Mark J. Asher - Greatest Clicks: A Dog Photographers Best Shots

Greatest Clicks: A Dog Photographers Best Shot

Photographs and Text 2011 by Mark J. Asher

Old Friend, First-Class Mail, Bulldog Catcher, and Dog on Dock 2003

Boys Best Friend, Girls Best Friend, and Pup in Pocket 2005

Morning Routine, Paw Enforcement Officer, Dogtown or Bust, and Who Says Dogs Dont Get Lunch 2006

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Digital Design by Tina Henderson

Cover Design by Elisabeth Gerber at Jar Design

Special thank you to all of the dog owners who, through the years, have given me their time and the honor of photographing their four-legged companions.

There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.

ANSEL ADAMS

Dogs are our link to paradise. They dont know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boringit was peace.

MILAN KUNDERA

Contents

Photography

I still remember my first photo shoot involving dogs. I wanted to test out a concept I had for a coffee-table book, and although I had some photography experience (shooting natural landscapes), I didnt feel confident doing it alone. I was certain there were things I didnt know that my friend, a hobbyist photographer with more technical knowledge than I, did.

While my friend started out doing most of the shooting, I did a fair amount as well. A funny thing happened when we got back the prints: mine were better than my friends. My creative ideas and the passion I had for my subject matter, more than made up for my lack of technical knowledge.

When youre a newbie at any endeavor youre always filled with thoughts of self-doubt, convinced that othersproshave a secret knowledge and vast experience that makes them superior to you. While the second part of this assumption may be true, theres an underappreciated power in having fresh eyes and fresh ideas.

I know far more technically about photography today than when I started, which is not a bad thing. I still, however, strive to approach every photo shoot with that sense of abandon and experimentation I harnessed in my earlier days, when nothing I did was wrong, because I didnt know what was right.

Dogs

Although I had a Poodle named Pumpkin as a child; I really knew nothing of dogs when I got my first dog as an adult: a German Shepherd/Chow named Humphrey. He converted me into a dog lover in a short time with his selflessness, silliness, adorability, and loyalty.

In the time I had Humphrey he saw me through the death of a business partner, a divorce, and a career change. When he unexpectedly passed away at eight years old, while out of my care, I hurt like Ive never hurt. But before I lost him, Humphrey left me with a lifetime gift of loving dogs and led me to a new, rewarding career photographing them.

It all began when I started seeing several older dogs on my walks with Humphrey. They probably caught my eye because Humphrey was about to turn eight-years-old, senior status for a large breed dog. The seed of an idea had been planted in my head to explore a photography book on senior dogs. When I visited my local bookstore, a few weeks later, I was surprised to discover there were no such books. The shelves were filled with plenty of titles featuring puppies and popular breeds, but there was no love for the old dogs. So, I decided to put together a proof-of-concept by capturing the dogs I had seen in my neighborhood on film (BD: Before Digital).

The publishers I pitched the book to didnt see much merit in my idea (originally titled Old Paws ) and I collected rejection letters for six months. Finally, on the day before a 4th of July holiday, my phone rang and a publisher, who had initially rejected my idea, accepted it. I photographed 45 dogs in two months, and Old Friends , my first book, was released the following fall. Humphrey had led me to my new passion and although he jealously smelled me when I returned home from every shoot, he licked my sore knees after I iced them.

Several books later, I cant believe its been ten years in which Ive been blessed personally and professionally to photograph dogs. Throughout my career Ive tried to be an artistic advocate for the beauty, grace, and nobility of these awe-inspiring creatures. I am certainly richer for the dogs Ive had the pleasure to work with over the years. They are the best co-workers Ive ever known. Youve heard the term lucky dog, but when Im engaged in my artistic endeavor I say, lucky me .

What follows is a collection of 40 photographs, which I consider to be my Greatest Clicks. They are culled from a decade of working with dogs on book projects and commissioned works. I hope you enjoy viewing them, as much as I did taking them.

Woman and Dog

Sometimes crazy ideas result in good photographs. One morning I had a wild brainstorm for what I thought would be a great idea for a bookpeople dancing with their dogs. Hey, before you think how stupid is that , consider my idea pre-dated Dancing With The Stars. Who knew that would be such a huge hit? The woman in the photo is a dancer who was game to indulge my photographic fancy. Unfortunately, her dance partner and canine companion, a gorgeous Great Dane, was not in the dancing mood. But he was in the mood for love, and I love the shot I got.

People who are afraid of dogs are always terrified of big dogs. The bigger the dog, the more trepidation. The irony is Great Danes, and large breed dogs like them, are incredibly sweet and loving. In walking with my dog, weve never approached a Great Dane and ever met anything but a well-behaved, gentle giant.

Yappy Hour

Bartenders are good to chat with when youre having a drink alone. Calvin, the standard Poodle tending bar here, didnt say much, but he was a very good listener. I told him about the problem I was having with my dog jumping up on people. After licking me a few times, he told me he had a solution to my problem, but that he charged two treats per minute for his advice.

This was shot in the historic Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Oregon. Build in 1925; this hotel was the tallest building between Portland and San Francisco at one time. It might still be.

Pause and Reflect

This photograph was shot in an inlet of water the dog found on our way back to the car after a run on the beach. I love the photograph for its serene scene. I cant remember what the dogs owner was doing during the shot, but the dog has that expression that says: Im not ready to go home just yet .

Theres nothing like a Golden Retriever at the beach during the golden light of day.

In Dog We Trust

Some Presidents propose boring legislation that no one really cares about or understands. This Canine-in-Chief wants to turn the White House Lawn into a gigantic dog park! Shot a few months before the last presidential election, I went all out to create a replica of a presidential press room. The pooch is standing on a step stool behind the podium in order to reach the peanut butter infused microphone. I hope one day everybody gets a chance to occupy the oval or bone-shaped office.