Project 52: Action!
This week's Beautiful Beasties 52 Week Project is "Action!". I love photographing dogs doing work. It's my specialty. I shoot dogs working on Ranches, working rescues, doing therapy.... Dogs with jobs, it's my thing! I've been contemplating a book, using photos I've already taken, and looking for more dogs with actual jobs here in the US and Canada. It is a dream of mine. I've started one photo book about handlers and their sheepdogs, just to get my feet wet. I hope to have it finished by the end of the year.
So of course, this week, it is dogs out in the field working sheep and ducks. Action! I am very lucky to have some fine friends with some equally fine working sheep and cattle dogs to hang around with. Of course, I have caught the bug and am now working on training my incredibly talented dog Fionn. I wish I had more time to spend, keeping him on stock, he gives me goosebumps. Fionn has been the subject of previous week's Project 52 blogs (A Day In the Life and Favorite Song).
One of these wonderful sheepdogs is my boy Fionn's father, Alamar's Ponderosa HXAsd, HIBs, HXBd, HSAc (better known as Joe to his friends). Joe is a strong worker, has great eye and is very capable. He is incredibly intense, as you will see. Hope you enjoy these shots of him! If you have any questions about herding livestock, how to get your dog started (or just want to see if your dog has any talent), use my contact link here on my website. If you are in the Dallas area, and want to come watch some fine dogs competing at a trial this weekend, March 8+9, 2014, there is an AHBA Stockdog trial in VanAlstyne (directions can be found at: http://www.alamarfarm.com).
Joe, looking to hold the sheep in the large field.
Joe, working his ducks in an unfenced field. Ducks are very difficult to work, especially with no fence pressure to contain them. Look at that eye and concentration!
I simply had to take this next photo and make it a bit more "ranchy" with some antique effects. I'm really fond of this one. You have Joe, turning the ducks before his handler tries a shed.
I hope you have enjoyed looking at Fionn's daddy Joe, and let me talk about my passion for working dogs in this week's topic "Action!". This type of photography really is my specialty, following my more journalistic roots. Please follow our ring for more "Action!" topic interpretations by our Beautiful Beasties project members. Next in line is: Nicole St-Onge, Candid K Nines, Windsor Ontario CA.
