In focus: Immerse yourself in a dog’s world

There’s a pretty consistent look in a lot of dog photography.

It’s that blurry, creamy background that keeps your dog in focus, the spotlight of the image.

Kinda like this:

Or this:

OK, yeah, I really just wanted you to see another image of that damn adorable puppy.

The technique is called a “shallow depth of field.”

And I get it. I love using my longer lens and opening that aperture wide.

But sometimes …

Getting everything in focus

Oh sometimes … you know me if you’ve been around here a bit, I like to take hard left turns on the “rules.”

I like to twist on a wider angle, tighten up the aperture and get everything in focus. Like the image of Bella above from our Super Bowl Sunday hike at Antoine Peak. (We went to Antoine Peak earlier this year and I’ve been needing to see some snow. I knew it would be the perfect nearby hike.)

For me, it’s about celebrating our dogs and the adventures we take with them, so showcasing the landscape, too, is kind of a big deal to me.

I want you to feel like you’re back in that moment every time you look at the image of your dog. You’ll remember that day, that place, the fun we had. Because a session with me isn’t just me clicking a camera, it’s an experience that I want you to remember as part of your dog’s story.

More in focus

Yep, my jam is often a deep depth of field. It harkens back to my days before dog photography when landscapes calmed my nerves.

A deep depth of field gives a “clearer image and larger field of view,” explains studiobinder.

No matter what, you and your dog are always the focal point.

Like on this evening, which was pretty special. The setting sun cast the most beautiful light upon the Palouse last spring while my friend Terry and Maverick, a Pembrooke Welsh Corgie, sat on a lookout rock.

And then there’s my all-time favorite of Bella with the background in focus.

It was a very special weekend in July 2019. A bunch of gals and dogs had one epic weekend in Banff National Park in Alberta.

Bella sat prettily on a rock at Lake Agnes, the last lake on the Lake Louise hiking trail.

I have this image printed on a big bastard aluminum metal in my living room. Every time I look at it, it takes me back to that day and how perfect it was and how we three gals, accompanied by Bella and Newt the dog, got all girly emotional about what a great trip it was.

Some news

Last week, I shared happy news from the Bella Realm.

Oh don’t worry, that isn’t changing. There’s just MORE NEWS.

On Sunday, the Dog Writers Association of America announced the winners of the 2020 competition. I was a finalist in four categories: newspaper article, art of any other topic; blog post, any topic; single photo; and series photos.

I WON.

My series of photos on sled dog racing resonated with the competition judges and they declared me winner of the Maxwell medallion in the series photos category.

Yippee. I freakin’ love telling stories. Get a few beers in me. You’ll find out.

All around the circle

We needed to get in focus for this week’s pet photographers blog circle for which the topic was deep depth of field.

I know damn sure it got a few people out of their comfort zones. Let’s see what happened.

Head down under to Australia where we find Helen Green, photographing and painting Geelong and districts.

At the end of Helen’s post, click the link to the next post and see where we take you.

When you find yourself back here Bella, Terry and Maverick in focus, you know you’re home.

Right where you belong.

And if you’re thinking about a spring session to get some of these special memories with you and your dog, reach out.

Just hit this button, which takes you to my handy-dandy contact page, where you can get all my contact information or fill out an easy-peasy message form.