Amber Waves

Henry

Henry

Zachary

Zachary

Dog Blog Post #2134

Well, I *suppose* you could count the hairs on a dog, but realistically they are probably Too Many To Count.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 30, 2016 - "Too Many To Count"

Daily Dog Challenge 1643. "Fur-Style"

Today was Day Spa day... how fortuitous was that!

Being Golden Retrievers, this means they get washed and dried, their ears and teeth are cleaned, their nails and paws (fur) are trimmed, plus a "sanitary clip" (under the tail).

And that's it.

Normally, the shop would also shave directly underneath the ear flap, close to the ear canal, but that really bugs Henry, who shakes and rubs his head for a few days afterwards and so we skip that.

They would also neaten/trim their leg feathers, but as they look so luxurious in pictures I have requested they leave them be.

Mr. Henry

I stuck a hat on the boys today as I was taking pictures of other parts.

This keeps the flash out of their eyes, and they know it, and so they just lie there patiently until I'm done.

Henry whiskers

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Bird Dog

Marvelous Mr. Zachary

It's so "you" Zachary

Henry knows how to work it

Henry: "Feathers, Momma?"

Dog Blog Post #2133

Apparently, Bird Dog doesn't mean quite what I thought it did.

Sorry about that guys.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 28, 2016 - "There is no accounting for taste"

I have absolutely no idea who would wear an orange and black feather boa... or why, for that matter.

But I found it on the clearance rack at the local fabric store for $1.99 and just couldn't resist.

Daily Dog Challenge 1642. "Got Plans?"

I also have no idea where the guys plan on going decked out like this, but I have no doubt they are going to have fun!

Zachary channeling Henry

Same image as above, uncropped and (obviously) in B&W

I don't typically shoot vertically, as there is less margin for error should the dogs move around.

Plus the camera looks rather precarious perched on the tripod that way.

And (as you can see, above) I didn't shoot vertically today, either.

But I thought today's images of Zachary really did benefit from a vertical crop to show of all those feathers.

I left Henry's horizontal, as I thought his typically bed-headed rear was rather cute.

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

The Party Store

Henry the Beach Bum

Captain Zachary

Dog Blog Post #2132

The party store is a great place to pick up Unseasonal items to use as props.

Need a straw hat in winter? A halloween costume hat in spring?

No worries!

Your local party store has got you covered.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 27, 2016 - "Unseasonal"


Daily Dog Challenge 1641. "Rule of Thirds"

Captain Zachary: "Anchors aweigh!"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Up High?

Henry - wondering what I'm doing down there

Dog Blog Post #2131

Henry is standing on the arm of the sofa.

I'm lying on the floor, below, with camera in hand.

This setup so didn't work for today's challenge (Up High) although Henry is certainly Well-Loved.

:)

Maybe I should have just pulled out the iPhone instead.

Or switched to the 50mm lens.

Or had Henry on the floor while I stood on the sofa.

(sigh)

Next!

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 27, 2016 - "Up High"

Daily Dog Challenge 1640. "Well-Loved"

But Wait... These are Worse!

Henry now sporting Son's sombrero...

Sombrero and a Dog Nose

Sombrero and a Dog Muzzle

..., which he wore to avoid having to sunscreen his face/neck when backpacking.

Completely Cringeworthy

I have NO idea what Zachary was thinking here...

Zachary: "Pfthththththth"

... but hopefully he doesn't think it again any time soon!


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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Sneak Peek

Wordless Wednesday strikes again...

Zachary: (peek)

Henry: (peek)

Henry: (blink blink blink)

Dog Blog Post #2130

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 26, 2016 - "Just A Little"

... bit of the boys peeking over the edge of the table at a pair of crunchy, crumbly cookies.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 1639. "Like A Pretzel"

The Cookies, that is.

Henry: "Sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiff"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Golden Dust Bunny

Henry and the Golden Dust Bunny

Dog Blog Post #2129

Being able to run your fingers through those luscious golden locks comes at a price.

Golden Retrievers are not for the fastidious, nor those who cringe at the sight of bunny-sized hair balls wafting across the floor.

Note: We haven't even reached shedding season.

And while Zachary is loath to lose a single hair at any time of the year, Henry sheds like this year round.

Once Henry REALLY starts shedding, we'll be up to our eyeballs in the fluffy stuff.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 25, 2016 - "Broom"

Daily Dog Challenge 1638. "Back To Work"

Today's pictures were taken in the usual location - my kitchen "studio" - sans backdrop.

You'll note the floor, the cabinets, and the boys are all the same color, hence my love of backdrops. :)

Zachary: "Ewwww"

The autofocus was quite enthused with the door knobs in the shot above, hence the rather heavy hand post-processing.

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

At the Art Gallery

The boys went to the Art Gallery today.

I wonder what they found?

Zachary with Still Life with Lacrosse Balls

Henry with Still Life with Toys

Dog Blog Post #2128

Henry and Zachary, staring at a Still Life of A Bunch of Lacrosse Balls and Toys.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 24, 2016 - "Still Life"

Daily Dog Challenge 637. "A Bunch"

Behind the Scenes

Still Life with Toys

Henry

Still Life with Lacrosse Balls

Zachary

Looks like Henry prefers a more traditional approach while Zachary favors something more modern.

And yes, I enjoyed today's shoot very much. :)

In addition to the obvious photoshop masking and resizing, you might notice I had to flip Zachary's image horizontally so he would be staring at the bowl.

I think it would be fun to revisit these images, running the still life photo's through some filters to create an Old Master look for the toys and perhaps an impressionist feel for the Lacrosse Ball shot.

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

© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Looking Good

Lookin' Good, Good Lookin'

Mr. Zachary

Mr. Henry

Mr. Henry

Mr. Zachary

Dog Blog Post #2127

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 23, 2016 - "Reflection"

Daily Dog Challenge 1636. "So Good Looking"

Sans Hat

Zachary

Henry

Zachary

After a cursory sniff, the boys had zero interest in the mirror.

Any interest you might think you see is solely the product of carefully placed cookies and/or the boys ability to hold a pose.

In one picture, Henry was actually watching me. He also watches me pet him in the mirrored bedroom closet doors. I have no idea why.

In one picture, a Cookie was cloned out of the image.

In the rest, the Cookies were either off frame, or no longer needed as the boys had figured out what pose they were supposed to hold.

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Kiss

The Dream

Zachary: (kiss)

Dog Blog Post #2126

What a sweetie!

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 22, 2016 - "Let's Go Crazy"

(Illustrate a Prince song - an example being "Let's Go Crazy")

Daily Dog Challenge 1635. "Illustrate A Song"


"Kiss" by Prince (1986)

Yes, I do remember when it came out.

Reality

Henry: "Slurp"

Zachary: "Slurrrrrrrrrp"

The Aftermath

Henry: "He he he"

Zachary: "He he he"

Mr. Henry

Alas, neither of my boys has a "kiss" cue, although Beau did.

It was incredibly easy to teach.

I just put a dab of peanut butter on my cheek (he licked it off) and then I repeated it a few times.

After that, touching my cheek would result in a big sloppy kiss.

Strange that I never taught that trick to these two.

:)

Today's shot was also obtained with the help of a bit of peanut butter.

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Boy Scout Dog

Friendly

Reliable

Trustworthy

Yup... that just about sums them up.

Dog Blog Post #2125

The AKC Golden Retriever standard includes, "Friendly, reliable, and trustworthy. Quarrelsomeness or hostility towards other dogs or people in normal situations, or an unwarranted show of timidity or nervousness, is not in keeping with Golden Retriever character."

The Boy Scout Law is "A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous,
Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent."

Coincidence?

I think not.

The Golden Retriever was developed as an upland game retriever by Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth, in Scotland in the mid-1800's.

I read somewhere that the breed's "golden temperament", for which they are rightly famous, stems from the gentlemen hunters not wanting to waste precious hunting time breaking up dog fights.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 21, 2016 - "Flag(s)"

Daily Dog Challenge 1634. "Symbol"

Henry; "I'm also cheerful!"

What about obedient?

Henry: "How about clean, instead?"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Cracking the Kibble Canister

Zachary: "Mom! Where are the matches?"
Henry: "This is going to be awesome."

Dog Blog Post #2124

Is it just me, or does this seem like a really bad idea?

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Apr 20, 2016 - "Whimsical"

Daily Dog Challenge 1633. "Flight of Fancy"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved