Peek-a-Boo

Dog Blog Post #705: Today, the lead picture was for...

Our Daily Challenge - May 31, 2012 - "Peek-a-Boo"

PLUS

Scavenge Challenge June 2012 - "8. Use an item with obvious fringe or tassels as part of a composition (main subject open)."

Well, weren't those two challenges just made for each other!

The boys really are pros at this. They dropped onto the big pillow as soon as I put it out. They chased after the cookies I tossed to get them back off again so I could spread the cream blanket on top. Then they dropped neatly into place once I was done. I draped the blanket over them, took a half dozen shots, and we were done.

I think they were bummed that it was over so soon, but I made it up to them by giving them the rest of the cookies in the ramekin anyway. A full shoots wages for two minutes of work. Sweet deal if you can get it. :)

I had fully intended on using this for the Daily Dog Challenge of...

"213. Monochrome - Take a monochromatic picture of your dog, today!"

... but it wasn't meant to be.

Plaid in monochrome is... unappealing... and the cream blanket was way too bright, overpowering everything else. Thankfully, I had taken a lighting test shot at the start of the shoot...

Henry insisted that I disclose that he is not a harbor seal with ears and stubby paws, but rather a Golden Retriever laying with this rear feet twisted around toward the back, thereby causing an unfortunate optical illusion.

I'm sure I'll be hearing from his lawyer about this.

(sigh)

Models.

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Empty

Dog Blog Post #704: Today's Daily Dog Challenge had...

212. Empty - The field is wide open here -- show us your dog with something that's empty, or conveys the feeling of emptiness.

PLUS

Our Daily Challenge - May 30, 2012 - "Hanging - Capture something hanging up, hanging out or hanging around and...have fun!"

Oh dear, nothing sadder than an empty cookie jar. Perhaps hanging around will remind mom to fill it.

I rather liked the shallow depth of field f/1.4 gives you in these shots...

... I felt it put the emphasis on the jar, which is certainly where the boys' emphasis is.

Here's pretty much the same shot at f/5.6 for comparison.

If you look carefully, you can see the cookie I used to get them to look where I wanted. Unlike yesterday's Naviguessers pictures, where the cookies were hidden behind the GPS gizmo, there wasn't a good place to hide them today.

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Naviguessers

Zachary: "You do know where we are, Mr. Navigator, don't you?"

Henry: "We're lost! We're lost! I'll never see Momma... or cookies.. again!" 

Zachary: "You mean that mom standing right over there?"

Henry: "Momma! Are you lost, too?"

Silly Henry, I'm in the kitchen, just like you are.

Henry: "Hmm... I don't see a kitchen on this map."

Dog Blog Post #703: Today, Daily Dog Challenge had...

211. Make It Interesting -Take an interesting photo of your dog with a mundane object today!

Resulting in a collection of mundane objects (kibble, bandanas, water bottle and bowl…) plus a map made of…

Our Daily Challenge - May 29, 2012 - "Paper"

… and a ...

Scavenge Challenge May 2012 - "16. Find an item indicating the four cardinal directions (weathervane, compass, etc.)"

… compass.

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Patriotic Pups

Dog Blog Post #702: Silly me, I thought the end of Lacrosse season would open up my calendar to photography and blogging pursuits.

(Not)

Oh well, I can't complain too much, as the activities that have side-lined me this weekend have at least been enjoyable. :)

Daily Dog Challenge"210. "Patriotic" - From wherever you live, show us your pups with their own patriotic colors, or how they're celebrating or remembering today."

This is the first year my son, now an Eagle Scout and aged out, didn't lay flags on the veterans graves at the local cemetery for Memorial Day.

It always made me feel good inside when he did so, and I was surprised how much I missed that feeling this year.

I obviously must find a new tradition next year.

Our Daily Challenge - May 28, 2012 - "Addiction"

I guess my addiction to taking pictures of the boys is probably rather apparent by now, surpassed only by their addiction to the cookies I use to elicit those winning smiles. :)

... I rather liked the portrait of Zachary, above. Henry often steals the show with his lingering puppy cuteness, but when Zachary works the camera his handsome looks melt me every time.

I liked the results of this shoot, and I hope to post a few more shots tomorrow if I have time.

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Mr. Woolly Man

Dog Blog Post #701: Years ago I read that parents should be sure and take pictures of their children with their favorite stuffed toy.

You know, the ratty one that gets taken everywhere and looks so bad the parents cringe when company comes over and the toy appears at the dinner table.

The Hobbes to their little Calvin.

So, pressed for time today, I decided to immortalize one of Henry's favorite Hobbes - Mr. Woolly Man.

I'm not sure exactly what the attraction is, although the plethora of appendages might have something to do with it - plenty of easy to grab, easy to hold bits.

After spending the late afternoon and evening in the garage working on a family project, with the boys baby gated out so they could see but not join us, our "return" was celebrated by Henry grabbing up Mr. Woolly man and parading him around the house.

Alas, no time for the Daily Dog Challenge today. Will have to make it up tomorrow.

No Daily Dog Challenge means the boys didn't have to model which meant there were no modeling "fees" paid, causing Henry to cry foul and decree there was definitely mischief afoot, as anything that comes between him and cookies can't be good.

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Henry's Hats (Part II)

Dog Blog Post #700: As promised, the last shots of Henry's Hats. Today's Daily Dog Challenge was...

208. Adventure - Dogs seem able to find adventure in activities both big and small. Show us an adventure your dog had today.

The honest answer is that there, sadly, were no adventures today. Son's school project and family tasks ate up the day, leaving little time to spend adventuring anywhere.

All the while, the boys just laid about and looked sad, the occasional sigh or vague whimper being the only indication that they wished things were otherwise.

Finally, much later than it should have been, I was able to break away and grab the camera. This seemed to have been cause for celebration, as a lively round of bitey-face ensued.

To see them roll around and tug on one another, you would think they were fighting lions, or tigers, or even bears.

At least until they both roll onto their backs and wave their paws in the air while baring their teeth.

Ah yes, Golden's at play. Always an adventure. :)

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Story Time

In honor of Towel Day, the boys decided to curl up with their towels and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Henry: "Shhh, Momma. Zachary's getting to the really, REALLY good part."

Towel Day was started back in 2001, two weeks after the author's (Douglas Adams) death.
Zachary: "Do you mind?"

Ok, Ok... I get the hint. I'll leave you to your reading.

Later...

Dog Blog Post #699: From Daily Dog Challenge we had...

207. Wrapped Up - Share a picture of your dog wrapped up in something today!

... tying in nicely with...

Scavenge Challenge May 25, 2012 - "25). If you are a lover of Douglas Adams' "Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" and related works, be sure you have your towel! Towel photos should be posted to the pool on May 25, International Towel Day. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towel_Day.

For those unfamiliar with the book, you have my sympathies, and a quote:

"More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitch hiker) discovers that a hitch hiker has his towel with him, he will automatically assume that he is also in possession of a toothbrush, face flannel, soap, tin of biscuits, flask, compass, map, ball of string, gnat spray, wet weather gear, space suit etc., etc. Furthermore, the strag will then happily lend the hitch hiker any of these or a dozen other items that the hitch hiker might accidentally have "lost". What the strag will think is that any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is is clearly a man to be reckoned with." -- HHGTTG

I first read HHGTTG on a plane headed headed to college (or possibly back to college) in the early 80's. I hadn't laughed that hard in years! It is one of the few books I was able to share with my son, as our tastes in literature are quite different. To hear him laughing his way though the book was a definite joy for me. :)

Our Daily Challenge - May 25, 2012 - "Far Far Away"

"Space... the Final Frontier."

I just can't set up without Henry demanding his picture be taken. What a ham!

Editor's Note: Yes, I know I promised more pictures of Henry's Hats, but I filled the blog today with towel pictures. I promise to do my utmost to include the hat pictures tomorrow!!! Honest!

As for the making of this shot, the background is sheet from a set purchased when we staged our previous home for sale. While the comforter is much loved and worn now, the sheet was never used and makes a great (IMHO) backdrop for space themed pictures. The book is resting on a clear acrylic dish holder, and for the first two shots a ramekin filled with treats sits between boys and book.

A bit unusually, this shoot was taken in exact reverse order from what you see above. Usually, with "story" posts, the story flows from the shoot itself, with my favorite shot often being one near the end. Recent examples of this include Three Guesses, Loot, and Voted Most Likely To (Part II).

An exception to that is the recent round of concluding shots, often a shot with just the props. While I think they make a fitting end to the posts, they are often taken first while I'm testing out lighting, composition, or camera placement. The boys hate it when I do that, and grumble mightily from the other side of the baby gate until I let them in!


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Henry's Hats

Dog Blog Post #698: Spent the evening having every reason to feel proud of my wonderful son, therefore we'll be short and sweet here.

Remember those days, many moons ago, when a Horrible Hat would never be allowed near the Precious Puppy's head?

Well, those days are long gone.

Daily Dog Challenge"206. "Head Shot" - Take a head shot of your dog today and feel free to add something to make it more interesting if you like!"

Our Daily Challenge - May 24 ,2012 - "Using Your Head".

Out of time today, but I'll try to post some more tomorrow!

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Loot

"Why, hello little dragon. What's in your treasure chest?"

"Cookies! Treasure indeed!"

"Did somebody say cookies?"

"Quick, while Momma isn't looking..."

"Oh... he he... hi, Momma!"

Dog Blog Post #697: Today's Daily Dog Challenge was pretty general...

205. Off Centered - Take an off center picture of your dog today!

... which is good, as Our Daily Challenge - May 23, 2012 - "Scale" wasn't!

But looking down the May Scavenge Challenge turned up...

"6. Give an imaginary creature life! Fairies, mermaids, unicorns, etc. are the subject."

Ah hah!

My younger older brother gave this little fellow to me many years ago (very early 80's?) and he most certainly has scales and is of small scale. :)

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Busy Day

"Zzzzz"

"Zzzzz Huh? What? Zzzzz"

(sigh)

"Zzzzz"

"Zzzzz"
Kitty, get some shut eye!

Kitty: "This love seat isn't big enough for the three of us!"

Dog Blog Post #696: Not easy to sleep that much! It takes skill, practice, and a strong desire to do very little!

Daily Dog Challenge "204. Relaxed - Show us what your dog looks like when he or she is relaxed today. You can add props or other things to add to the relaxation theme if you want."

Our Daily Challenge - May 20, 2012 - "Starts with 'G'"

Well, 'G' is for Golden Retriever.


You wouldn't believe how hard I had to think to come up with something for this challenge. :P

It always amazes me that the boys can do some semblance of "sleepy" on cue. They were playing right before I called them over to take these, and continued playing after I was done.

Seems like a few calming hand motions on my part (and some well placed cookies) sends them into a trace.

(This is also how I got yesterday's Three Guesses pictures, with Henry and the pillow.)

"Much better"

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Three Guesses

Ok guys, why is the corner chewed off the pillow?

"Tee-hee-hee"

You do realize that money spent replacing pillows means less money available for other things.

Like cookies, and tug toys, and electricity to keep the air conditioning on.
I don't suppose either of you know what happened?

Henry?

Dog Blog Post 695:

Daily Dog Challenge "203. From the Ground - Take a picture of your dog from ground level today and see how it changes your perspective on things!"

Our Daily Challenge - May 21, 2012 - "Replace"

I'll give you three guesses who ate the end off the pillow.

Looks like it's time to Replace the pillow.

.... Yes, I'm afraid it's true. Henry actually did eat the corner off this pillow. And it wasn't his first. In fact, this was his sixth (and most recent*) victim.

Eating is probably a bit harsh. Henry mostly likes to comfort gnaw; it's not his fault the fabric doesn't hold up to his pearly whites. After the first pillow (or two, plus two arm rests covers) I really should have known better, and removed all pillows from reach.

But a sofa without pillows just isn't all that inviting.

After pillow #4 - the last of the matching sofa pillows - acquired a tufted end, we purchased a whole new round of pillows. These are kept safely in the study while we are away, and come out (when I think about it, or want one) when we are home.

Thankfully, my house makes dorm rooms look decorated, and so the lack of a pillow here or there really isn't the end of the world.

Besides, how could anyone get mad at something so darned cute...

Yes, Henry. You're forgiven. Again. :)

* "recent" being relative, as it's been several months since he's "tufted" a pillow. I also make sure he has things lying about that he is allowed to masticate, like paper drink carriers!

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© 2011 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved