Vacation's Over

Henry: "I think I like the beach better."

Dog Blog Post #2517

I guess their California vacation is over.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 2625. "Dress Up"

Seriously, how could I pass up "National Dress Up Your Pet Day"? (January 14)

Our Daily Challenge - January 14, 2019 - "Warming Up or Cooling Down"

This was a totally uneventful shoot - from setup to take down.

Yes, I know, the picture looks a lot like the others of late - the boys sitting side-by-side with/wearing a couple props - but it's really hard to do interesting pictures when your model is trying to eat the props.

Especially when you work solo.

Trust me on that one!

So, the general process is:

1) Teach stay
2) Get the pup to accept props without trying to eat them
3) Work on where the pup is focusing his attention

I'm pretty happy with 1 and 2. Toby's stay is good for at least one picture, often for multiples, including when I walk (backward) toward the camera to get better head positions.

The last few shoots I've worked with him a few times during the day to build familiarity with the clothing/props. Today I just sprang it on him during the shoot and he acted like an old hand.

That leaves 3, focus. We've been working on "Leave It" for weeks, and he's pretty reliable so long as I'm holding the treat. This week I'm going to introduce "Leave It" with the Cookie NOT in my hand. With luck, by the end of the week I'll be able to get a picture of Toby staring at a Cookie on the floor!

100x in 2019 : #5 (Snowflakes)

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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

California Dreaming

California Dreamin'

Dog Blog Post #2515

This is one of my new backdrops. Unfortunately, it turned out to look a bit more wrinkled than I thought it would - and Henry's wagging tail didn't help.

What I should have done was clamp the sides tight.

But I didn't.

So you get the post-processed version, where the clarity has been pushed all the way down to create a dreamy look, and a brush used to bring the clarity back just to the dogs.

In other words, I cheated.

But I do rather like the effect, especially given today's challenges.

Don't worry, I love the backdrop, which was ridiculously cheap - $15 for 7'x5' microfiber - and I'm sure there'll be another opportunity this year to try it again.

With clamps.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - January 12, 2019 - "The 1970s"

Toby's head might look grown up, but his chest sure isn't. Every time I wanted to take a picture I had to grab his collar and pull it up again! Switching the collars between the dogs was even worse, as the fleece is stretchy and the fringe weighs it down.

On the bright side (aside from the picture itself!) Toby was totally cool with the collar. He seems to have figured out that when Momma drapes things on him Cookies happen - and he's down with that!

What a good puppy!

2019 Weekly Alphabet Challenge - B is for Bright

100x in 2019 - #4

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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Anticipation

At least it was SUPPOSED to be Anticipation, but my favorite shot was Satisfaction.

Slurp slurp sluuuuuuuuurp!

Dog Blog Post #2514

A fun shoot!

Yes, the results might had been better had I banished the pup and used Henry, alone. But then Toby wouldn't learn anything, would he?

The spoons (yes, there's two) held Maple Yogurt - the remainder destined to be slathered on the pup's KONGs but a few spoonfuls put into service as the Prop of the Day.

This the first time I've tried using yogurt for this kind of shoot, and the jury is still out on it. I would have given it a definitive thumbs down due to lack of visibility and the difficulty keeping it on the spoon long enough to get the image

BUT

... then I saw this image of it dripping all over the place, and, well, who doesn't love that?

It is also MUCH easier for the dogs to clean up yogurt from the floor than peanut butter, which is what I've used in the past.

Photography Assignment

119 Pictures in 2019 - #96. "A Spoonful Of..."

Daily Dog Challenge 2620. "Dear Diary"

It was a good day.

100x in 2019: #3 (I never said I wouldn't include ANY black backgrounds!)

That thing in my left hand is the remote for the camera, so I suppose this is also somewhat of a behind-the-scenes shot. :)

Anticipation

Such good self-control!

What good boys

Henry: "See you next time!"

Lighting/Focus check site. Henry is broadside to the camera because that was my original intent for this shot.

After looking at the results of the first round, I decided to retake from a front position.

There were no complaints from the models about the retake. :)


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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Teddy Defenders!

The Boys and Teddy

Dog Blog Post #2513

Toby is such a wonderful, sweet puppy, so full of personality... until I tell him to "stay", and then he turns to stone.

While that IS kinda what I'm looking for to take his picture, I just wish he would relax a little!

Today's new experience was a wad of blankets (for height) covered by a silky/shaggy length of fabric.

The fabric slipped and slid on the hardwood floor, and the pile of blankets underneath made things soft and squishy.

Toby handled it well, although I could tell he (rightfully) found the experience different and new.

Teddy was pretty much ignored.

While I did get a few shots with Toby's paws on the Teddy (i.e. more interesting) this was the only one of the six where both Toby and Henry were even remotely on the same page.

The other problem was that Henry was really tired.

We watched both football games, and Toby was awake for pretty much the entire time. This meant that Henry was being pestered off and on all morning and afternoon.

Poor Uncle Henry.

He much prefers bursts of activity followed by an hour or three of peaceful napping.

Photography Assignment

119 Pictures in 2019 - #51. "Grey"

One of our Disney Teddys, and a favorite prop of mine over the years.

Daily Dog Challenge 2617. "Blue"

100x in 2019: #2

Today's backdrop is two yards of fleece, straight from the local fabric store. I've used it in the past and really like the nice soft look it gives to high-key shots.

Fleece made up the bulk of my initial round of backdrop purchases when I first got into photography. It's wide, wrinkle resistant, and the fabric store often has it on sale.

The downside is the often garish colors and simplistic patterns - neither of which is a problem with this piece.

I'd actually forgotten about the "fleece bin" when I took pictures of my backdrops last weekend. It will certainly add another 3-4 good pieces for the year, under the right circumstances.

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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Happy New Year!

As always - new pictures are uploaded every day or two to my Flickr stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining/

I'm hoping to get back to blogging here more regularly now that Toby has more freedom in the house, including the computer room - at least when someone is in it.

Momma's Helpers

Henry looks unimpressed

Work with me Toby - you're supposed to look IN the basket!

I guess that's better.

Dog Blog Post #2512

This is my...

Daily Dog Challenge 2612. "New"

... backdrop and floor! My main photography...

Our Daily Challenge - Jan 2, 2019 - "Resolution"

... for this year is to use a broader selection of backdrops (instead of, well, one!)

Aside: This added a good 30-45 minutes to my setup/takedown time, mostly due to the backdrop being a bit too large for my backdrop stand within the confines of the kitchen.

Mechanical Engineer Hubby came to the rescue with a few bits of PVC that allowed me to use a longer pole without spreading the stands further apart.

With Toby's help, I was then able to complete the shoot in only twice as long as it would have taken without him! :)

Note to self: buy a length of white baseboard!

Photography Assignment

119 Pictures in 2019 - #12. "Basket"

100x in 2019: #1

For the record - I did complete all 118 Pictures in 2018... with a dog! Here's a link to the finished album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining/albums/72157668073044669

If dogs aren't your thing (then, well, you wouldn't be here, but...) here's the same list taken during a 5-day family vacation to Disneyland last January: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining/albums/72157668448307769

I also finished 100x in 2018, where my 'x' was "studio shots with a dog". The album is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining/albums/72157689067275062

It's bittersweet to scroll through the albums, as this is the first year I actually finished either of those challenges (in eight years, in the case of the first!) making me rather proud of my accomplishments.

That said, knowing Zachary was there at the start and not at the end still hurts.

Moving forward, I am embarking on both 119 Pictures in 2019 (same idea - new list) and 100x in 2019. The latter will be studio shots again, but trying to diversify my backgrounds this year.

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