Creature Comforts

Easy one today, Zachary.

I just need you to relax on your soft comforter, just like you do at night.

Zachary: "Right! Relax. I'm on it. Here… how's this? This is my good side. Holding still. Very still…"

Perhaps something a little less… posed?

Zachary: "Right! Less posed. Head lower. Not posed. Nope. Not posed at all…"

Maybe you could think sleepy thoughts?

Zachary: "Right! Counting sheep. Counting sheep. One sheep. Two sheep. Three sheep…"

Ummm… Right.

Good job, Zachary.

Dog Blog Post #1464

The boys enjoy lying on our old California King-sized comforter, which we loosely form into a dog-sized bed.

It normally rests on the floor in our bedroom and sees frequent use, especially when the weather turns too warm to spend the night on The Big Bed with us.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 30, 2014 - "Comfort"

Daily Dog Challenge 972. "Creature Comforts"

Next…

Henry, I don't suppose you could...

Henry: "Comfy bed…"

Henry: "… nappy time… "

Henry: "Zzzzzz"

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

All Tied Up

What are you two doing?

Zachary: "We're learning how to crochet."
Henry: "I get to hold the yarn."

Dogs don't crochet.

(silence)

Well, you can try, of course.

I don't mean to suggest you can't.

Actually, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

Certainly.

Without a doubt.

Really.

(silence)

Honest.

(silence)

Even without opposable thumbs.

(silence)

Dog Blog Post #1463

The boys decided to take String in paw, avoid the crowds, and learn how to Crochet during this year's Staycation.

Henry certainly sheds enough to keep them well supplied with "wool".

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 29, 2014 - "String"

Daily Dog Challenge 971. "Staycation"

Henry: "I told you it was a dumb idea. Pfththththth."
Zachary: "The peanut gallery needs a mute button."

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Tall Tale

Henry: "Momma! Momma! There's a HUGE Spider that just crawled out from under the sofa.

Oh Henry, stop telling tales.

Henry: (censored)

Just curl up under your blankie and I'm sure it will go away.

Henry: "Shoo?"

Dog Blog Post #1462

Henry swears there is a HUGE Spider that lives under the sofa.

I think he's just telling a Tall Tale.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 970. "Tall Tale"

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 28, 2014 - "Wrinkles"

I think he looks adorable when he tips his head down and his face gets all wrinkly.

Zachary vs. the HUGE Spider

Alas, Impeccable Mr. Zachary doesn't "wrinkle" like Henry does, but the fabric has plenty.

It was another of my original purchases as a backdrop that I rarely use because it has creases that are a pain to clone out.

Too bad, really, as it is a lovely piece of fabric, that complements the boys color well, and shimmers beautifully under flash.

Zachary: "Mom? Oh Mother Dear…."

Not you, too.

Turn off the light and I'm sure it will go away.

Zachary: "Oh yeah, like that really helped."

Above shot is without the off-camera flash, using just the on-camera trigger flash, plus the CFL behind umbrella on the right, and a small headlamp on the left spotlighting the HUGE Spider.

It was a wide aperture, slow exposure (f/2.8 1/10s) shot.

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

The Alchemists

What are you two doing???

Zachary: "We're going to transform Kibble into Cookies."
Henry: "Big Cookies!"

Zachary: "Says right here that, 'Alchemists try to change something that is inferior, imperfect, or unacceptable into something that is better, more perfect, and closer to what they desire.'" *
Henry: "Golden Cookies!"

Uh guys, you know that is never going to work.

Zachary: "Your negative energy is going to interfere with the reaction."
Henry: "I don't want Negative Cookies."

Dog Blog Post #1461

The boys seeking the Pathway to enlightenment (the chemical pathway?) for converting Kibble to Cookies.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 27, 2014 - "Pathway"

Daily Dog Challenge 969. "Bright"

… in honor of Sunglasses Day (June 27)

Zachary: "I don't suppose you have a Philosopher's Stone on you?"
Henry: "Not unless that's a fancy name for Sunglasses."

* "The Complete Idiot's Guide: Alchemy" c2008 by Dennis William Hauck - page 3

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Deja Vu

Zachary: "Mom, the printer made funny green lines on the picture."

That's OK, I'll fix it in post-processing.

Zachary (2014): "Cheesy Burger!"

Dog Blog Post #1460

Last Year on June 26, the topics were "Canine Dreams" and "Feminine"

Zachary (2013): "Cheesy Burger!"

… the challenge being to reproduce that shot today.

Deja Vu all over again!

Thankfully, I still had the jpeg for the "picture" to print out. Unfortunately, our printer seems to be spitting out a neon green line every inch or so. Fortunately, it was no match for the clone tool!

Probably should have switched lenses, however. The 60mm (above) and the 135mm (below) are rather different beasties.

It's hard to beat the 135mm's buttery-soft backgrounds. The drawback is the camera has to sit a good 20 feet or so away, in a different room, crammed up against the bookcase in order to get everything to fit.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 26, 2014 - "Last Year"


Daily Dog Challenge 968. "Deja Vu"

Henry (2014): "What am I? Chopped Liver?"

That *is* your picture sitting on the table, you know.

Henry (2013): "Chopped Liver!"

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Security?

Henry: "I want to be a Guard Dog!"

That means you're going to be really brave and act all scary and chase the Bad Guys out of the yard, right?

Henry: "Brave? Scary? Chase?"

Henry: "Never mind."

Dog Blog Post #1459

Because everyone knows what fearsome dogs Golden Retrievers are.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 25, 2014 - "Signs"

Daily Dog Challenge 967. "Opposite(s)"

Meanwhile…

Zachary: "Why, yes I can."

Zachary: "But as nobody is coming at the moment…"

Zachary: "I think I'll just take a nap."

Actually, while I have no clue if the boys would be much help on the Personal Protection Front (we kinda doubt it) they excel at announcing their presence with resonant authority.

I know that I wouldn't want to find out if their bark is worse than their bite!


-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

It's So Easy

Sir Zachary: "I'm handsome and kingly…"

His Royal Highness Zachary: "… whether wearing a stupid hat…"

Plain Ol' Zachary: "… or not."

Humble Plain Ol' Zachary: "I'm modest, too."

Dog Blog Post #1458

It's So Easy to get pictures when you have a closet full of props and a pair of professional models.

Even the plumed hat has become "old hat" to the boys.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 24, 2014 - "It's So Easy"…

Daily Dog Challenge 966. "Draped"

Pushing Sliders…

Sir Henry: "Love you, Momma."

Alas, the camera opted to focus on the jacquard (brocade?) fabric instead of Sir Henry, hence the serious slider pushing.



-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

News Alert!

In the aftermath of yesterday's Ladybug Ladybug… post...

Reporter: "After I break the story it will never happen again."

Reporter: "What ARE those things?"

Henry: "It was soooooo humiliating."
Zachary: "Cookies come before an embarrassing photo shoot."

Dog Blog Post #1457

Student lured by Photographer into posing as a Ladybug.

Claims Cookies were involved.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 964. "News Dog"

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 23, 2014 - "A Pair"

… of dogs? hats? Antenna Balls?

Soooo much easier to pose when there isn't a dog underneath it.

Antenna Ball - up close and personal!

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Ladybug Ladybug...

Henry: "Momma, what's today's challenge?"

Me: "Close your eyes and count to three and then you'll see."

Henry: "One Cookies… Two Cookies… Three Cookies…"

Henry: "I'm a Ladybug!"

Zachary (off camera): "You look ridiculous."

Henry: "Really?"

Me: "No, sweetie, you are a PERFECT Ladybug. And PERFECT Ladybugs get TWICE as many Cookies as grumpy ol' Golden Retrievers do."

Dog Blog Post #1456

Henry, posing as a Lady Bug on a Stack of leaves?

Henry was soooo patient with all my fussing around, which is why he generally goes first for single-dog shoots.

The biggest problem was that nothing was attached to anything else. It was just long lengths of draped fabric and some way-to-lively felt spots.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 964. "Bug"

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 22, 2014 - "Stack"

Henry (to Zachary): "Pfththththththth"

Mischief Monday

This was such a pain to set up that I gave Zachary a complete pass on the challenge and let him earn his modeling fee catching cookies.

I will leave it up to you whether the lack of Zachary is the Mischief or me dressing Henry as a Ladybug is.

-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

The Stars Are Out Tonight

Zachary: "I look good."
Henry: "WE look good."

Zachary: "I look better."

Zachary: "Ready to go?"
Henry: "Yup."

How about one last smile for the camera?

"Cheesy Burgers!"

Dog Blog Post #1455

What better way for Stars to celebrate the Solstice than to attend a party.

Did they think to invite me, their humble photographer?

No, of course not.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Jun 21, 2014 - "Stars"

Daily Dog Challenge 958. 963. "Solstice"

Background Check

Henry: "Hold still."
Zachary: "That tickles!"

A test shot to see if the new gold fabric (used as the Royal Robe yesterday) will work as a backdrop.

I guess Henry figured checking out Zachary's ears was as good a use of the time as any.

As flop-eared dogs are prone to ear infections, the fact they periodically take a moment to inspect each other's ears isn't such a bad thing.

If it ever progressed to more than the casual sniff I would have reason to worry.

As for the fabric?

Uh… nope.

At least not with my usual lighting setup.

Perhaps if I hit it with the other CFL, or tipped it a bit to allow the flash to play across it, or...

It also doesn't help that there is a rather pronounced vertical crease right down the middle (where the outer edge of Zachary's ear touches Henry's muzzle) which took a careful bit of cloning to eliminate.


-- Like the idea of a daily dog photography prompt? Click on Daily Dog Challenge and join us!

© 2013 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved