Explore Possibilities: Pet Photography 52 Week Project - Week 48

Explore Possibilities is the subject of our week 48 Pet Photography 52 Week Project and our author David DuChemin says the two words "what if" are the two of the most useful words for the creative soul. He said they open possibilities and pave the way for creative thinking. He also quoted Scott Adams. "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." That is usually a pretty easy process for me. The mistakes are pretty obvious! :)

For our assignment this week we were to photograph a scene 12 different ways in significantly different ways. Here is where I am taking liberties with the assignment. I photographed this scene at least 12 times but they were different because I had different subjects in this spot over the last 2 weeks.

Freedom Park is a pretty park close to where I live. The photo of Moose on my home page where he is looking at the lake (click here) is Freedom Park. It's the 3rd photo that scrolls through. There is a bridge at the lake that they've recently re-constructed. It is gorgeous but there are all kinds of leading lines that have really intimidated me when I've thought about trying to photograph a dog here. I've always opted for less busy, serene locations that are quite frankly easier to photograph.

I was photographing a golden retriever at the park two weeks ago and I decided to ask Kappy's owners to place him on the bridge. It's a tricky spot to photograph for a couple of reasons. 

1. Lots of people walk across the bridge so you have to move a lot to let them across and people walking behind the bridge don't realize they're in the shot.
2. If the dog is on leash and in all of my photos the dogs are, the person holding the leash needs to try and stand to the side and hold the leash just so otherwise the editing is a nightmare. :)

Kappy was the first dog I photographed in this spot. His owner is using this shot on her Christmas card this year. In this photo, the leaves on the trees in the background are just starting to turn. The leash removal in this one was a big challenge. 

I tried mastering this location with 5 dogs I photographed at the park over the last two weeks. Some of the results worked and some didn't. Here are a few more of the images from those attempts. I learned that to even try and attempt this location, the dog needs to have a decent stay command while the person holding the leash can move several feet away from the dog (while the dog holds the stay command.) That proved to be a little difficult for a couple of the dogs I attempted to place here. :o

Moose being statuesque WITH a wreath around his neck. He was a really good sport about it.

Willow - my dog that doesn't love the camera and her way of saying, I really don't want my photo taken on this bridge. I've not edited this photo to show what the front of the bridge looks like (that isn't photo-worthy) and to give you an idea of the editing it takes to get rid of the leash.

For anyone who follows my blog and has read about all of our photo attempts using Moose as the model, my photography assistant actually made this comment: "It is actually easier photographing Moose than Willow." I had to laugh but she is right.  He is easier in that we can get good expressions from him whereas Willow on the other hand can be really stubborn and won't look at the camera.

This is a blog circle and next up is Jessica Wasick of Black & Gold Photography. Be sure to read about her take on our assignment Explore Possibilities. Keep clicking the link at the end of each post and you'll end up right back here.