A Sneak Peek with Bear

I met Bear, a Great Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago.  He was kind enough to introduce me to his people.  We had such a great time!  Bear is a big boy and is only two.  Love his care free but protective personality.

Bear is hanging out with his mom in the cabbage patch.  We had a great time and everyone was so wonderful!

Fog Dog Studios Clicking Away

Last week we were a part of a Fundraiser for Peninsula Humane Society.  With the event taking place at Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. (thank you Mary Oldham) in their Beer Garden, we set up shop.  Mary kept the wait-staff busy and I had a line for photos from the minute we opened.  I photographed over 45 doggies (some with their peeps) in 3 hours.  When all was said and done, we raised $342.00 for the Peninsula Humane Society, and Fog Dog Studios will round it up a bit!  Here are a few pics from the event!

 

Thank you to my hubby Tim for putting together the AWESOME "Snoopy" faux dog house for a killer background!  You Rock!  And again, thank you to everyone who attended and made our first BrewCo has gone to the dogs fundraising event a huge success!

WOOF • WOOF • WEDNESDAY

The day has come and is almost gone and it has been busy!  Busy as a BEE!  We had a photo session scheduled to day with Miss Sweetpea and oh my gosh, we had a blast!!!!  Mom Kay had all her outfits packed and we threw in a few little props.  What a CUTIE!

Oh My Gosh...I Totally Missed It!

I can't believe it slipped by and I totally missed it!  I have been screamin' busy this past week and I totally missed Woof - Woof - Wednesday.  Oh well!  Just to keep you all caught up,  here are a few things that we had going on...Gromit as the Easter Bunny...(right...NOT)

Yeah, he looks thrilled!

Then we have Gromit digging for his tennis ball????

You just gotta' wonder....

Then we were just messing with the poor boy!

 

I just giggle when I see this.  Such a goofy mush face!

Happy Easter Everyone!

WOOF • WOOF • WEDNESDAY

Spring is in the air and the wildlife is spreading it's wings or legs.  Gromit and I went out for a field loop yesterday afternoon.  He was on high alert.  Any little twig snap, leaf rustle, flutter, it must be something to chase.  The bunnies and birds are emerging from their winter slumber.  I am not so concerned while out in the field, but I do keep a sharp eye and ear out when we are walking in other areas.  Here he heard a twig snap (I stepped on a stick).  I just happened to catch him in action.

 

Happy Spring Everyone!

WOOF • WOOF • WEDNESDAY

When we woke up this morning, the fog was thick, but you could see blue sky over the hill behind the house.  Within the hour, the fog had "burned off" and the skies were blue, blue, blue!  It was just beautiful out.  Gromit and I headed up to Quarry Park for a nice hike.  Our average hike is about 3.5 miles when we go there, with a bit of a climb.  Here is one of my new favorite pics of Grom.  I always have my iphone with me so I can take quick pics of my boy. 

On a whole different note, As hard as I try to come to terms with the new time change, I totally realize that I am not the only one.  Gromit wants his dinner around 4, and I don't seem to be eating until almost 7pm.  Him because of his internal clock, me because of how light it is outside.

I love that it is lighter later!  Give me another week, and my body will catch up, I just know it!

Do you or your pet run into time change issues?

WOOF - WOOF - WEDNESDAY

Here is a quick peek from a recent session.  Delilah is a Bassador, a Black Lab - Basset Hound. A delightful character with great fashion sense who seems to have a lot to say.  Just ask her a question and she will give you her answer!  I just love her big brown eyes!

Tip:  When photographing your pet, one thing to do from time to time is get down to their level.  I was sitting on the floor for these.

To see what we have been up to at Fog Dog Studios, check out our website at  www.fogdogstudios.com.

WOOF • WOOF • WEDNESDAY

Lot's going on this week!  Just received notice that Fog Dog Studios was voted #4 in the 2013 Beast of the Bay Awards for Best Dog Photographer!  I had to read the email half a dozen times before it sunk in! So, so, so excited!

Now, to change the subject, here is something fun for everyone to try!

One of the dog groups I follow put out a challenge this past week.  "Shoot from the hip" or "shooting blind".  This works best with a wide angle lens and can be a lot of fun.  Definitely a lucky shot because you are not looking through the viewfinder so you have no idea what you are going to get.  Get down low and shoot up, stay down low and shoot from a "bugs eye view", be up high and shoot down.   In this case and for the challenge, I literally shot from my hip.  What great fun it is to experiment!  That is what it's all about right?  Have FUN!

I just love that squishy face!

PPGBA Year End Awards

Last night was PPGBA's 2012 Year End Awards and I received this:

Pretty stinkin' excited!!!!

Woof • Woof • Wednesday

The later part of last week was just stunning outside.  We had our own local celebrity stop by the studio to update his portfolio.  He wanted to include his newly wrapped car in a few of his shots.

We had a blast!  The best thing about this young man is that he pretty much grew up in the lime light.  It doesn't hurt that his doggie momma knows how to push his buttons with scrumptious homemade doggie treats (chicken jerky).

Woof • Woof • Wednesday (February 13)

Woof • Woof • Wednesday     We're Back!!!!

Yes, we took a little vacation from blogging so that we could really get into blogging.  You know, figure it out, learn how to write and not just post pretty pictures.  Still working on the "learning how to write" part.  In the mean time, a lot has been going on since the beginning of the year.  So instead of trying to "catch-up", let's start with  this one, an unusual, artistic and fun installment.  Here is a link to a the wonderful story about the baby grand:  http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Piano-sounds-its-last-notes-by-the-ocean-4267465.php

Here is our story:

There is a baby grand piano on the bluff tops above the sea (ocean). A lonely grand piano for every passerby to see. Tickle her ivories, the tune a little off. It won't be long now, before her music will be lost.

An art installation by a very talented pianist and sculptor. This piano was donated to him because she could no longer handle a tuning. Every evening since the 1st of February he has serenaded the setting sun. Crowds of people gather to watch and listen to the ever fading baby grand.

The installation was to last until the end of February, but will be removed by our city because the proper permits were never issued. Sad!

I wanted to see the piano and I could not have picked a more perfect day. There was a young lady sitting and playing beautifully out of tune music, but it was perfect with the thundering waves crashing below. Gromit and I stopped and chatted and then we had our turn. Gromit looks like he is guarding it. We continued our walk and on the way back, a young man wearing a hoodie who was riding his skateboard earlier was playing away.  It really is incredible!!! I wish you all could see!

PUPPY!

Puppies are so much fun to photograph and at the same time, they are fast, they don't stop wiggling around or running away.  You have to be patient and quick, really quick!!!!   Here are a few from our most recent puppy session.

Here we are shooting with studio lighting.  Usually the camera sync speed is 1/200th of a second at the fastest which in a lot of cases is not fast enough to capture that little four legged fuzzball.  Again, slow down and be patient.  I this little girls case, she was incredibly food motivated (which is a huge bonus) so we were able to get her to sit still for quite a few shots!  I just love photographing dogs!

Kali

Back on Sunday, January 13th I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Kali and her mom.   Kali is a beauriful 13 year 3 month old Weimeraner who has been dealing with liver failure.  She doesn't move very fast, but on this day, love, love, loved to just hang out in the yard in the sun. 

Beach Patrol....

We were out for a coastal trail walk when we both just wanted to peek at the ocean....so we followed one of the many trails to the beach.  We didn't exactly go all the way down to the beach, just to the end of the trail.  You see, no dogs are allowed on the beaches from Miramar all the way south to St. Francis.  Not even on leash.  Oh well!

Great News

This past Thursday we received the news from Gromit's Cardiologist.  He has been diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC, Boxer cardiomyopathy), ventricular arrhythmias, mildly dyskinetic contractions.  Yeah, I know right...what does that mean?  Well, he does have a heart condition, but minimal at this time and we are to monitor him for any changes, signs of weekness, collapse, no meds. (which is great) and we are to go back in a year for follow-up.  Here is Gromit the day we got the news!

I am so relieved...I just can't explain in words how happy I was to hear this.

Gromit has a Heart Problem

Yesterday Gromit had an appointment with a Cardiologist at Sage down in Campbell.  They ran a number of tests on him (EKG and Echocardiogram) and yes, he has a heart problem.  Actually, he has two different heart problems.  The sent him home for 24 hours wearing a Holter Monitor.  The Dr. wants more information before he determines our next step.  It is like a punch in the stomach.  I just can't describe how I feel right now.   On one hand devastated and on the other hand relieved that we were able to catch this early.  Gromit just turned 4 and I was hoping that he would live forever.  I know, I know that is so not realistic, but this is the first dog I have ever had come into my life and take it over.  He is my heart and soul, he is my teacher and my student, and I am just not ready for anything to happen to him.  Need to be positive and need to see what the vet says this afternoon, then wait for the report which will take a few days.  Ugh!

Gromit Made the Cover

What fun, to see your photo of your handsome boy on the cover of a magazine that has a distribution from San Francisco down to Pescadero and the Peninsula too.  Very excited about it.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I had been having issues with my shoulder and just couldn't carry my camera around, but loved the look here and the boys were being soooooo good!  I forget about my iPhone camera, and I forget that you can take these panoramic photos with them.  What fun!  I am going to have to play with this feature a little more often.  What a great way to start off the new year!