Perfect day for a pano

Pano dog park 1, originally uploaded by phaird.

Sunday was cool and overcast with a threat of rain. A perfect day to photograph. Well, not normally but because I was testing out a panoramic head, it was perfect for me. The way it works is I attach my camera to a special tripod head that allows me to rotate my camera at a central point. I take about 24 photos as I spin the camera around and then I stitch them all together in Photoshop. A lot of the software (and even some cameras) make it really easy to put together photos that aren't centered properly. Because it's overcast, the lighting is the same all the way around me so my exposure is the same all the way around.
The only down side is that the park was kinda quiet and even though I tried to get around everyone with dogs, it still looks like the park ins empty.
I'm going to the Cape this weekend so I am going to bring the pano head again and do more on the beach, if I can get early enough.

Shelby Chasing dragon fly shadows

Shelby Chasing dragon fly shadows, originally uploaded by phaird.

I'm BACK! Our road trip across the east and the south was great. I didn't get to visit any dog parks this trip but I did hear of a great one in Cleveland called the Lakewood Dog Park. It's in a really nice area of Cleveland and can be busy all times of the week. They even have their own website which means there is a lot of support for dog owners. Let me know if you've ever been to it.

This last Sunday was great. The weather was perfect and I got to meet Shelby. A spunky 1.5 year old pointer who will chase any shadow it can find. Today, the dragon flies were out and he was loving it. The funny part of the whole thing was that it really seemed like the dragon flies were playing along. I don't really know the pattern of how dragon flies fly but they seemed to run in circles and stay around the grass where Shelby could find them to let her chase the shadows.
What was really funny was just figuring out what he was doing. I could tell she was chasing something but I couldn't figure out what. When I talked to his owner, he explained her love for the chase. The only thing that could stop her was a belly scratch but you could tell he was looking for the chase.

Only a boarder collie

For all of my Boarder Collie friends at the park.

Another day at the park

Snuggles leads the way, originally uploaded by phaird.

I was at the park early Sunday because I had lots to do at home that day. I brought my boy and dog and we had a good time but my boy, Geoffrey, gets board pretty quickly. The life of a three year old. We were walking out when Becky and Dan were walking in with everyone and it was starting to get busy.

A few weeks ago, I was talking photo stuff with someone at the park and the idea of offering a photo workshop came up. So readers; what do you think would be a good photo workshop? Would you be interested in one? Would you like a beginning or advanced workshop? Would you want a 1 day (4 hour) thing or a multi day process? Let me know.

Fur flying love scratches

Fur flying love scratches, originally uploaded by phaird.

Ah to be back in the park. It was such a nice summer day. A little muggy but the sun was out, not super hot, and dogs all around. There are ball dogs and water dogs and stick dogs but in general, it breaks down to two types. Dogs that love other dogs and dogs that love people. This gal is a people dog. Before I took this photo, I was squatting down, shooting other dogs. When I put the camera down, She was standing right in front of me, waiting for a butt scratch. Very cute.
Toby was over the moon about being at the park again. No cone of shame so he got to run around, jump in the pond, chase other dogs and just be a dog. He has really been wanting to go to the park for a while now. I've been so busy with photo events on the weekends, that this weekend was the first time in 3 weeks we've been at the park. It's going to be a crazy summer so I'm going to be real hit or miss at the park but I'll try to keep up with posts and events.

Welcome back Sunday

June has been a crazy month for me.  I've been setting up my photo tent at different dog events which has been keeping me really busy.  Whisker Walk and Bark in the Park were both a lot of fun and I got to meet all kinds of great dogs and owners but I miss my Sunday at the park. It's the one day a week just for Toby and me to just be.  This Sunday, I'll be at the park again, camera in hand and dog at my side.  I'm still looking for people and dogs to photograph for the diptych project so if you're interested, drop me a note and I could come by some time since the park is not the best place.  Most people I've talked with aren't dressed for their picture.  I'm not worried because it's just fun and a portfolio builder for me.

Whisker Walk this Sunday

I won't be at the park this sunday.  Now that the nice weather is here, there are a lot of dog events going on and I'm going to try to get to some of them.  This year starts off with me actually setting up a booth at Whisker Walk which is a really big event.  It was the first event I did last year and even with lousy weather, I was really busy.  Now with GREAT weather expect, I should be totally slammed. If you're in the area, stop by.  I'm setting up a portable studio and will be doing 5x7 photos of dogs for only $25.  It is a lot of fun and every animal friendly group will be there.

Toby posing for test shoot for this years Whisker Walk