Sweet Boston

Selfishly, volunteering at the SPCA as a photographer,  I am conflicted between selecting images that I would consider as good photography versus photos that will get the pet adopted. It's really a challenge to shoot these animals, especially since they don't get outside much and when they do, are extremely excited. This in turn makes shooting them close to impossible, especially when they don't stop jumping up or sniffing around head down, eager to explore their new surroundings.  

Yesterday's Boston Terrier was a gem though. I think I managed to satisfy my creative needs and those of the SPCA's adoption team with these shots. She was gentle, calm and most attentive to the treat in my hand. Off course, how can one not love these huge eyes as they stare up at you!

Rest in Peace

Last week, I found out that a colleague from my film industry days took his life. Although I haven't seen him for several years, the hours we did spend working together, through the thick and thin of film production, were enough to leave me saddened to hear this incomprehensible news. 

No doubt the last few days have been full of reflection and questioning of life, it's value and what it takes from us. As human beings, the depth and make-up of our emotions are not apparent. Where there is light, there are also shadows that form and stay. As easily as the layers of joy be perceived, so can those that ache, be hidden. 

My friend, rest in peace. I hope what was tumultuous and painful for you is now clear and calm.

MOOooo!

Shooting animals not only takes photographic skill, but also an innate sensitivity to animal behaviour that only a few people possess. One such talented photographer whose work I have been following in recent years is Béatrice Schuler. Please check out her work here.

Thanks to Béatrice, I was inspired yesterday to dig up some photos which I shot two years ago while on her farm in Nova Scotia.

Somehow I managed to catch this fellow's attention.

I guess he was looking for some affection.

Happy Valentines Day!

kleejourneys at the SPCA

Petfinder  is an online resource to find a pet to adopt, be it a cat, dog, rabbit or rodent. However, when looking at the photos of these animals up on the website, I am generally appalled at the quality of them. How does a rescue operation expect to get their dogs adopted when the first impression of a potential owner of the animal is an out of focus image of their ass? First impressions do matter I must say.

So in my efforts to make some kind of difference with my photo skills,  I decided to volunteer for the SPCA in Montreal as a member of their Petfinder team. If I could have it my way, I would spend all my volunteer hours making full use of my photography expertise, and taking the amount of time needed to shoot the animals, best when they are relaxed and at ease with me. As it turns out, 70% of the SPCA volunteer job is administrative and 30% related to photography. It's no wonder that somewhere along the line, image quality is compromised.

However, let's hope that this volunteer is able to find the happy medium between getting good images up online and doing in-house administrative chores to get these animals into a new home with a better future.

Here is my first contribution...