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Author Archives: illona

the blur that is my boy

as part of the very popular and extremely active 52 Weeks for Dogs group that i created on flickr last year, devoted to one-year projects of weekly photos of your dog,  we sometimes present a weekly challenge for members to take part in.  challenges have ranged from depth-of-field, selective focus, b&w treatment, pop culture, and this week: action blur.

as I lay in bed last night, an image suddenly formed in my mind which i felt would answer the challenge perfectly.  all that was left was to figure out how to execute it with all three scruffies.  i shouldn’t have continued setting up the shot beyond the initial click.  the first one nailed it …

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… my lounging girl, a disdainful aslan looking on, and merrick — a constant blur in our world.

enjoy your weekend, everyone!  i hope it’s not a blur!

added note for all you techies: no, there are no special effects or extra photoshopping tricks here. this shot was accomplished through a slow shutter speed and good dog-wranglin’.

lexus doesn’t mind the bridges

just had to share a few images from a shoot a couple of weeks ago with a real trooper.  for those of you living in or around Kitchener-Waterloo, you know that unless you’re crossing via a highway, the only way you’re getting over the Grand River is over one of the four multi-span concrete bowstring arch bridges … and you are, no doubt, well familiar with how slow going it can be to get through these areas because of the bridges’ restricted flow, especially at Bridge Street or old King.

so i thought, in spite of most of us Waterloo’ites cursing these heritage bridges during rush hour, why not incorporate their architectural beauty into a photoshoot?

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of course, i’d try this only on a weekend, but still, even with minimal traffic, the cars blasted past.  i was so proud of big girl Lexus for her bravery.

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she wasn’t keen on actually posing, but owner Joyce and I managed to coax her along several passes of the bridge …

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actually, i think Lexus thought she was just out for an afternoon walk.  thanks, Joyce and Lexus, for the opportunity to show off our lovely bridge in — i hope — a new light.

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oh, and absolutely Lexus was wearing her leash!

when it all comes together

it’s been a tough month.  i’ve overextended myself due to shoots beyond the usual scope: ailing pets and emergency sessions, the donation of my time for the KW Humane Society calendar, as well as some big orders and commercial projects.  some of those shoots haven’t been quite so … shall i say … easy.  my body is worn and battered, and i’m beyond due for a vacation … which, of course, isn’t anywhere visible on the horizon.

but i take my breaths where i can get them, and yesterday afternoon and evening, i had several long wonderful breaths with Lily and her wonderful owners Calli and Dave.  i won’t be processing these images for maybe another month to better fit with vet Calli’s equally busy schedule, and even though they’re making the long trek home up to Thunder Bay today and might not see this for a while, i wanted to post a sneak …

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Lily was the most gracious of models, and an absolute superstar in my books.  i haven’t even gone through the entire session … just grabbed this one quickly … way more wheat shots, water shots, downtown alleyway Guelph shots, field shots, and so much more of this perfect girl.  they don’t get much better than this.

and in case you think the shoot was all calm poses and sit-stays … think again:

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so thank you, Lily and Calli, for making my week.  and big time thanks to Dave, for schlepping all my equipment.  my shoulders so needed the break.  you’re all superstars in my book!  enjoy the lake for me too!

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you’ll be seeing more of these two boys soon.  this is just a quick sneak peek for mom Deb.

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hope they slept well last night, Deb!

this sweet girl bridie

for those who didn’t catch Bridie’s sneak-peek earlier, this is Bridie …

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cairn-terrier extraordinaire …

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… sweet old lady … but don’t call her “old” to her face or you might just get the cold shoulder!

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feisty and spirited like any terrier worth their salt …

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… but mostly what you should know about Bridie is that she is loved beyond any measure known to man.

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when i received mom Harriet’s phone call, as with most of my initial contacts from clients, our conversation centered around the logistics of scheduling and the shoot, the possible locations, the dog, etc.  but Bridie’s situation was different … as a senior dog struggling with Cushings, there was plenty to discuss — health, diet, vetting — but most importantly, how to fit Bridie’s shoot into an already crammed summer schedule.  always with cases like this — seniors, failing health, etc. — i make room.  but when Bridie ended up in the hospital the day before our shoot, in renal failure, i wasn’t certain i’d ever have the pleasure of meeting this sweet girl.

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fortunately, that terrier spirit is strong — as i know well myself — and i should never have doubted the eventuality of Bridie’s shoot, even if we did have to postpone it for a few days to allow her to recover enough.

we started in the park … a good long walk …

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with enough rests in between …

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and then home, where i probably had the most fun with Bridie and the variety of textures and colours around the house.

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we needed to take a short break for Bridie’s dinner and meds …

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where she waited patiently … sort of …

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then back outside …

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i loved the back deck and hillside, all dark and dramatic … and Bridie was on the lookout for racoons.  probably the same ones that crossed my path as i drove off much later at dusk.

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in spite of being in renal failure, Bridie could still be roused for a good game of ball.

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and then more resting.  after all, a girl this gorgeous does need her beauty rest.

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but it didn’t take much to get her up and going again.

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… especially the promise of the neighborhood cat!  a terrier’s work is never truly done.

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and finally up to mom’s office, where Bridie spends most of her days, and where i, at long last, released her of her modeling duties once and for all.

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thank you, Harriet and Tom, for a memorable afternoon and evening.  and thank you, sweet Bridie, for being you, for hanging in there, and for loving your humans so utterly and absolutely.

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