Slice of Nice

As we prepare for our first born child, not a fur kid, I have renewed an interest in doing some books.  When ever we have brought a new puppy into the house it has been so much fun watching them explore their world.  When Emma came along, I thought she was the most mischievous puppy I had ever seen.  As she explored, well, as she tore around her new world, I started writing her story in my head as I pulled my camera out to catch her exploits.  Now, I’ve run across her puppy pictures again and find myself writing that story all over again, only not just with her in mind, but also with Dylan in mind.

So, right now I’m experimenting with taking the actual pictures and making them into something that looks like drawings.  Let me know what you think….these are about the fifth try and so far Gary hasn’t liked them much.  And if I don’t find something that suits the look of drawing, I think I will just go with the pictures themselves.  So, please weigh in on what you really think about the difference between the actual picture and the drawing look.

Quite the look don't you think?

Just layin' around, no wild puppy here

where's the wild child?

So, what do you think?

Happy Easter Y’all!  I finally got out and took some new pictures of the kids and yes, I did torture them by putting ears on them. Hey it’s Easter.  I also learned that being a dog photographer while 25 weeks pregnant is not easy.  You see, I’m used to getting on their level, even laying on the ground and getting trampled if I must.  But you see, when you have this semi big belly that cuts off your air when you squat down to their level, you do one of two things, 1) pass out or 2) learn how to shoot quickly!

The kids must have understood me, because even the youngest sat there very patiently waiting for the big pregnant photographer to get in position.  However I have to say that Armani was so not pleased to be dressed in bunny ears.

Armani the bunny and Finn the Border Collie

Finn has learned how to pose quite nicely

Armani doesn't understand the word "wait" but he stayed long enough, finally

How handsome can you get?

Here he is, one of our most handsome Goldens, Mr. Armani.  He is just so fully of personality.  Easily the funniest dog we have ever shared a house with.  He will sit nose to nose with you for a full minute before giving you a kiss on your nose.  He looks like he is stoned, as he relaxes around the house.  He loves is little border collie even though she pulls on his ears and attacks his legs as he rolls on his back.  And he loves the largest woobie you have ever laid your eyes on.  Every morning when I get him out of his crate, I address him ‘Good Morning handsome dog!’ and he just stretches and looks to Finn’s crate to see if she left any food in there.

  As every photography pro or enthusiast knows, you have to keep your camera and lenses clean!  Since I work with dogs, I am constantly cleaning my lenses and the sensor in my camera.  Slobber is a work hazard for me!

About two months ago, I dropped one of my camera’s with a lens attached.  I was getting this weird error 99, so I sent it in to be fixed.  When it returned, I found a note from the technician that told me I might still get the error and if so, I needed to send in the lens.  Well, of course I got the error and I was NOT excited about having to send in my lens.  So, I decided to write them about it and complain, not that it was going to do me any good, I was still expecting to send in the lens.

As it turns out, I followed their directions of cleaning the contacts for the lens and voila - I got some NICE pics this morning from the offending lens and camera combo!  My moral of the story being - before you send in your camera for repair - email them and ask if there is anything you can try first.  

Here’s a small check list for your SLR before contacting your camera maker:

Clean all the lenses - including taking off their protective filter and cleaning it.

Take an eraser or soft cloth and clean off the contacts where the camera body and lens come together.  Be sure not to get anything in the camera body.

Clean your sensor according the instruction manual that came with your camera.

Check your cards and format them in the camera.

Just by doing this simple maintenance you may find an improvement in the clarity of your photos!

Have Fun!

Most handlers before doing their down and back cinch up their lead, do a courtesy turn and just do it.  Stephanie is so proud of her boy, that she bent down and gave him love before showing him off to the judge.  She is just showing off that human animal bond  :).

Here she and TAG are while the judge goes over him.

Here’s Lori with Noble.  Last time I saw Noble, he was dressed in a Christmas outfit and sound asleep in my studio.  Noble was one of the most popular Slice of Nice models during Christmas this year.  Click here to see him as a puppy.

  Today was the first day of conformation showing here in AZ at the Fiesta Cluster.  Today was a special specialty.  This past November, we lost one of our good friends, Cyndy Heisler, to Cancer.  Cyndy had made a name for herself here in the Valley of the Sun.  She was THE golden breeder here. She was a mentor to many and bred some beautiful dogs.  She did so much for showing Goldens in Arizona.

She bred her Sage to our Bailey and that produced Duncan and Tess.  Tess is Emma’s Mom.  Emma’s Dad, Kramer, won a Best in Show for Cyndy.  So, today during the speciality we had a moment of silence for her and our other good friend, Dawn who also lost her battle to Cancer last year.  In the ring, all of Cyndy’s friends gathered with all the Sonora (her kennel name) dogs in the ring to observe the moment.  I can’t tell you how many time’s I’ve heard “wow, these Sonora Goldens are all over the ring” as I walk ringside to enter and show.  Cyndy may have lost her battle to Cancer, but she will live on in the pages of each Fiesta Cluster program for years to come as the owner of some nice dogs who have given us our Duncan’s and Emma’s.  

Here are a few more pics from today.

Tess (Emma's Mom) with Vicki

Emma's sister, Tasha

Tessie

Emma