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Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year

Resolutions



Boys!

Resolutions
"Huh? What?"


I sure hope it was sparkling cider in those cups.

Dog Blog Post #918



Photography Assignment



After a less than stellar year of keeping what few resolutions were shown in last year's New Years shot (with the notable exception of Henry's "Eat Cookies"), the boys' decided it should be...

Daily Dog Challenge "427. Out With The Old"

… resolutions and in with the new…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 31, 2012 - "Resolutions"

I suppose the biggest accomplishment for 2012 wasn't even included on the 2012 list, and that's the completion of the boys' 365 project.

That is, a picture every single day containing at least one of the boys.

I'm hoping to create a mosaic of them at some point.

In my copious (cough) spare time.

2013 New Years Resolutions


I had to do a wee bit of editing, but here they are...

New Years 2013 (part 1)



New Years 2013 (part 2)



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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

The Raven

Quote the Raven
Raven: "Nevermore"
Henry: "Excuse me?"



Quote the Raven
Raven: "Nevermore"
Henry: "Zachary!"



Quote the Raven
Raven: "Nevermore"
Zachary: "Mom!"



Quote the Raven
Raven: "Nevermore"
Zachary: "MOM!!!"




Dog Blog Post #917



The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore —
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“ ’Tis some visiter,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door —
Only this and nothing more.”

… alas too long to reproduce here, but easily found in its entirety on the web in places such as Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore

Photography Assignment



Our Daily Challenge - Dec 30, 2012 -"Lyrics/Poetry Inspired"

Daily Dog Challenge "426. Artistic Inspiration"

Ok… the bird is bit small, 'tis true.

Work with me here!

The Raven is one of my all time favorite poems.

Behind the Scenes



Behind the Scenes


Oh, the things I do to get a picture.

Here, I'm lying on the ground and holding up the treat ramekin in one hand while firing the camera with the remote in the other.

Obviously, this was a crummy place to be as:

a. My arm is in the frame and blocking the chair, and

b. It's not resulting in Zachary looking where I want him to look.

Of course, until I take the shot, get up, and go over to look at the LCD, I can only guess and hope I have it right.

In the end, the best place for me to be turned out to be behind the drapery - the stretchy black velvet hung on on the backdrop rod/frame and then covered in the requisite purple "curtain".

From back there, I could hold the ramekin (to the left, just out of frame) and get a better head position for the boys. That doesn't mean that resulted in the best picture, as I can only capture what my models give me.

As for the set, the reason I used the backdrop frame is because I wanted to try a something a bit different - having the "wall" and chair be at an angle to the camera and the moveable frame allows me to do that vs. my usual backboard rubber-banded to the kitchen cabinets.

Alas, I think the wall/curtain ended up too dark to notice the shift, but it was an interesting experiment and I will probably try it again.

The chair is just our normal wooden kitchen chairs draped in one of my backdrop fabrics and tied at the seat with a scrap of the same color.

I rather liked the effect, so don't be surprised if it reappears.

Monday Mischief



The Raven


He looks pretty mischievous to me, don't you think?

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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Left and Right

Left and Right
"Like this Momma?"


Yes, perfect!

Now hold it...

... hold it...

... just need to...

... hold it...

... just one more second...


Dog Blog Post #916



Photography Assignment



When I asked the boys if they wanted to have their portraits taken from the…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 29, 2012 - "Left or Right"

… they both blurted out,

Daily Dog Challenge "425. Get My Best Side"!


Editor's Note: Ridiculously hard to get this shot. I ended up standing behind Zachary (left) with my foot behind his rump to keep him from sliding backwards, then reaching over him to hold the ramekin of cookies over their heads between them JUST out of frame.

They are just so programmed to look at either me or the camera or cookies, that looking anywhere else just wasn't going to happen. At least not easily. And there wasn't room between them to tuck the cookies without them butting heads.




Left and Right
"Can we put our heads down yet???"

Oh, yes dears.

Sorry about that.


The Boys
"Whew!"



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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Friday, December 28, 2012

Tea Time

Tea Time



Tea Time



Dog Blog Post #915



Photography Assignment



Today, the challenge was to try…

Daily Dog Challenge "424. "Something New"

Hmmm…

Well, my lens is new.

My new lens is a 135mm prime, which requires my camera being in the family room while the dogs are posing in the kitchen (e.g. farther away than when I use with my 50mm.)

This meant the Speedlight needed to come off the camera and moved into the kitchen as well.

Since I was feeling lazy, and didn't want to unscrew one of CFLs so I could put the Speedlight behind an umbrella, I instead used my third light stand - the one that won't hold an umbrella - and moved it behind one of the CFL-stand umbrellas.

Since I didn't rearrange anything else from my usual setup, this put the flash way off to the side and fairly close to the boys.

This made for, I think, some rather cool lighting.

As for…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 28, 2012 - "Renewal"

…, the tea displayed is called "Youthberry", which makes a very tasty and rejuvenating drink.

For me, that is.

The boys are out of luck on this one.

(I was seriously bummed by how close Henry's head was to the top of the frame in the second shot above. Henry models first, and this was one of my first shots, and sadly I had the camera too close to give adequate space above his head.

(sigh)

Just a bit more space above and it would have been my favorite shot.)


Zachary Bokeh



Basically the same as the top shot, except this time the focus was on the objects instead of Zachary. What a different less than a foot makes.

Tea Time




Behind the Scenes


The CFL and Speedlight huddled together...

Behind the Scenes

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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Night Dogs

Night Dogs



Dog Blog Post #914



Photography Assignment



How exciting!

The boys received opening night tickets for their movie debut "Night Dogs".

Yup, those boys are really...

Daily Dog Challenge "423. Going Places"

...

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 27, 2012 - "What a Trip!"

I just hope they don't let fame and fortune go to their heads.

Night Dogs


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

What a Mess!

What a Mess
"Zzzzzz"

What were you two doing? Look at this mess!


What a Mess
Zachary: "Huh? Wasn't us, Mom it was... Kitty!"



What a Mess
Henry: "Ooo... you're busted now, Kitty."



Dog Blog Post #913



Photography Assignment



The boys blame Kitty for the…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 26, 2012 - "Scattered"

… wrapping paper, but I'm not so sure. It seems mighty suspicious they would choose the very spot of the mess to...

Daily Dog Challenge "422. Relax"


What a Mess
"Momma, you need to aim better when you toss the cookies to us." (snuffle snuffle snuffle)



Playing with Aperture


The "busted" shot (3rd from the top and my personal favorite) was taken with my Christmas NIKKOR 135mm f/2 set at f/2, lending a nice softness to the image. The rest were mainly shot at f/6.3 except one at f/5.

Having spent the past 6 months using a 50mm with the boys about 8 feet away, I was a bit surprised how far back I had to go to get these shots. In fact, I was so far back that I enlisted a spare light stand to hold the Speedlight off camera near my models.

Clearly, Hubby now needs to buy me a larger home so I can better utilize this lovely lens!

Just for kicks, here's a shot nearly identical to the "busted" shot, accept taken at f/5.

What a Mess

While more of the boys is focus above, that dreamy softness of the "busted" shot is hard to beat.

The Guilty Party?


Kitty


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Sleepy Boys

Alright boys, who is up for a photo shoot?

I know it was a really busy day today, but I've got this snazzy new lens to play with and... Zachary?

Long Day
"I had such a great day, Mom. And I loved the toys and treats that Santa Paws left us..."

Long Day
"... but... zzzzzzzz"

Henry, surely you're up for some posing. I've got some really really great treats tonight!



Long Day
"Oh, Momma. It was such a fun day with Grandma and Grandpa over..."



Long Day
"... and getting to shred up all the wrapping paper, but... (yawn)..." 



Long Day
"Zzzzzz"




Dog Blog Post #912



Photography Assignment



The boys were so excited to find Santa Paws brought them treats and toys.

They had so much fun shredding all the unwrapped present's wrapping paper.

They enjoyed entertaining the grandparents for the entire afternoon.

But when time finally came for the photographer to try out her new NIKKOR 135mm f/2 lens the models, dog tired and unable to keep their eyes open, said…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 25, 2012 - "Thanks"

… but no thanks.

And promptly went to sleep.

Oh well, tomorrow dawns a new day.


Long Day

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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved


Monday, December 24, 2012

Night Before Christmas

Night Before Christmas


What are you two doing???


Night Before Christmas
Zachary: "You said we had to wait until Christmas to open our presents. Is it Christmas now?"

Nope, not yet.

Santa Paws hasn't even arrived.

Night Before Christmas
(sigh)

Stay on your blanket - no poking the presents with your paws.


Night Before Christmas




Night Before Christmas
"How about now?"





Dog Blog Post #911



Photography Assignment


On the…

Our Daily Challenge - Dec. 24, 2012 - "Cusp"

… of Christmas, the…

Daily Dog Challenge "420. Anticipation"

… is practically unbearable.


Meanwhile...


Yum
"Pumpkin!"




Yum




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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed?

Christmas Spiral



Dog Blog Post #910



Photography Assignment


Yes, yes... I'll get to yesterday's Mischief in just a minute. But first, we have...


The…

Daily Dog Challenge "419. Golden Rule"

… of thirds, created by the line of the table and the vertical center of the...

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 23, 2012 - "Spiral"

… of sticky labels.

And now on to...

Mischief Monday


Sweet Charlie



Daily Dog Challenge "418. Something Sweet"

We puppy-sat last night for a sweet little black lab named Charlie. I'm guessing her to be 6-7 weeks old. She's just a little bit of a thing.

The boys were quite interested, to say the least, but she was much to small to allow introductions.

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 22, 2012 - "Chocolate"

It's a stretch to say there is a chocolate colored blanket in the background, I suppose, but she's just so cute I had to share. She certainly was as sweet as chocolate. :)

(A bit dark as I bounced the speedlight off the ceiling behind me so I wouldn't startle or "flash" her.)

Sweet Charlie



Sweet Charlie



Sweet Charlie


How small is she?

Here's Henry with the very same Lobster toy...

When I Was Just A Pup



Speaking of Henry, here he is right after she went home, examining the proof that Mischief had occurred...


Who's Been Sleeping...
"Momma, someone's been sleeping in my bed!"


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

To Be Continued...

Zachary
"You wouldn't believe what Mom allowed to transpire tonight."



Grandeur
"I'm still in a state of shock."




But, Soft!
"What's the world coming to???"



Dog Blog Post #909



To Be Continued...


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Weather Tail

Weather Tail




Weather Tail




Dog Blog Post #908



Photography Assignment



Instructions for analyzing weather with the Weather Tail:

If the tail is warm, it is sunny.
If the tail is wet, it's raining.
If the tail casts a shadow, the sun is shining.
If the tail casts no shadow and is not wet, the sky is cloudy.
If the tail is white, it is snowing.
If the tail is coated with ice, there is a frost.
If the ice is thick, it's a heavy frost.
If the tail is under water, there is a flood.
If the tail is still and the fur is moving, the wind is blowing.
If the tail is not visible, it is foggy.

… adapted from Wikipedia's Weather Rock

... for...

Daily Dog Challenge"417. "How's the Weather"

… in …

Our Daily Challenge - Dec 21 2012 - "Your Neighborhood"

In Other News


The boys were so happy the End of the World didn't occur (a fact they are attributing to yesterday's handsome peacock headdress) that they decided to celebrate with a rousing game of fetch.

At least Zachary did.

Until a certain someone came up with the ball...

My Ball


Notice the lack of excitement in Henry's face - you can almost hear him thinking "Ewwww".

He's just sort of holding it while Zachary is boring holes in him with his laser gaze.


Gimme

Poor Zachary.

His brain has totally frozen at this point, and absolutely nothing is going to break his focus.

Nothing.

And Henry doesn't event want the ball, he just wants Zachary to play with him.

But Zachary is too polite to try and take the ball, and so he just stands there, looking like… well… this.

Eventually, I take pity on the boy and get the ball for him. Henry doesn't care if I have it, as throwing the ball causes Zachary to move again, so Henry can give chase.

Ah Retrievers.


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© 2012 BZ Training - All Rights Reserved