Express Yourself (2)
Express yourself (2)
This is the second part of a trilogy of posts that focus on facial and bodily expressions of dogs and cats – I have included some of WolfCub’s friends this time. If you missed the first post you can find it here. The images mainly focus on dogs and cats at play in everyday life. Do any of the images bring to mind the antics of your dogs or cats? Do you have a favourite image? Please share your thoughts with me.
Express yourself
Express yourself
It has always amused and amazed me to see how many expressions cross our dogs faces in the blink of an eye or that which is expressed via their bodies. Too quick actually for us to perceive most of the time, but thanks to the camera, we can freeze these moments. Many times after a shoot, as I am downloading the images to my computer, I burst into laughter as the looks on WolfCub’s face are revealed to me. These expressions can range from the obvious happiness he is feeling in a particular moment to the downright deranged or demented! Dogs certainly don’t do things by halves – I love how they fully commit themselves bodily to the task at hand. They do not care about making fools of themselves, in fact, they seem to revel in it – I am sure this is one reason why we love them so much. The sheer exuberance and energy they display through facial or body language lifts our spirits and I believe, takes us back to a time of innocent childhood play – something we tend to lose touch with in later life, but through our companionship and play with dogs, we are given an opportunity to explore that feeling once again. Please let me know, which is your favourite image?
Into the mystic
Into the mystic
I borrowed the title for this post from Van Morrison. This series of images speaks to my connection with WolfCub and our place in the world, both natural and urban – a sense of spirituality and connectedness that his presence has allowed me to feel and explore, and which has become the core of my photography. I felt it first as we grew together, him from a puppy and me emerging from a dark place in my life to one of light – a story for another time. I try to convey this through my photography of him, with light, colour, texture, and subject matter. I want to capture the joy that we feel when a dog graces our life, to watch them play and run with unbridled happiness, always fully in the moment – to see this makes my heart soar. To those quiet moments in each others company, the sound of my breath with his, the comfort this brings, the love that flows between us, where no words are needed – these moments are to be treasured, never to be forgotten. When we are out walking, WolfCub beside me and I look down and see the way the fur grows in gentle waves down his back, laying my hand on him, feeling his warmth – this makes my heart melt. To when life brings sadness, and he is there to lick the tears from my face, gently bringing me back to the present. What a gift he is! Through his companionship and many miles walked together, I have come to discover a greater sense of my own self, an expansiveness of heart and soul, flowing into the mystic, into a sacred space, me and my four legged friend. Many of you already know but for those who don’t, WolfCub’s pedigree name is Lumineux Heart and Soul. I am sure many of you have similar stories or feelings about your companions – why don’t you share them here with me?
Less is more
Less is more
I began this series of half face portraits back in 2010, with my own dog WolfCub, a Belgian Shepherd. Entitled Mr Wolf (Cub), the first image you see, on a bold red background, with his ‘wolfish’ smile, immediately creates associations with the folk tale ‘Little Red Riding Hood’. Emotional responses to this image from viewers have ranged from humorous, and powerful, to a feeling of threat. The half face portrait is immediately interesting because of it’s focus on the eye, by what is revealed and concealed. It creates a different mood. In a way, less is more – the gaze more direct, confronting. What were these animals feeling? What are the stories behind their expressions? What of our own contexts do we project on to them? Image number 7 shows a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback X, shortly before her death. Of course sharing that information changes how we look at her. With their direct eye contact, the dogs and cats portrayed here show a range of moods and expressions. And in gazing so intently back at the viewer, it seems a question about the nature of the relationship between human and animal is also being asked of us.