2014, Day 359 - Eager

The pups waited patiently while I cooked my Christmas dinner for their own special meal.  They were treated to mashed sweet potatoes, sardines, kale, and rice.  That coupled with my own curried cauliflower and potatoes made the house smell pretty good in part because the sardines were canned and only added at the very end.  Everyone here had a very merry Christmas!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 50-140/f2.8R OIS
140mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 348 - Repose

I love my sweet Bort warmed by the light of an old electric heater that has been converted to a lamp.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/90 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 292 - Jealous

The green-eyed monster is here.  My sister is staying with me and her dog Charlie is joining the pack.  He has met my dogs before but on his turf and now that he's here and outnumbered things are a little different.  All the dogs have been pretty well-behaved but Hubert is a bit jealous.  Fortunately it is no worse with Charlie, my sister's dog, than with the other dogs, Hubert merely pushes his way in when he wants attention.  In a few more days Charlie will be one of the boys for sure :)

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 266 - Dreaming

It was a beautiful start to fall with light rain most of the day and some heavier showers this evening.  A good day to nap in the warm rays coming through the bay windows.  I think my dogs often have better ideas than my own.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.6, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 241 - Ease

I love this face.  Hubert is getting older, he turned seven years old on Wednesday, and once sleek and even coloring of his coat extended to his face but now it is mostly white.  The signs of aging used to make me sad but these days I reminds me of how long we've been together and how long I've adored that face.  He is the troublemaker of the house, always underfoot, and eternally over-eager yet despite these potential faults I love this guy because he is the goofiest dog I've ever had.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/60 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 113 - Competition

Hubert is such a spaz, he would rather run than walk anywhere and everything is very exciting to him, even the things we do every day.  Meal times get him worked up and I am constantly tripping over him because he is so thrilled to be eating.  When I grab the leashes off the hook the other dogs walk to the door but Hubert runs and if he isn't t he first he pushes his way to the front.  Everything is a contest with him which includes cuddle time; he races up to give sloppy kisses and then runs away and no one snuggles up closer than he does.  There are some less desirable aspects to this need to be first but some really worthwhile parts too.  It's ironic that he didn't want to race, it seems like it would have suited him.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.4, 1/17 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 92 - Available light

I know I've taken pictures of this pose many times before but rarely under these conditions.  After I cleaned up the kitchen this evening I walked into the living room and found Hubert laying on the floor patiently waiting for me in front of an old electric heater that was converted into a lamp.  It contains a single sixty watt bulb and I liked the quality of the light.  Fortunately there is always a camera near to hand in my house so I mounted my favorite fast lens and took a few pictures.  This is my favorite, I love the look of his eyes, it conveys well his avid watchful nutty personality.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/125 sec @ 2500 ISO

2013, Day 200 - Abort!

It's hard to believe I've had Hubert for over four years!  He came to me a nervous two year-old with the most beautiful blue coat and now he is the household terror with a graying face.  Bort smiles, something not very common among dogs, contrary to popular belief.  When he smiles his flew (dog for lip) pulls back and he shows teeth; this is usually accompanied by running back and forth and tremendous tail wagging.  Hubert is the life of the house and a tremendous pain in the butt and that is why I love him.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 18-55/f2.8-4
55mm, f4, 1/30 sec @ 800 ISO

2013, Day 72 - Beast!

Oh sweet Hubert!  He is getting older and, mostly, better.  His beautiful blue coat is now flecked with white but he remains as goofy as ever.  Even when he is a pain in the ass he is sweet about it.

I was playing with a ringflash this afternoon to see how it would act.  You can see the donut of light reflected in his eye and while I was tempted to edit it out I decided to leave it although I might edit it in the future to make it a solid white dot.  This shot was taken with an octabox camera left to provide fill.  I love an excuse to take pictures of my boys :)

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
70mm, f4, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 292 - The Steve Martin effect

Hubert!  I love this boy, he's my big baby.  At five years old he is still very much a puppy, racing around the   house, beating up his brothers, throwing toys around, he's nuts and it is wonderful.  Still, while he may not act his age Hubert is certainly showing it.  His beautiful blue coat is flecked everywhere with white, more than is usual for his age, but I think it makes him look distinguished.  Sadly, it is also a reminder than time stops for no one and he isn't the 20 month old pup afraid of his shadow that I brought home.  Time has made him better but I wish it didn't make him older.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
70mm, f8, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 111 - Repose

My crazy boy Hubert is getting gray.  He wasn't quite two years old when he came home, he was practically a puppy and had a lot of puppy personality traits.  Now he is nearing his fifth birthday and although he still acts like a puppy my sweet Hubert is starting to show the physical signs of maturity.  It is such an odd juxtaposition.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Sigma 50/f1.4EX
50mm, f2.8, 1/25 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 102 - At rest

It's my baby Bort! He was taking a break from running around and giving me kisses so I grabbed the lights and managed to get this photo.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f8, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 076 - Octagonal light

BORT! I finally got around to playing with my new battery powered flash and Hubert was kind enough to be my model. He's a silly little monkey, it took a while for him to settle down so I could get a good picture.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
51mm, f11, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

2010, Day 309 - Bort-friend

Who else loves Bort? Hubert is my funny little man, he runs around like a man with his hair on fire just to entertain himself and in the process provides me with a lot of laughs. In the morning he employs a squeaky toy as an alarm to wake me. At meal times he runs back and forth in whatever room I'm in howling to remind me that he's hungry. My favorite times, though, are in the evening when he has crazied himself into exhaustion and he just wants to cuddle.

Want a little bit of that? It's your lucky day because the greyhound group I volunteer with just got a new group of dogs and one is Bort's half sister, Verity. She has already shown that her screws are adorably loose and I think whoever gets this little girl is going to be very lucky. Tempted? Although she isn't on the website yet now would be an ideal time to submit your adoption application...

Verity, Dauntless x Instant Vintage

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

58mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2010, Day 239 - Birthday Bort

Today is a momentous day, Hubert turned three! My wacky lovable maddening boy is getting older. There is already some lightening in his face but no more maturity in his behavior. I give to you his birthday portraits! Yes, the focus is off completely in one of them but I caught him smiling and with his lightening fast movement it is an amazing accomplishment on its own.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

51mm, f14, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

30mm, f16, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

Yes, this is what a greyhound smile looks like. Hubert is HAPPY!

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

24mm, f16, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

2010, Day 236 - Low key portraits

Today's Daily Shoot assignment was a great one:

Make a low key photo today with lots of dark areas. You might need to use exposure compensation to make it work.

I didn't use exposure compensation, I put the camera in manual mode and had fun with Johan. He's the new boy so I need to get a jump start on his baby album.

Johan's pretty golden eyes.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/20 sec @ 640 ISO

Johan's snout.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/60 sec @ 640 ISO

Big scary teeth.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/30 sec @ 640 ISO

White socked foot.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f4, 1/60 sec @ 640 ISO

And Hubert's magical three-toed foot.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/60 sec @ 640 ISO

2010, Day 197 - Softly softly

catchy monkey... Hubert loves his bananas and whenever I eat one he circles me constantly to beg. His frantic excitement is usually impossible to resist so he gets a taste.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

58mm, f13, 1/160 sec @ 250 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

65mm, f13, 1/160 sec @ 250 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

66mm, f13, 1/160 sec @ 250 ISO

2010, Day 187 - Allergies

Tomorrow is supposed to see temperatures passing ninety degrees and with this warm dry weather the allergens are kicked up and life becomes just a little bit miserable. Even the pups feel the effects.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f11, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f11, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

2010, Day 183 - Consumerism

This morning was spent running errands in preparation for the holiday weekend. First out to Sauvie Island for produce and then to WinCo. I had never been to WinCo before and was surprised by the bright and sterile atmosphere so I took a couple pictures.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II

16mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO

A couple days ago I made a post on Facebook relating how Hubert had to stick his entire face past his eyes into a cup to clean out the dregs of my frozen yogurt. Well, this evening I picked up frozen yogurt with Rachel and got her to play the part of my assistant while Hubert ate. Unfortunately the little monster inhaled the contents so I only got a few good pictures but you get the idea :)

Worried about the activity in the room, Hubert was reluctant to stick his hold head in the cup.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

63mm, f11, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

Making absolutely sure there is nothing left.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

67mm, f11, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

2010, Day 175 - UWA fun

I've been falling in love with wide angle perspectives again, I even like the little bit of flare at the top of the picture below.

Poppies with a little bit of flare.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II

35mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO

Hubert looking suspicious.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II

16mm, f11, 1/125 sec @ 200 ISO