52 on Friday – Black and White

This week we tackled Black and White photography for our 52 week project.  On occasion, I will shoot senior or infirm pets in black and white, but I much prefer to photograph in color.  With that being said, black and white photography can really have a strong impact and is wonderful for simplifying compositions and allowing one to really focus on the subject and the story.

With Harvey, I have to say that I found the theme to be a bit of a challenge, because I don’t care for how his fur looks in black and white.  I think it makes my 3 year old dog, with the layers of color in his fur, look well beyond his years.  So he and I did several mini sessions throughout the week to give me a chance to find the best way to capture his personality and many moods, and hopefully to be able to give you a glimpse into who he is.

Much to my delight, Harvey is not, in any way, shape, or form, a morning dog.  So early mornings are the ONLY time of day that he lets his guard down and I can capture his sweet, quite moments.

Harvey is a rescue and all we really know about his first 6 months of life is that he was found roaming the streets of a town in North Carolina with a few other dogs (not his siblings).  Obviously, we have no idea how he came to be out there or how long he was out there.  What we do know is that he was filthy dirty, hungry, had cuts on his face, and had some pretty serious digestive issues.  He is happily living the good life now, but for as much as we have tried to encourage him to sit on the couch with us, he has wanted no part of it.  But in the last few months, something changed, and he now loves to hang out on the couch.  So this picture is really special and makes me so happy!

If you have ever heard anyone say that it is really important to give a working breed dog a job, or they will give themselves a job, and you probably won’t like it…I am here to tell you that that is right on the money!!!  The H-man gets a little bored when I’m editing pictures, so he decided that we really need a security dog.  And let me tell you, he takes his self appointed position very seriously!

I like to call this next photo I Smell Mailmen!

After his 3rd cup of coffee, (ie: mailman, trash man, jogger), he is usually wide awake and very talkative.

I’ve been teaching Harvey to open things, because it is pretty handy when your hands are full, but I need to remember to tightly close the front door.  Yes, he did do this by himself…thankfully he stayed while I grabbed my camera!

Can you tell I am head over heels in love with this furry face?  (and the cute little spit bubbles on his tongue)  🙂

I hope you enjoyed my trip down the black and white lane, and I would love to hear your thoughts about it!  I’m excited to see how my good friend, and fellow pet photographer down the road in Northern Virginia, Shelley Castle Photography, used black and white this week!

Until next time, have joy in your heart, a smile on your face, and a dog by your side!
Bonnie

• Australian Cattle Dog