Darby is hanging out in the garden contemplating Van Gogh's Irises. I am working away getting the Mutt Lynch – Dog Art Today Wine Label Contest ready. Voting begins May 19, 2010. Stay tuned.
P.S. To every dog photographer I have ever featured here, I don't know how you do it!!!
Congratulations Jesse Freidin, whom you might know as a guest blogger on Dog Art Today, for the wild success of your Doggie Gaga Project. Jess was given two of the last packs of Polaroid film from The Impossible Project, just 20 shots, to create his vision of Lady Gaga inspired dogs. The photos are fantastic and, not surprisingly, have gone viral. Jesse reports that "within three days, the images had been tweeted by Perez Hilton, linked online by Entertainment Weekly, MTV, the Sundance Channel, and featured on ABC’s Live! with Regis and Kelly (on March 18, at minute 14). In 5 days, my website received over 50,000 hits from all over the world."
I just got word he is making limited edition prints of the Gaga photos available on his website, and he has plans for Doggie Gaga II. Visit his website to order a print and sign up your dog for the next session. Jesse also does beautiful classic black and white pet photography sessions if your not feeling the Gaga thing.
Bravo, Jesse! Keep us posted on all your exciting news.
Become a Doggie Gaga fan on Facebook.
Birmingham, 1963
Charles Moore, one of the greatest photojournalists of the 20th century, died earlier this month of natural causes at age 79. This photo of police dogs attacking protesters in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, is indicative of what made him great – a short lens and a fearless attitude.
Today, The New York Times looks at photojournalism in the time of the cell phone camera. The news is good and bad. At the top end, professional photographers are producing great works, but on the local front, most newspapers can’t afford them any more. Citizen journalists are filling the void, often with profoundly moving results. Read the article by Hank Klibanoff.
I've been meaning to feature British photographer Eloise Leyden's book, Slum Dogs of India
I love the deep, rich color of these works. I love that Leyden chose to include people in her compositions, to highlight the reality to dogs and Indians competing and cooperating to achieve an existence in their poor, crowded, beautiful land. I also love that during the year Leyden spent photographing the dogs, she became involved with TOLFA (Tree of Life for Animals) an Indian-based charity that treats, neuters and vaccinates owned
(often working animals) as well as owner-less (stray dogs and cows
predominantly) at its hospital/shelter located near Pushkar in
Rajasthan. A portion of book sales also go to TOLFA.
The book features 150 images and is as much about India as its dogs. It is available here. Also, limited edition giclee prints of Leyden's photographs are available at her website. She is now back in Great Britain photographing pups in people's homes. If you are in the Dorset or Hampshire area and looking for a one-of-a-kind pet photographer, contact Eloise. The book, a print, or a session with her would make a great Valentine's Day gift.
{This week, I will be featuring images of dogs in the Christmas spirit. Guest blogger and photographer Jesse Freidin kicks off the series with his trip to the Christmas tree lot with his girlfriend’s dog, Booker, then tree trimming with the help of his dog, Pancake. These shots really get me in the Holiday mood. Thanks, Jesse!}
Booker, a Pit Bull-Reindeer mix
Today I went to the Christmas tree lot with my good friend Booker to pick out my very first Christmas Tree. Well, let’s just call it a Holiday Bush.
Booker volunteered to find me the perfect shrubbery — he’s a real thoughtful guy. After licking and sniffing every pine and fir in sight, he reminded me that I might also need a beautiful handmade wreath for my front door. Always thinking ahead, that Booker!
We shoved my new perfect tree in the car and zipped back to my house where Pancake was waiting to help decorate. Pancake and Booker were very thoughtful at first, but they got pretty tired after all that ornament hanging, rolling around in their new holiday sweaters, and drinking out of the tree basin.
Brilliant! — Jesse Freidin.
P.S. Commission a pet portrait session with me for the dog lover in your life. Visit my website for more information.
Tiny Squash
(traveling doggie bowl from South Paw, Embarcadero)
{Another wonderful guest post from San Francisco fine art photographer Jesse Freidin.}
I'm allergic to standing in line, so I decided to take my better half (Pancake the Dog) with me as I browsed a few of my favorite local shops for Thanksgiving items. Pancake served as Quality Control when we got back to the studio, and says everything smells delicious. Guess we're ready to cook! — Jesse Freidin.
(organic produce from Golden Produce, Castro)
See more of Jesse Friedin's photography (and more of Pancake) here.
Courtesy of my mom from her friend Pat Sublette. Download the stencils at Better Homes and Gardens (must sign in first).
Happy Halloween!
80 years ago today the Stock Market crashed on what came to be known as Black Tuesday, the start of the Great Depression. As we struggle to find our footing in what is now considered the Great Recession, take a moment to look back and listen to people on the front line:
* PBS just ran an excellent biography on Herbert Hoover. I never knew historians still widely consider him one of the most — perhaps THE most — competent man ever elected President of the United States. In fact, his career was one of unbridled success and acclaim, until that fateful Tuesday.
* The Roosevelt Institute's New Deal 2.0 is running an insightful series asking thinkers of today what lessons we should have learned from the Great Depression and where we are headed.
* Errol Morris recently completed a fascinating seven-part series on the authenticity Farm Security Administration photographs. Highly recommend.
*Here is a bleak assessment of dogs in the Great Depression based on two characters in Of Mice and Men euthanizing their pets — considered the most human thing to do.
Needless to say, photos of dogs in the Great Depression are not exactly plentiful.
Herbert Hoover's dogs, King Tut, Whoopie & Englehurst Gillette . March 28, 1929. Via VerySerious.org
Children playing near dead dog, South Side of Chicago by Russell Lee, 1941. Via the Library of Congress.
When NJ-based photographer, Lauren Grabelle, pitched me the idea to feature her work of "dogs at play, " I put her email on the back burner. Her work is terrific, but I had done action shots before, and I am always looking for something new.
Later, when I had some time to visit her site, the shots I really responded to were the intimate ones of dogs and their owners. I think Lauren's ability to capture the bond dog lovers have with their pets is extraordinary. It makes perfect sense that her undergraduate work was in Anthropology, because these photos are really more about the owners than their dogs. You can sense their intoxication, that split second when oxytocin levels soar and dog love consumes them. Realy beautiful work, Lauren. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren is also a very talented wedding photographer. So if you're a lucky couple able to include your dog in your wedding, I think Lauren would be perfect for you. Visit her website and blog for more information.
Although, L.A. photographer Sabrina Helas is still mourning the loss of her dog Kramer, who succumbed to cancer last month, she has found great comfort in the many photographs she took of her sweet boy over the years. Inspired by this, and by Kramer's generous spirit, Sabrina is offering five free photo sessions to anywone with an ailing pet who might not have the resources to afford a photo session due to the economy. What an amazing tribute to Kramer. Thank you, Sabrina!
Visit Sabrina's blog for details.
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