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Why I love dogs

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Why I love dogs… oh let me count the ways! 

Sidenote: The phrase: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” comes from Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) and her poem written in 1843 “How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)”

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Indeed the full poem. Bet you didn’t know it held more depth than the opening line… nor did I!

Each of those ways love is expressed pertains not only to a fellow human, perhaps an intimate acquaintance or storied old friend, but also to the dogs we love. 

Why do I love dogs?

  • Companionship
    Starting eons ago with the first domestication, dogs have been kept as watchdogs, hunting dogs and as companions. They listen to our stories, our rants about bad days, the hopes & dreams we have with interest. There is no interruption offered, only head tilts and slight quizzical looks for new sounding vocalizations from us (or perhaps that’s only from puppies like Blue!). The depth of dogs’ companionship lends to the ample happiness for us, no matter if we’ve been gone slightly or greatly in time. 
  • Humor
    “The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.” – Samual Butler. Humor and dogs tends to go hand in hand. Harking back to their ancient ancestors again, one of the characteristics that makes dogs a different lineage from their wolf cousins: neoteny.  Neoteny is the retention of juvenile behaviors & traits in adult dogs – a huge marker for the difference between dogs and wolves. And a key trait in neoteny: playfulness. Dogs LOVE to play. Zoomies, playing with toys, opinions of new veggies and their responses to certain problem solving events lends towards ample moments of humor throughout the day. 
  • They are FREAKING ADORABLE!
    Thanks to selective breeding since domestication, and those Victorian & Edwardian era (1830s-1910s) collectors who defined & refined many of the modern dog breeds we know, modern dogs have VAST diversity. From towering giants in danes & deerhounds, to minuscule midgets in Chihuahuas & toy breeds, there is every size of dog for every person. Add in the diversity of coat color, ear and tail shape and the results are adorable! Purebred, mutt, every dog has a cuteness level that makes me swoon! 
  • They teach us.
    What do they teach us? Patience. How to problem solve and how to return to a place of play. They teach us how to love greater than we are, and how good of leaders & parents we are (strict to lax, consistent to half assed). We learn what makes them tick and what each bark and sound means. They challenge us to grow. 

And mostly I love dogs… for the amount of love they have for us. Their love for us as caretakers, family and friends, is infinite beyond the scope of space. We are the best things in their eyes and have no reserve in showing us how much they love us. 

I love dogs for so many reasons! Why do you love dogs? (Or cats? Or a different style of pet?)

It’s a blog ring featuring dog & pet photographers from around the world! Next up visit Seattle Dog Photographer Holly Cook wants to share her love of dogs and has developed a Dog Personality Quiz to help you figure out which job is best for your dog!

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Line

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Ever have one of those photography themes where you can’t think of a jazzy blog title?
– Get in Line
– On Line
– On the Line
– Lining Up
– In the Lines

Hmm… each feels a bit vague for the way a line can be a quintessential part of photography.

Commonly found as a rule of composition in leading lines, these types of lines lead the eye of the viewer into & around the scene of the image, frequently landing on the subject. Done correctly they have huge impact, done poorly your viewer will miss the subject in your image or miss where you want them to look. 

This image is by my friend Kristine featuring her German shepherd Reilly. The day was hot, the shot a quick one. Reilly is very regal. The leading lines in this image don’t quite work well. The dashes lead you out of the frame with the road, while Reilly’s eyes lead you out of the frame on the left. 

I did a couple of “dirty” edits to show her (and you) how different placement of Reilly within the frame would have changed the impact of the lines. 

The first “dirty” edit shows a better placement of Reilly farther down the road so that the road and dashes lead to him. BAM! Instant impact with regal Reilly!

The second “dirty” edit merely has Reilly flipped. The impact is a bit more subtle, but his gaze leads you into the road and dashes that move out of the scene. 

The general “rule” I have for dogs is to give more space in the direction they are looking. If they are looking to the left side of the frame, the dog should be positioned from the middle to the right of the frame. If they are looking right, they should be in the middle to the left of the frame. This gives the leading lines of the eyes some room to lead the viewer instead of just dropping them out of the frame. 

Crazy how head placement or placement of a dog can make lines work or not work in an image!

More on lines!

Basically lines move from point A to point B. They can be straight, curved, diagonal, horizontal, vertical, organic, manmade, subtle, bold and implied. 

  •  Horizontal lines. Typically found in the horizon of an image. They are calm, relaxed & static. 
  • Vertical lines. Lines that go from top to bottom instead of side to side. They imply power, strength and are dynamic.
  • Diagonal lines. Lines that move on an angle within the image. They create movement, are dynamic and add tension to an image. Diagonals also create depth when they converge at a point. 
  • Curved lines. Lines that flow throughout an image. The classic example is a winding road in the mountains or a river that flows lazily across the landscape. 
  • Organic lines. Found in & made by nature. Trees, shells, animals, rocks etc. 
  • Manmade lines. Created & crafted by a human hand or machine. Fences, playgrounds, roads, bridges, and beyond. 
  • Implied lines. Lines that don’t physically exist but are implied. Frequently found in spaces between objects and in the direction of eyes. That dog sitting and looking up at something that makes everyone stop and look to see what the dog is looking at – that’s implied lines in motion. 
There are tons of ways to have lines in your image, and you can have more than one line as part of your image too! Try not to go too overboard and have the lines work for & with you instead of becoming a hinderance & messy!
 
How many different lines can you see in the images of Blue?

Vertical lines! Both Blue & the gate to our fence! The edge of the sideway is a diagonal, and Blue’s eyes are implied diagonal lines. I have no idea what he was watching but it caught his attention solidly! 

All the lines! Playgrounds have ample styles of lines! This playground has orange horizontal bars, plus orange curved bars. Dark green supports make chunky vertical lines, while the wood of the steps and platforms is horizontal… except when its viewed at different angles!

In fact, the shadowed lines between each wood plank lend to a ton of diagonals! Another diagonal is found in the steps for the slide in the background plus the shadow from one of the vertical green columns! Plus the angle change of the horizontal orange bar adds even more diagonals to the scene. 

And we can’t forget the vertical lines of Blue when he’s in a sitting position!

Ample horizontal lines in this image of Blue! The sidewalk, the road, our fence and the edge of the garden along the fence! (And those rectangles of color? Spray painted repurposed picture frames!)

Not only are there strong horizontal lines, but a strong vertical line from Blue in a sit. Did you see the diagonal line of his tail? 

Lines are great elements of composition that can lead your viewer’s eye into the image and to your subject. Additionally they can create depth, movement, and add or calm tension in your image. Used well, they will amp up your images. Used haphazardly, they can make your image weak and your viewer’s eye might just bypass what you want them to look at. 

Huzzah for lines!
(Boo for hard to concoct blog titles!)

We’re in a blog ring of pet photographers around the world! Next up: Toronto based dog photographer Terri of Terri J Photography shares how to use the technique of leading lines to get better dog portraits.

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Location Spotlight: Theodore Wirth Regional Park | Golden Valley MN

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One of my favorite locations to visit for sessions in the Twin Cities metro: Theodore Wirth Regional Park. 

Nestled minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Theo Wirth is a massive 740 acre park that ambles around Wirth Lake & the golf course. There is a big sandy beach, a playground, and ample trails looped throughout. Pair with big fields, wooded paths and an adorable bridge, this park has a MEGA ton of diversity in backdrops. 

I was introduced to this park in 2017 with a session with Suzi & Elli. Fluffy dandelions in golden hour, many textures of walking paths, a sandy beach and a calm pond, what more to love? Inspired, Theodore Wirth became a go to for the park setting while only being 16 mins from Minneapolis. 

Each time I visit, there are familiar spots to traipse: the beach & the bridge. 

The beach has a lovely beach house (the playground is here too) and this is the best place to find parking and coordinate. If we’re doing a session, we won’t be doing the beach right off the bat! Instead we’ll stroll around the park and leave the sand & water to the end of the evening when the light settles in to a brilliant sunset. 

Directly across from the park the paths start. Heading right the path is mown and it makes a giant loop around the park. If you continue on the path it passes Birch Pond and then leads you towards the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden (dogs are NOT allowed in the garden area). I’ve never followed the loop that far to know how scenic it is. 

If instead of going right at the first path fork you’ll be on a broad paved path with multiple paths jogging off to the right. Saying on the paved path will loop you up the hill to the Theodore Wirth Pavilion. Dogs aren’t allowed in, but the building is rather quaint. 

Following the path that leads from in front of the pavilion, you’ll head downhill to a smaller parking lot for the park. There’s a mega cute wooden fence that makes a lovely backdrop. You can head into the woods that flank the path to the right. The paths in the woods meet and make the same loops & connections to the main paved path – you can traverse them in either direction!

If you decide to turn left instead of right, you’ll cross a relatively busy road and head towards the water access. Go down the canoe launch for pretty views of the lake, or head up into the trees and hilly area. There is ample open space to explore plus the wide openness of the area is awesome for some running action shots! This is where you’ll find fluffy backlit dandelions in the early summer. There is one tree that actively turns orange well before the others, so if you’d like some color in your fall images find that tree!

If you pick up the paved path it heads towards the farthest edge of the park crossing Basset Creek as it does. Be mindful, this is a bike path! Make sure to move over or off the path to allow bike traffic to travel safely. 

Crossing Basset Creek is an adorable bridge, a must visit even if you’re just strolling. If you’re feeling surefooted you can explore the creek by traipsing down big rocks to the water’s edge. 

Continuing the path brings you to Highway 55. This busy road serves as intersection between the park area and the golf course. It looks like there is a trail that might loop around the golf course and turn into a mountain bike path (via Google maps) though I haven’t yet adventured that direction. 

After you visit the bridge, backtrack to beach and let the sun work its magic as it departs the sky. 

There is a trail that loops around the west side of the lake, but I haven’t yet travelled it to see how scenic it is. If you do, let me know if its pretty enough for a session! 

(Once you wrap up for the day, head into the north loop of Minneapolis and get some ice cream for you and your pup! MN Nice Cream has dairy free pup cups & is only 14 mins from Theodore Wirth Regional park!)

We’re in a blog ring with awesome pet photographers around the world! Next up Abby Moreno of Paws Fur Joy Photography shares one of her favorite spots for pet photography, Raleigh Little Theater Rose Garden. 

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Outdoor Adventures at Mississippi River County Park | Rice MN

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Outdoor adventures and scouting a new location? Heck yes!

Those in central Minnesota may be familiar with Bend in the River Park with its charming barn, old house, various textures of outbuildings and prairie area with ample grasses and flowers found throughout the seasons.  HEAVILY popular with photographers – stop out in the fall and you’ll find rather coordinated packs of photographers and families swarming the park. 

No we didn’t adventure to Bend in the River. Instead we headed directly across the river to Mississippi River County Park. 

Acquired in 1973, Mississippi River County Park follows the flow of the Mississippi River for 1.3 miles, while the overall park covers 230 acres. There is an archery area adjacent to the park, ample walking trails that move along the river, though the woods, pass a grassy area, through the floodplains area and around the entirety of the park. Plus there’s a disk golf course that weaves throughout the park. 

I met up with Jack (IG: mr_jack_the_lab / FB: Mr. Jack the Lab) and his people and we headed towards the path. 

If I may add a notion: Minnesota has 11,000+ lakes, many areas of ponds, streams, creeks and ample woods which means: MOSQUITOS. Millions of MOSQUITOS! And those bloodsuckers were ravenous and aiming to drain us dry as soon as we entered the woods. 

The paths we first took wound into the woods and followed the edge of the river. We found a cool stand of logs, some lovely ferns and cool, very swampy, gnarly mosquitoed pond. The paths were WIDE and very mown. Great for strolling on esp in a group of people, though the area felt rather open in comparison to “classic” hiking trails. 

The river path was equally as wide and was bushy along the water’s edge. Way less mosquitos! 

 

Hiked out, then headed to the split in the road and went right instead of left. (Left & left brings you to the main parking lot). Right heads towards the public water access with a slight right that leads to the parking lot for the floodplains. Huge trees around the parking lot lending the feeling of being deep within the woods. We headed down the path, instantly assaulted by the mosquitos as we took in the view (quite lovely!). Paused for a moment for pictures, then continued down the trail that transitioned into a mud path (thanks rain in the AM & the midday shower). Had the mosquitos not been so aggressive I would have considered the mud, but the pair were lending towards an impasse, so we turned tail and headed back to the cars. 

The road winds a bit then plops into the public water access area. No docks, but the boat launch was rather pretty with tall banks & ample foliage / brush. Jack took to the water like a classic Labrador. He pursued a stick, drifting slightly in the current of the river once he caught it(be aware that the water gets deep quickly and moves at a good clip if your dog decides to go for a dip). The stick was chomped to bits, then a MONSTER stick found (Jack is notorious for fetching tree size sticks…). 

Monster stick was tossed aside and Jack enjoyed splashing in the river. Mom Lindsey says Jack will dunk his whole head in the water and even lays down in it! He didn’t show off his dunking skills, but he did enjoy the water. He’s a majestic water beast! We did lose light briefly when a cloud shimmied over the sun, giving the images a new serene vibe. Luckily the sun returned swiftly to brighten the vibe & the landscape. 

Out of the water for a few more woodsy images, then we wrapped up for the day. A lovely way to spend an evening! A HUGE thank you to Jack & his parents for helping out with this blog theme!

You may have noticed a unique plane of focus in many of the images. If not, look closely. Some of the planes of focus are very narrow & horizontal, while others are narrow and VERTICAL! Wait what? Vertical plane of focus? 

Yes! And yes this effect is done in camera!
Wait what? That’s voodoo magic! How?
– With a tilt shift lens! 

Tilt shift lenses feature multiple knobs to adjust the shift, tilt or both of the elements within a lens. 

 Originally designed to be used with architecture to correct tipping backward buildings & keeping parallel lines parallel. When only the tilt function is used, the tilted elements inside the lens manipulate the focal plane (ie what’s in focus). When done right it can make a scene look as though it was a miniature model (this works best when viewing from above – cityscapes & landscapes look pretty epic!).

Left shows how buildings lean backwards (as do trees) with nearly all lenses, esp the wider the lens.  Right shows the image corrected with a tilt shift lens. See how the lines are closer to proper vertical? And the trees & signs too! This is what a tilt shift (or perspective control / PC)  lens was designed for!

Left is original, how a classic lens would capture the image. Aperture at f5.6. Right shows the “miniaturized” look when tilt is artistically employed. Note the blur in the background & foreground. Same settings as the image at left with f5.6 

Another property of using the tilt: manipulating the focal plane to something other than horizontal. 

WHAT???

Your focal plane is a line, found in all lenses, that will always be horizontal from left to right no matter if the image is vertical or horizontal. The depth of field in your image is how narrow or wide the area of focus is and it falls on your focal plane – or where you are focusing. A tilt shift lens can SHIFT the focal plane into something other than horizontal. Enter the voodoo magic! 

Imagine a horizontal image, focal plane running from left to right. Now imagine the same horizontal image but now the focal plane is going up and down. Narrow depth of field has the left & right side blurred but now your subject and what is below & above them in a vertical line is in focus. Things on multiple planes are now in focus together! (The picture of Jack with the boat in it is a great example.) 

Plus depending on the lens you can also manipulate your focal plane to be DIAGONAL! That’s some crazy voodoo magic! 

Can you spot the tilt shift images above? (Hint: there are 16 of them – not including the non-dog ones!)

I LOVE this lens, but man was it an expensive hobby lens that only sees the world a few times a year. I’m thinking of incorporating it into sessions though the main drawback is… it’s manual focus. (Tilt shifts are ALWAYS manual focus.) Which means active dogs are hard to nail down for focus. But when it works, the effect is one of a kind!

(And since we’re talking lenses, the two others employed for the day: Sigma 135 f1.8 & Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4. The tilt shift was 85mm f2.8. All lenses mounted on a Nikon D5.)

We’re in a blog ring! Head through the other posts from fellow dog & pet photographers across the globe and when you land here you’ve made the full circle! Next up Las Vegas photographer, Nicole of Pawtraits by Nicole, shares her recent adventure at Lake Mead!

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Before your dog jumps in the lake, here’s what you need to know!

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Before your dog jumps in the lake, here’s what you need to know – temperature matters, why you need to bring fresh water and the status of algae! 

Lake temperatures?

For swimming, the ideal temp for dogs seems to be 40s-50s at the minimum for shorter durations (up to 20 mins). Here in Minnesota, our 11,842 lakes likely won’t hit warmer water until July with the north shore along Lake Superior staying in the 50s and under throughout the summer. Brisk!

(A quick check puts water temp of lakes around St. Cloud at 49˙F to 62˙F. I found the LakeMonster Map that’s a neat tool for lake temps. If you head to MN you’ll see a TON of blips marking the lakes we have!)

How can you tell if the lake is too cold?

Dip your toes in! If you can’t stand & wade into the lake for a span of time without freezing your toes off, then most likely the water is a bit to chilly for your dog (or too chilly for a long swimming session). 

Otherwise there’s an old “rule of thumb” that says air temp + water temp need to be at least 100 degrees before it’s swimmable for your dog.  So water temp of 62 + air temp of 57 = 119  – swimmable for your dog! (Brisk for you though!). Also remember that nearer to the shoreline will be warmer than beyond the dock depths in most lakes. 

Certain dogs will be more prone to being sensitive to cold water swimming. Small breeds, short-haired dogs, puppies & senior dogs all tend to be more sensitive to colder water temps. If your dog has health issues, it may be best to avoid a dip in the lake and opt for a warm kiddie pool instead.  Double coated breeds, retrievers & sporting dogs can handle a bit more cold, though they too can get chilly in brisk water the longer they are swimming.

If your dog insisting on jumping in just after the ice clears the lake in the early spring , you may want to limit their swim time (under 20 minutes) to make sure your dog doesn’t get too cold and risk getting hypothermia. 

Signs of hypothermia:

  • shivering
  • lethargy
  • stiff muscles
  • pale gums
  • lack of coordination or stumbling
  • fixed and dilated pupils
  • low breathing & heart rates
  • collapse57

After a cold swim:

  • Dry your dog with towels and get him warmed up. If you’re not at the cabin, then crank up the heat in your car to a toasty level. 
  • Once towel dried, burrito your dog in a cozy warm blanket. 
  • Offer your dog a warm drink – milk or chicken broth are good options (similar to how we sip a hot cocoa when we’re chilled)

If the shivering persists for 30-45 minutes after being dried off, wrapped up cozily & warmed with warm drinks bring your dog to the vet ASAP!

Bring fresh drinking water!

Pack a jug of water for you & your pup when you head to the lake. This ensures you both stay hydrated and your dog avoids drinking too much lake water.  Keep your dog away from stagnant water as it often contains yucky organisms that can cause diarrhea, Leptospira and kidney damage. 

With Leptospira is a bacterial infection that spreads in the bloodstream. It’s often found in stagnant water, or muddy and marshy areas frequented by wildlife.  It is transferred from infected wildlife via contact with their urine – usually found in contaminated water sources. 

There is a vaccine your dog can get but it only protects against 4 strains of Leptospira (there are a couple hundred varieties) and may only lessen the symptoms vs prevent lepto. Do research & consult your vet to see if your dog needs a lepto vaccine for swimming in the lake. (It’s a non core vaccine – I don’t recall if any of my lake loving pups ever had it.) 

The best way to avoid the yuckies – bring fresh water for you and your pup!

Blue-green algae – beware!

As our weather warms and the jaunts to the lake become more frequent there’s another element you need to be aware of: blue-green algae blooms!
 
When the weather grows hot & calm, the conditions become perfect for algae growth in Minnesota lakes. When “blooming” blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria) gives water a cloudy appearance that can look like pea soup, green paint or floating mats of scum. Not all species of blue-green algae are toxic, but visually telling the difference between the toxic & non-toxic is impossible. Thus it’s best to have your dog avoid swimming in the lake when the algae is blooming. 

Luckily blooms of algae in Minnesota often come and go quickly as they are dispersed by rainfall, wind shifts or cooler temperatures that disrupt the algae’s growth. 

Lifejackets – do you need one?

Not every dog is a Newfie or lab with strong swimming skills. The average dog can swim consistently for about 20 minutes before they begin to fatigue, which can lead to drowning. Adding a lifejacket into your dog’s beach time (as well as boating time) will help keep them floating in the case that they lose steam. Additionally a lifejacket is perfect for dogs who aren’t strong swimmers or just learning to swim. 

Lifejackets feature 1 or 2 handles, various points of adjustability for perfect fits and some have D rings that allow you to attach a lead to the lifejacket – you can reel in the wayward swimming pup or rein in your dog if you think they need a swimming break. 

Too bulky for the running and playing of your pup? Opt for a life vest instead!

Check out these dog life jackets! (This is an affliate link FYI)

Things to bring when headed to the lake:

  • Fresh water for you & your pup
  • Toys that float & toys that sink
  • A long lead (check the beach rules) for reeling in your pup if need be
  • Towels – pending on the size of your dog 1-5 will do the trick! Don’t forget one for you!
  • Something to provide shade (umbrella or small pop up canopy)
  • Camera for capturing the splashing adventures!
Depending on when you head to the lake, note the temperature of the sand & rocks too! Pop over to the 3 tips to keep your dog’s toes cool this summer post for more info on surface temps under tip #1! If the sand or rocks are too hot, you’ll have to either pick your pup up or navigate from the grass at the edge of the beach. 
 
When you get home, give your dog a thorough rinse to get rid of any lake funk they may have worn home. 

Before your dog jumps in the lake, here’s what you need to know:

  • Lake temperature matters!
  • Fresh drinking water is important
  • Beware of blue-green algae
  • A life jacket will come in handy
  • A visit to the lake is TONS of fun for water loving pups!
    (Bender – nope, Axle & Icey – LOVERS of the water, Mick – enjoyed splashing)

We’re in a blog ring! Next pop over to: Canberra Dog Photographer, Ina Jalil of Ina J Photography shares photos of dogs of Canberra splashing in Lake Burley Griffin.

Before your dog jumps in the lake, here’s what you need to know! Read More »

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