Recently, I had the opportunity to work a photo session with two beautiful Sphinx cats. This is a hairless breed, and I had not met one before this session, so I was uncertain about what to expect. Like most people, I expect dogs and cats to be furry and fuzzy, so it was disconcerting at first snuggle up to these kitties and just feel their warm smooth skin. But after the initial strangeness (that only last a few seconds), I just loved how soft and smooth they felt. And visually, it was wonderful to see their physique and musculature that is hidden under the furry cats. Their lack of hair allows you to see how strong and lithe their muscles and limbs are as they move, and it really is a beautiful site!
These two beauties belong to Lori and Jim, a couple who has also hired Vivid Visions for their wedding photography at Castello diBorghese winery wedding in September. It has been wonderful getting to know them, and their kitties as the wedding plans have progressed over the last year.
Danford Danford Valadier Valadier
Six Reasons to Foster a Dog Now
If you are thinking about adding another pet to the family, please consider fostering a rescue dog or cat. It has been my experience that when a family is asked to foster a homeless pet, they quickly shoot down the suggestion, claiming that giving it up when a permanent family is found will be too emotionally wrenching. They prefer instead to hold out until their perfect idea of a rescue dog comes along. They don’t realize that the fostering idea gives them a chance to learn about many different dogs, breeds, temperaments and needs so they can make an informed decision when the time is truly right for them. And, it gives the dog a chance to settle in to a household, away from a kennel, and learn how to behave and live among people.
- Fostering improves the dog’s chance of being adopted.
When you bring the dog into your home, it becomes part of the fabric of your life, even if only for a few weeks. Your network of friends and family learn about your houseguest, and spread the word about her. Maybe one of them will become her forever family.
- Fostering helps the dog learn critical socialization skills.
Even the best shelters can’t provide the one-on-one attention that most dogs not only crave, but need. Some need it more than others, and a shelter is not the best place to get it. A dog wants a chance to sit at your feet, follow you around the house, and occasionally get a treat as you prepare dinner. In a home setting, the dog gets a chance to do these things and also learn the boundaries of acceptable behavior. This is even better if you have another dog in the household who can help show her the way.
- Fostering saves lives.
A dog in a home, even it if is just for a few weeks or months, is safe from the dangers of life on the street or the deathwatch in shelters who place a time limit on the length of time a dog can stay. Fostering buys the rescue group some additional time to find a suitable home for the dog, whose only crime may be that her family couldn’t afford to keep her. Once the animal goes to a permanent home, your household is then available to save another homeless pet. It’s a happy cycle, and many shelters rely heavily on foster families to maintain a dog’s adoptability.
- Your family learns about caring for another living being.
Of course, there is the daily commitment to feeding, watering and walking that every pet brings, whether a foster or not, but a foster dog, by definition, is not a long-term commitment (although it may turn out to be, if you want-see item 5), so your family can find out if it is the right time to have a pet in the household. And, when the dog goes to its permanent home, children learn a bit, by first-hand experience, that letting go is part of living life.
- Sometimes love needs time to grow.
The nervous dog that arrived on your doorstep a few weeks ago will quickly settle in and show off who she really is. And she may just be the perfect fit for that empty place in your heart and home. This trial period allows both your family and the dog (or cat, or any other pet) the test drive that you need to sign on the dotted line.
- Last Chance Animal Rescue Fund Needs Foster Homes
Please forgive the blatant pitch here, but Southampton-based Last Chance Animal Rescue Fund is saving the lives of many
puppies and young dogs whose brief lives would be extinguished if they were left in the shelters. Last Chance has done great work so far and a key to their success is the generosity of fostering families willing to take in the pups and give them time to recover from the stressful, and most likely terrifying, experience of living on borrowed time in the shelter. In order to do more, they need more foster homes ready to take the young dogs and older puppies who are regularly delivered from the South Carolina shelters where they have been dumped.
Please don’t give up on these wonderful waifs. Click on over to the Last Chance website and find out what you can do to help. Give a dog a home for a few days, a few weeks, or a lifetime. This is your chance to be part of the solution where everyone is a winner.
What kind of experience have you had with animal rescue fostering? How do you react when someone asks you to foster a pet? Let us know with a post in our comments section.
The folks at Last Chance Animal Rescue Fund are looking to place puppies and young adult dogs in forever homes here in the Northeast. Starsky & Hutch, brothers from a lab/shepherd mix litter, have gone their separate ways, as Hutch just recently found a family, but Starsky still has their buddy, Roscoe, to keep him company as they both await their new homes.
Just the other day, I had a chance to meet these little cuties. One perk of being a pet photographer is that I get to meet many wonderful dogs (and cats, horses, rabbits, etc.). Both fellas made an impression on me, though.
Let’s talk about Roscoe first.
I could not believe how calm and gentle he was! Of course, it’s impossible to be sure what the predominant breeds are in these Heinz 57s, but the perky ears, spotted white fur and brown and black spotted eye leads us to think he has some Australian Shepherd in him. I’m told that he likes to herd the family a bit with a nip at the heels and toes, but Shepherd aficionados are used to managing this. He rides great in the car, is good with kids and other dogs, and makes new friends very easily. He was my best friend within 30 seconds of our meeting. I think he wanted to be my photo assistant, actually.
Starsky (minus Hutch, Huggy Bear and the car)
You would think that a pup named Starsky would have black curly fur, but this blonde beefcake (or at least he will be when he grows up!), is a handsome curious gentleman who has a way with the ladies. Ok, so calling myself a lady is a bit of a stretch some days, but this cutie pie certainly charmed me! Smart and alert, Starsky wanted to know what was going on all around him. Once he warmed to the camera, he was happy to give both it and me a nice wet kiss! He also was particularly interested in joining his buddies for a romp in the weeds, but gladly obeyed a command to come and sit when he was called. He likes kids, other dogs and riding in the car, so an active, playful family would be a good fit!
Are you ready to add a furry kid to your family? Do you know someone who is? Head over to the main site at Last Chance to find out more about these handsome fellows. They have lots of love and affection to give, I assure you!
Consider Fostering a Dog
Also, Last Chance is seeking new foster homes to hold the rescued dogs while their forever families are found. The fostering period is important because it gives the dogs a chance to settle in to a home, after the stress of the shelter and the plane ride north, and show off their true personalities. Please consider fostering if you have the room in your home. It allows Last Chance to rescue more puppies from the gas chambers and give them a chance at a wonderful life!
Do you participate in any rescue organizations in your home community? Tell us about it in the comments so we can expand our network!
Since 1970, Americans have promoted conservation of our natural resources by designating April 22 to celebrate our Mother Earth.
Perhaps in 1970 our society was still bit too conservative in their collective thinking to recognize what we as a society needed to do to conserve natural resources. Back then, the bottom line seemed to matter more than anything-certainly resource conservation did not seem to be the serious matter it is today.
In 2009, we are seeing that resource conservation is indeed critical to our bottom line. Car maker GM is facing possible bankruptcy, and one reason is that they are behind the times in developing alternative fuel vehicles. Maybe if they had spent time developing the hybrids instead of a better, bigger SUV, they wouldn’t be in the predicament they have found themselves in.
The good news for us as individuals is that our bottom line, and our carbon footprint can really see an impact by practicing simple conservation. Experts say that the most dramatic effect on reducing carbon emissions will be through simple energy conservation measures implemented in homes and businesses.
- Replace your household light bulbs with energy efficient ones
- Turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use
- Unplug the battery charger when not in use
- Turn off your computer overnight, or at the very least, turn off the monitor.
- Drive 55 MPH-it really does conserve fuel!
- Buy produce locally at farm stands and farmers markets. It’s fresher, tastes better and doesn’t use as much fuel to transport because it isn’t being trucked across the country.
- Use reusable grocery bags
- Recycle and reuse what you can
Of course these methods won’t show much impact to your bottom line or your carbon footprint if you just try these for a single day. You must make EVERY day Earth Day to really make a difference.
Here are some more things you can do to celebrate Earth Day all year long
And few other links to learn more about energy conservation:
Earth911
Repower America
Do you know other ways to conserve resources? Post them in the comments.
One great way for photographers to hone their skills is by photographing wild birds. Some breeds are tame enough to let you get close, but if you have a decent zoom lens, that isn’t necessary. What is necessary is patience.
The early spring is an ideal time because the trees are still bare, but the birds are beginning to dress in their breeding plumage. A loon in January is very unspectacular. But a loon in April with his breeding feathers in place is truly a beautiful sight. The image on the left is a great egret. His wispy tail will only last a few weeks while he awaits a mate. By the way, it is usually the males who undergo the most dramatic changes in their plumage.
Before I go any further, I wish to emphasize the importance of respecting the bird’s boundaries. As I mentioned some are more tolerant of humans than others. But regardless of how tolerant they are, you may be inadvertently disturbing a feeding area, nesting area, or even breeding area. Pay attention to posted signs, fences, and the bird’s behavior. AND OBEY THE SIGNS!
Ok, now that my lecture is over, let’s get down to work. When you are looking for a particular bird, learn about its behaviors. The website Whatbird.com has a full library of great information about our avian friends where you can learn about their call, their favorite foods, preferred habitats, and more. Find the food and you’ll find the bird.
Then, start scoping out a few areas where your bird will most likely visit at feeding time. Usually early in the day and late in the day are best, as is the light, but check it out at all times of the day. You never know what you might find! Once you select a spot, be prepared to wait, and be prepared to snap lots of photos.
An elaborate blind is not always necessary, either. A wildlife photographer once told me that if a human makes himself appear less human-like birds will come in very close. So, squat or sit and BE STILL. Or hide in your car. Once you stand with the camera to your face, the birds will start moving away, because your motion is very similar to that of someone preparing to shoot a gun. So if you can hide that motion, you will stand a better chance of getting the shot (on film-no bullets, please).
Also, watch your exposure. Keep the sun at your back if at all possible because you most likely will not be close enough to use full flash (and it would scare away the bird if you did). Keep you shutter speeds fast – at least 1/125 and your f/stop at f/8 or smaller. F/16 on a sunny day would be best. You need wide depth of field so your focus point isn’t lost the moment the bird moves a step toward you, and if it flaps its wings, you need to stop the action with fast shutter. Compensate for the fast shutter and small aperture by increasing your ISO. Most cameras have decent quality at 800, and usually 400 is all you need.
So folks, give it try, and let me know how you do. I would love to read your comments, suggestions and results here.
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