light, which was just large enough to fit 2 people plus 1 dog.

All these girls have such beautiful and soulful eyes!


Shar {AWDRI profile}
girl • 20 months • cattle dog • red

friendly | placid | intelligent | mature beyond her age | very affectionate | very gentle | confident

I thought Shar was way older than her reported age — mature, confident and very, very gentle when receiving her treats. I had a hard time letting her go as she is nice to cuddle up to (imagine us cuddling up to Shar on the stairway...)

twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
A fair lady, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
:), originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
Oh hello!, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Daisy {AWDRI profile}
girl • 4 months • cattle dog cross • speckled with red batty ears + big big paws(!)

friendly | trusting | energetic | affectionate | smart | loving nature | big paws | very cute(!)


This little girl greeted us with most energy and affection — great to have around especially in wet, gloomy Spring weather! And I just love, love, love those red batty ears of hers, not to mention the unique coat markings she has. I’m not sure if Daisy understood any commands but she got the gist and sat for her treats within a couple of minutes of showing her.

twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
Hi, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.



Aster {AWDRI profile}
girl • 6 months • cattle dog cross • speckled with one-eye batman head (g)ear(!)

friendly | cautious | very sweet | gentle | intelligent | loves company | affectionate | big paws | very cute(!)

twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
Puppiness, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

We met Aster after she had woken up and rested from her surgery (de-sexing). Even being a little tired, she was most curious about us and loved to snuggle up to our side for a cuddle.


We were told by the Vet that she was slightly timid — but was impressed how she warmed to us quite quickly and had her portrait taken despite still being a little bit groggy.

twoguineapigs pet photography australian cattle dog pet portrait
Cheesy, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


She's thin — reminds me of Grover from Sesame Street.

Friday, October 22, 2010

{Big} adventure on the deck

Last two weekends the weather was pleasantly cool (not chilly) and slightly overcast due to rain from the week before.

I didn’t get around to post this earlier because of the BHG event.

This is PF, stalked — hanging around on the front deck.


Now what, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


What, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

2011 Australian Working Dog Calendar for fundraising | Giving back

Time flies - before you know it Christmas is around the corner and 2011 is just next door! Where did 2010 go?

For those of you who have been following my blog, facebook etc, you will remember the little guys from the Australian Working Dog Rescue Inc (AWDRI)  that I have photographed this year for their adoption profiles.

The working dogs starring in this calender were rescued from the most desperate circumstances and undesirable situations – some could not work on a farm, risked being put to sleep or have lived in a pound for a long time. For dogs rescued in NSW and around Sydney, the AWDRI boards them at the Solar Lodge Kennels and Catery until they find a new home or a foster to go to.

Working dogs (for instance dogs that work on farms, at the army, police force etc) occupy a position in society that is outside the social space known as “pet ownership”. If these dogs fall out of this position, or never get to occupy it at all, there are very few options open for them. The chance of “re-employment” is not high, leaving only the hope of pet ownership as an alternative to a very uncertain future.

There is in this the very real threat of death (known as being "put down"), unless such dogs are ‘rescued’ by shelter groups and put in temporary accommodation in a series of kennels or foster homes.

Working dogs have no say in any of this - in pounds they are similar to objects in a “lost and found” department, with disposal a very real possibility if they are not claimed. Their destinies are entirely at the mercy of the narrow options given to them by humans.

Related to this, but at the other extreme, are pet shops where dogs are sold because of attractive coat markings and colours, features etc. I often wonder how many of these former glamour pets also end up in pounds and rescue groups each year.




I have compiled a calendar for the AWDRI with some portrait images from these shoots, focusing on the hopeful expressions of these working dogs ‘in transit’ - dogs awaiting adoption or fostering - a subtle way to examine the situation of working dogs in our modern society, how their identities are constructed, their dignities, and how this process is a life and death situation for them, reliant on the structures of pet ownership, its fashions and its rules. Most importantly, the hope and trust these working dogs still show towards us.

Proceeds from sales of the calendar go to AWDRI to help these working dogs find a new home.

You too can do your part in helping these dogs find a new home - grab a couple of these calendars as Christmas presents now!

Buy art

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Summergroom

Last Sunday, I managed to squeeze in a few hours and drop in on this year’s Summergroom 2010 competition as a spectator. The competition was held at Castle Hill Showground.




Judging, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


Spectator, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Top 5 groomers form a touring team representing Australia to compete internationally at the World Teams Event in Kortijk Belgium, 17th & 18th September 2011.


Groomed, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

The Poodle Class segment I attended was interesting — the professional groomers were very focused and precise about the clipping, not to mention quick.



Mini-poodle, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


The equipment, tools and tool boxes the groomers used intrigued me the most. It is one profession that I can relate to as a cross between a hair stylist and a surgeon.


Tool box, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.



The models (Poodles) were brought in un-groomed. The groomers were given a set time to groom these little (and big as you can see) pooches back into shape, eg the Continental Style Clip, Modified Continental Clip, Lamb Clip etc for toy or Standard Poodles.


Unfortunately, I could not stay till the end to see who had won. I most wanted to attend the Creative Grooming segment but it was a pity the scheduled times were not made available before the competition.

Next year perhaps, I’ll go back to watch, admire and be amazed again.

More here:

These images were photographed in documentary style in available light.

Monday, October 18, 2010

This makes me smile!

A friend of mine sent me a couple of YouTube links — he said I've got to watch it in the following order:



I just love behind-the-scenes, and that the dogs are getting into it as much as the people! Working with animals is all about patience, good judgment and timing.

Artwork on display at the Better Homes & Garden

It has been a long week alright — hours of planning, organising, checking, and putting together more than two handfuls of photographs at Chew Chew's exhibition booth for the Better Homes & Garden show last weekend.


All set, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

The photographs looked good on the walls and once Chew Chew had set up the rest of the booth, they presented well — just as I had hoped. And I'm glad that Chew Chew was pleased with it too.



I had the chance to wander about and took some expected and unexpected shots at the show,





Here are some behind-the-scenes shots that document the process in case some of you thought things just happen miraculously.

There are things to gather up to bring down to the site.



Gathering, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

I took along with me two helpers, Jackie and Stephen, and headed down to the site on Wednesday to check out the booth. The weather that evening was not pleasant — it was wet and windy.


The booth, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


Bare walls, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

On Thursday, between the three of us, we managed to not only clean the walls of the booth, but also to put up the photographs and align them the way I wanted, and document the process. This took us slightly more than 2 hours. The weather was still windy but it had stopped raining.


Setting up, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Thanks to Jackie White for documenting these scenes for me.



Set-up, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


Packing up was never easy but did take us quicker than setting the booth up. I took Stephen down with me and we managed to pack up the photographs in half and hour.


Packing up, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Something all exhibitors had to do when the show had ended.


Packing up, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.


I'm grateful to both my dedicated helpers, Jackie and Stephen for their help with the booth.