Dog Photography And Travel - At A Distance

Social Distance Canine Photography

The science is fairly clear. We all need to be at least 6 feet apart and wear a mask to reduce the potential infection of someone else during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Does a human pandemic stop your dog from growing? Nope. He's going to grow and change no matter what happens to us.

That reality, coupled with a need to build my portfolio, led me to do some free photo sessions. Buttercup's owner Michelle Clark was among those answering my ad for a free Social Distance Canine photography session.

Buttercup

Buttercup Was Free

Michelle called to ask if I was really offering free dog photography, and I assured her there was no cost for JPEG files and a small print. During our phone conversation, Michelle told me she'd gotten her Chihuahua Buttercup for free at a garage sale. She'd overheard a man say "Oh, I can't pick her up today, can I come back tomorrow?"

Michelle took one look and piped up, "I can take her now!" And that's how Buttercup came home with her three years ago.

Sitting on a park bench…

Buttercup's Session

We agreed to meet at Marion Fox Park near her home one evening. I used Google Earth and the Sun Surveyor app to see what the park looked like and check light angles when I'd be shooting. There were tennis courts, trees, some benches and playground equipment to use for props. This was Buttercup's environment, reflecting her and Michelle.

Time loves a hero

We used almost all of the park. Buttercup sat on a bench, struck hero poses on a picnic table, and posed in the grass. I had her chase Michelle around for some action shots too. One of the best pictures came from me sitting on the ground with her.

It was clear after about 40 minutes or so that I had some good pictures in a variety of poses. After some editing, I posted the best shots online for Michelle to see. She liked them a lot, and is thinking about which one she wants a free print of.

"It was just super easy. You made me feel comfortable, and you made Buttercup feel comfortable. Just seeing her in action, and her expressions, it was great fun." - Michelle Clark

In-State Travel with Pups - Cloudcroft

Albuquerque was baking in the high 90s. So we looked for a mountain destination to cool things down. We'd visited Cloudcroft before, and it was forecast 10 to 15 degrees cooler, so the choice was easy.

Then I tried calling for RV campsite reservations. Since most everyone is off work and RVs are a self-contained way to travel, campgrounds fill up early. We're so wired into travelling around weekends that when the nearest weekend was booked already, we thought only about going the following one. Then my wife had an epiphany - why not travel during the week, since she's been working remotely anyway, and my schedule is flexible? Leaving on a Monday, it was relatively easy to get RV campsites.

Valley of Fires - too hot for me…

Too Hot To Hike

We stopped but didn't hike at Valley of Fires State Park near Carrizozo, a 5,000 year old lava flow. It was much hotter when the rock was molten, but still too warm for us at 104 degrees.

Jessie on the Osha Trail

By the time we arrived at Cloudcroft, it had cooled to 89. We'd taken other dogs hiking on the Osha Trail before, so it was a sort of extended hike baptism for 9 week old Jessie. We hadn't remembered how rocky that trail was, so we were a little disappointed. Dine-in restaurants weren't an option, so we masked up, picked up some burgers and fries to go in Cloudcroft and headed to our RV campsite.

Cool Pines RV Campground

Cool Pines

We'd stayed at Cool Pines RV Campground before, so we knew what to expect. We've aways booked the water and electric-only sites with meadow views. And we knew we'd have an evening show. A white tailed deer herd usually appears in the meadow to browse around sunset. And they were there right on schedule.

Meadow deer

The next morning we decided to get away from Cloudcroft, and found the Cedar Creek trail system in Ruidoso. These shaded trails wound beneath tall cedars (what else?), and gave us a reasonably-scenic workout with our dogs.

Cedar Creek Trails

Inn of the Mountain Gods

We decided to go for something different for dinner - Cloudcroft's food possibilities hadn't exactly wowed us. We'd stopped there before just to look at the place, and decided to check out the to-go food options at Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero. And boy, were we in for a treat! The Broken Arrow Tap House had fish and chips made with beer-battered lobster tail, with lemon grass aioli and waffle fries, plus pleasantly-sweet coleslaw that was obviously freshly made. The New Mexico BBQ Platter included brisket, smoked sausage and roasted chicken breast with three different sauces - mustard style, creamy BBQ, and more traditional spicy bourbon red sauce. This was some of the best BBQ we'd had anywhere - moist and tender, BBQ-spicy flavor in just the meat, and sauces that added sweetness and more flavors to the meats without burying them.

Great food from Inn of the Mountain Gods, with Taylor begging

Nearly-deserted Inn of the Mountain Gods

There was plenty of begging, but Sheltie Jessie and Berner Taylor got just a few fries after their dinner. After a walk around the nearly-deserted grounds (a big change from 3 years ago), we returned to Cool Pines for another night with the deer.

Tasting at Noisy Water Winery

Ruidoso Redux

We'd really liked the trails at Cedar Creek, so we hiked a different one there the next day. We were staying at Ruidoso's Midtown Mountain Campground for our last night, so it made sense to do something in town. We found Noisy Water Winery with their excellent Big Legs red blend, and the completed-unrelated Noisy Water Sushi. We returned to our RV site and enjoyed bulgogi, tempura and sushi with wine. A young white tail buck wanted some too, but we don't do wildlife handouts. Berner Taylor and Sheltie Jessie enjoyed their food and begged for some of ours (mostly to no avail).

Sheltie Jessie and Berner Taylor at Midtown Mountain Campground

It was nice to get away to the mountains and avoid some of the heat. Hiking unfamiliar trails gave us new scenery to look at too.

Uninvited dinner guest

Last Call for Free Social Distance Canine sessions in Albuquerque

Call (408) 483-3782 before August 7 and tell me you visited my website at markbohrerphoto.com, and get a free Social Distance Canine photo session. We'll shoot at a park, mountain trail or other outdoor location of your choice. You'll get free full-resolution JPEG files and your choice of one 8x10 print from one of them. Call soon before this offer goes away!

From the Osha Trail - reconstructed railroad trestle, mountains, and distant White Sands National Monument

More Information

Fair West Neighborhood Association (nd), Marion L. Fox Memorial Park. Retrieved from https://abqfairwest.org/safety-and-services/fox-park/

Cool Pines RV Park (nd). Retrieved from https://www.coolpinesrvparknm.com/

AllTrails (nd), Lower Cedar Creek Loop. Retrieved from https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-mexico/lower-cedar-creek-loop

Broken Arrow Tap House (nd), Menu. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/y65gb7v4

Noisy Water Winery (nd). Retrieved from https://www.noisywaterwinery.com/

Midtown Mountain Camoground & RV Park (nd). Retrieved from https://midtownmountaincampground.com/

A NEW DOG PHOTO BUSINESS NOW?

GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY

Yes, everyone's still inside hunkering down inside, or distantly outside clogging local trails. Yes, some people wear gloves, most wear masks - and everyone's staying far apart. And no one's booking photography sessions - that seems like the last thing on anybody's mind.

So why would I start a dog photography biz, especially now?

Isolation doesn't stop your dog's ball-chasing, smell-chasing and overall goofiness. He can't catch the virus, and still wants to play. He's maturing and changing, and doing fun things you want to capture. And you've likely had a lot more activity with your dog since the whole isolation thing began. It's time to capture the best of that, before it's gone.

It won't last forever

You probably don't want to miss anything in your dog's life. Pictures captured now will show you both at a unique time when you were together a lot.

There aren't any guarantees for what the future holds - you may look back on this as the time you really got close to your pup before the real world started demanding your presence again. If we're lucky, this is the last global pandemic we'll get for awhile.

Derby and his toy

Dogs Are Risk-Free

A neighbor answered my informal request to photograph local pups for free to build my portfolio. (Fortunately, dogs aren't affected by coronavirus.) Derby was a still-small 4 month old corgi, chasing soap bubbles in his back yard and wanting to smell everything in the park to find out more about it. His owner was very happy with the pictures, and grateful we captured that slice of Derby's life. Just a month later, he's shed some of his puppiness and become a more mature dog. And he's bigger too.

So what happens after the world starts to reopen? No one knows exactly. Maybe you'll still go into work to do stuff face-to-face. Maybe you'll keep working more from home. 

It's pretty much a guarantee that your dog will still be doing playful, endearing things to make your life worthwhile. And I'll be ready to capture those moments for you. Just give me a call, or email.

WHY DOG SHOTS?

Dogs are silly, beautiful, and never forget how to play. You don't have to send them to college. Instead, they come with more common sense and intuition than most humans. They also have to exist in our world, so any freedom, fun and food they have is up to us. It's a large responsibility, but dog smiles are worth it. They also need our best care to live what for them is a long life. But for us it's too short. My goal is to use 50 years of experience with cameras and dogs to capture your pup's best expression of his happy life with you. A daily look at pictures of your dog's unique way of being himself with you is one way for him to achieve immortality.

CORONAVIRUS EFFECTS AND DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

Everyone's affected by Coronavirus. You're either being told to stay inside and avoid contact with anybody, or your state says it's OK to get your hair done or nails manicured. Or you're somewhere in between those extremes. Maybe you're able to work from home via the Internet. But no matter how it is for you, your dog's important. He's the only lifeline you may have to a normal life.

Taylor and his pal Godric

The Coronavirus Dog Routine

We've settled down to a routine over the last 7 weeks. In the mornings, my wife and I take our Bernese Mountain Dog Taylor to the dog park. He'll chase and get chewed on by some of his buddies for awhile while we walk the perimeter, or I photograph him playing with the other pups. This playtime with others isn't as critical as it was when he was a puppy. If we didn't get him to the dog park in those days, he'd be a non-stop brat for the next 24 hours. At just over a year old, he's still occasionally bratty, but much more civilized about it.

After he's pooped himself out to where he's just hanging out in the shade of one of the park's big umbrellas, we'll drive to a trailhead and take him for a walk. Since we live in the foothills of Albuquerque's Sandia Mountains, there are some good options for trails.

But by that time, the light sucks for photography. I do most of my shooting at the dog park beforehand, unless it's really overcast.

I have to do something during this Twilight Zone time. Our routine with Taylor isn't that different from what we were doing before, but it's a link to the normal life we previously had. And building a portfolio helps me get ready for the inevitable day when everyone cautiously pokes their nose outside the door and decides it's OK to go out. I also get practice shooting dogs in less than optimal light, and keep my photographic chops up.

Bright Sun Is No Fun

It's no secret - most of us want to shoot in the warm light of morning (if you can drag yourself out of bed early enough), or in late afternoon (or evening) towards sunset. But there is a third way outdoors.

Aside from the fact that it's hotter, mid-day sun is too bright and harsh. Yes the sun is huge, but it's also 93 million miles away. (That kinda tells you how hot it really is - enough to scorch you here, that far away.) it looks like a bright little point source of light and heat - and it makes awful shadows and bad sunburn.

Here in the Desert Southwest, you have to go up a high mountain to find shady trees. Otherwise you get these low, sharp scrubby things, and no shade. But humans build shade everywhere - you have buildings, cars, outdoor awnings. So I use those umbrellas at the dog park as shade creators. Dogs are no fools - most of the time, they'll play under one of them where it's cooler. So all I have to do is get close and capture the shady action, right?

Not quite. When you're shooting a shaded subject with a large, bright, unshaded background, your camera will say, "Oh, it's really bright out here. I need to chop my exposure down." Then, not only do you get perfect background exposure, your dogs and the shade they're in can end up totally black.

There are at least a couple things I do about this. First, I use a flash on the camera to light up the shaded dogs. Yes, everyone says flash on the camera is a no-no, but there's enough bright sunlight sneaking in under the umbrella and bouncing off the ground to fill any hard shadows from the flash. Second, I use a small diffuser. This makes the flash's tiny light source a little bigger, which spreads the light out. That wraps the light around the dogs, and reduces shadows on the ground.

The flash's 'pop' of light will be much brighter if you set its zoom head for somewhere in the range of 70mm to 200mm and leave the diffuser off. If you let it automatically set itself for full coverage of a 35mm or even wider 24mm lens, you'll spread the light power out so much that daylight will make it look too wimpy. Yes, you'll get a spotlight look with a zoomed-in flash lighting a wideangle shot. Yes the shadows will be harsher from an undiffused flash. But with enough ambient light as fill, it can still look good.

Bye for now,
Mark