Is Anna Kuperberg Really a Dog?

Bula, a Puggle, one of today’s most popular hybrid dogs.

Some of my favorite photographers are hybrids. Actor Jeff Bridges uses his camera to document making movies for his book Pictures. Guitarist Andy Summers, formerly of the Police, takes you on their early 80s concert tour through his photographs in his book I’ll Be Watching You. Both artists take brilliant photographs, but it is their perspective, the context the viewer brings to the photo, that adds to that brilliance and gives their work a certain ineffable depth.

Slidell and Venus, Kuperberg’s dogs and muses.

So, I’m trying to figure out how San Francisco photographer Anna Kuperberg takes us inside the world of dogs. OK, I don’t really think she’s a dog. Her focus is too sharp to be fixing F-stops with paws.

Duncan the Basset Hound.

But upon considering her new book, a chronicle of hybrid crossbreed dogs called Designer Dogs written by dog geneticist and behaviorist Catherine Coile, the thought occurred to me, perhaps Anna is a hybrid too.

Billy The Poogle (Poodle + Beagle mix)

Perhaps she is somehow part dog. How else to explain her unique perspective…

Slidell with a drop of slobber glistening in the sun.

the intimacy she captures with her subjects…

Johnnie the English Bull Terrier.

…the way she incorporates humans, but doesn’t allow them dominate her compositions…

Nikita, a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix.

Somehow she has a dog’s eye view of the world and it adds that same behind-the-scenes quality to her work that Bridges and Summers bring to theirs. Needless to say, I absolutely love her photographs. And I highly recommend adding her SlobberSpace Blog to your Google Reader. It’s the gorgeous, dog-centric big brother to Cute Overload.

Black Dog Red Hill

Also, Designer Dogs gets rave reviews on Amazon, not only for the magnificent shots, but for the thoughtful trait analysis of popular new breeds. This would be a great gift for hybrid dog lovers or those considering bringing one home.