The importance of photography leaves me barking for more

Photographing Dogs

I first took this project on about four years ago.  As far as I'm aware there isn't no proper street photography of dogs in the UK, apart from London-based street photographer Alan Schaller who's work in black and white is so excellent, I could never compete.  Sorry Alan, I hope you didn't mind me mentioning your name. 

At the moment, it's just your usual pet portraits of Flossie or Rover grinning (or is it snarling?) into the camera lens.  I want my subjects to be as natural as possible, and not staged That's why I photograph from a distance, I always ask the owners permission so they won't see me off with a pitch fork; or set their ankle biter darling on me in protest.

Our four legged best friends won't last forever, its the same with people. If you don't photograph the past it will be gone forever into a vanished world.  Our way of life is changing all the time, even now new invention's for canine ownership is coming out.  Like lighted collars which is something UN-thought of centuries ago.

Petra the Dog

The first ever televised dog to appear on Blue peter between 1962 and 1977.  William Timym made a bronze statue of her after she died, which stood in front of Television Centre, before being moved to the garden in Salford.  She'll never be forgotten and has made history on TV by being the first ever to be filmed, she would be really thrilled knowing that future dogs will follow in her pawstepes.

Why am I doing this?

Because we need to have a record to show future generations. Dogs were photographed 100yrs ago, and now they have all gone into the great kennel in the sky; or is it another dimension?  Dogs have done brave things over the past, and I applaud the Dicken medal. 

I'm in a search and rescue team Serve On and we have dogs that will sniff you out, and dig you out of the rubble.  Dogs DO have souls and will go to heaven when they cross over.  My dog was the first on this project, and I know I will see here again when it's my time.