Tag Archives: pet photography
365 Project Day 363: Bringing in 2012 with Cowboy
Posted on 31. Dec, 2011 by maryanne.
Happy New Year!
Canon 5D Mark ll, 24-70 2.8L, 55 focal length, 6.3 aperture, 1/80 shutter, 100 ISO, Alien B800 to to camera left at 1/16 power with large soft box. An additional B800 was used in the back at camera right at 1/32 power.
Cowboy wanted to see his public one more time on my 365 project before it is over, so I told him he could help me bring in the new year. He heard that many of you are requesting a calendar of just him and he is very flattered. He says he will be happy to help with that if I need him. I said I would let him know. If it involves pizza crust, he is definitely in.
Cowboy is simply the best dog model ever. I think he would do just about anything for me. He gets excited when he sees me setting up the studio. He just seems to know that I need him, and his golden retriever-loyalty takes over. Love him.
I pray for a blessed and wonderful 2012 for all of you. May you come to know the God who loves you so deeply a little more each day. May you discover the beauty in your life, and stir up gratitude daily until it soaks you in contentment and joy. May you receive countless blessings from the Father of Lights who delights in sowing desires into your heart, just so He can meet them. May you awaken to warm light, sleep under bright stars, walk with those you love, and discover deeper colors than you have ever known. May the kisses of God light upon your face until you radiate His love to the world.
You have all been such a blessing to me. Happy New Year from Cowboy and me.
Psalm 126:2 ~Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Cowboy's Serious Face
It's Time to Celebrate
This is Cowboy's Cute Face
Even Cuter
But Cowboy Getting Tired
Cowboy Can't Stay Up
Cowboy Done Now
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Project 365 Day 319: The Dog with Three Names
Posted on 15. Nov, 2011 by maryanne.
Intelligent and Gentle
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 2.2 aperture, 1/160 shutter, 250 ISO
When my kids were small, we read the book Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan. It is a story of a well- loved dog who is actually named Three Names. It is told in the voice of the author describing her great-grandfather and his dog. It is a sweet and peaceful story with wonderful imagery. Patricia MacLachlan continues to be one of Annie’s favorite authors.
This is our beloved Indiana, a dog whose eyes seem as if they are reading the title page of your soul when she looks at you. Intelligent and wise Indiana. She came into our lives as a scruffy little mixed breed puppy five years ago. We had recently lost our dog of 12 years, Taylor. She was an amazingly loyal and beautiful English springer spaniel. Cowboy was lonely and needed a friend. (Okay, I wanted another dog.) We bought her from a fellow home school family. She was a mix of terrier and Welsh corgi. When we arrived, her mother, an orange (also scruffy) dog named Pumpkin, was perched on the front porch steps taking in the view of all of her puppies in the yard. Laid back but attentive , (a foreshadowing of what Indie would become). Indiana was the only female left in the litter and also the only tricolored puppy they had. I fell in love with her. I scooped her up, paid a small fee for her and placed her in my lap for the car ride home. I knew she was a perfect fit for us. When we got home, Cowboy came scampering out of the house to meet us. Happy and naive Cowboy. That is when Indiana showed her true colors. All of her hair stood straight up as she barked Cowboy back into the garage. He was 20 times her size. It Then she promptly hid under the car shaking. Chris loved her for this from the beginning. She was a dog who showed great courage even though she was terrified.
Annie was the first to name her. She called her Independent Sunshine, two names which seemed to suit her. She was content to do her own thing. Chris then got into the name game and called her Indiana Appleseed, as only my husband would. The name Indiana stuck. Now we just call her Indie.
Hand over the Squeaky
When Indie was only 6 or 7 months old, she became pregnant with a litter of puppies. We had no idea she was even ready for that. I can’t remember how many there were, but I do remember it was too many for her to carry. She had to have an emergency cesarean section. I got to watch them all be born, with our Ellie being the runt of the litter. When it came time to find homes for her puppies, several of our friends wanted one. To this day, we get to hear weekly reports on at least three of them. They are all great dogs. There was Buster, Judah, Ellie, Tootles, Ella, and several others that my kids could probably remember. I loved having puppies and cried when each one left. It reminded me of my childhood. We raised miniature poodles when I was little. The smell of puppy breath is hard to beat. So sweet!
Independent Sunshine, Indiana Appleseed, or just Indie, it doesn’t matter. She is ours and she is one of a kind. I am so glad we found her.
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365 Project Day 299: Cowboy Goes Abroad
Posted on 27. Oct, 2011 by maryanne.
Cowboy Ready
Canon 5D Mark ll, 24-70 2.8 L, focal length 59mm, 6.3 aperture, 1/160 shutter, 100 ISO, Alien B800 at 1/16 power in large soft box to Cowboy’s right.
Cowboy has been very patient this month while I traveled to Indiana and then to Virginia. He didn’t like it, but he allowed it. However, when he overheard me telling someone on the phone that I would be traveling to England to see Annie at Oxford, he took that big furry paw of his and drew a line. Before I knew it, he had gone upstairs, found his suitcase, and packed his favorite leopard print squeaky toy. He even put on some English-style clothing (all he could find) and walked around saying ”tally ho!” even though I told him that wasn’t really what English people did.
Cowboy can’t really go to England. Sadly, he doesn’t have his passport. Let’s not spoil it for him though. I thought I would let him enjoy the moment. He is such a sport.:)
What Time is the Flight?
Should I Pack More?
Cowboy Wants Fish and Chips
Cowboy is Serious about Going
Cowboy Waiting
Have a wonderful Thursday, everyone!
Psalm 68:3 ~ “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.”
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365 Project Day 157: And the Beat Goes On
Posted on 07. Jun, 2011 by maryanne.
In the Groove
Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200 2.8L, focal length 145mm, 8.0 aperture, 1/160 shutter. One Alien B-800 to front/right of subject using a 86″parabolic umbrella modifier at 1/8 power.
Love this of Katie as she is just being herself enjoying the music. One of my favorite things about Katie is her consistent ability to rest in who she is. She is rarely intimidated by others, as she dances her way through life. She is funny, graceful, a gifted singer/songwriter/worshiper of God, compassionate towards others, and will always take the side of the underdog. Chris calls her “justice” because she is always taking up the cause of the oppressed. I love all those things about her.
I think the best feeling a mother can have is the desire to be like her children. They all inspire me to be better, more disciplined, more carefree, less anxious and more joy-filled, living in the present. We have prayed that our children will surpass us in relationships, spiritual growth, excellence in their craft, and the list goes on. I feel my children are well on their way to outshining me in these areas and more. I am so grateful to be able to able to say that I want to be like them when I grow up.
Here are a few more of Katie shining, as the beat goes on.
Glamour Girls
Katie-Girl Shining
Bringing Joy
Breaking It Down
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365 Project Day 86: the girls
Posted on 27. Mar, 2011 by maryanne.
The Girls
Canon 5D Mark ll, 50 1.2L, 7.1 aperture, 1/200 shutter, ISO 500 ( because I forgot to change it!), Alien B800 in 50 inch soft box to left at 1/16, and another on right using 60 inch umbrella at 1/16.
You know some days, no one wants to be photographed in this house. Today I just mentioned the word “photograph” and every member of my family scattered. Except the dogs. I am convinced that ” loyal” should be under the definition of dogs in the dictionary. They are my crew and would go with me anywhere, I think. Not that my family wouldn’t. I just decided to give them a break tonight.
This is Indiana and Ellie from left to right. Indiana is Ellie’s mom. They are amazing dogs, and the two girls out of my three dogs. If you have read my blog at all, you have for sure seen my Golden Retriever Cowboy, who makes up the third member of my canine posse. Indiana was not much over six months old when she got pregnant with her one and only litter. Ellie is the runt of that litter. Several of our friends adopted many of the other pups whom we still hear from now and then. All of them have such unique personalities. Almost like people, really. Ellie talks quite a bit, and sometimes I can make out some English syllables in her sing-songy voice. Indiana is intense. Sometimes we fear she is looking into our soul and reading our mail with those eyes.
I am holding a treat over my head for this picture. Can you tell? Desperate times call for desperate measures. Yes, I am holding a treat with my left hand and my camera with my right while whistling and talking in high pitched tones. No assistants on this one.
Hey you gotta do what you gotta do.:)
Here a few individuals of these two. Love these puppies.
Indiana's Serious Side
Sweet Ellie
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365 Project Day 33: Sharing Favorites
Posted on 03. Feb, 2011 by maryanne.
Favorites
Canon 5D Mark ll, 70-200 L, 7.1 aperture, 1/160 shutter, 100 ISO, four Alien B-800′s, two on background, two on Cowboy.
The idea for this shoot came when I went to the grocery store tonight and saw this gigantic dog bone. Cowboy is my very best dog model. He will probably be in this project quite a bit. I think my kids will get tired of me and he will do just about anything I ask him to. He looks like he is sharing his favorite things with me. What’s next for Cowboy? Maybe I should do a Cowboy calendar.:)
I did get one good one of Ellie after she tasted the bone which was almost as big as she is.
Delicious!
And here are a few more adorable ones of my Cowboy…
For Me?
Mine
Until tomorrow!
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365 Project Day 10: Snow Mustache
Posted on 10. Jan, 2011 by maryanne.
Snow Mustache
Canon 5D Mark 2, 24 -70L, 2.8 aperture, 1/250 shutter, 100 ISO
This is my little sweetheart. What you can’t experience when looking at this image is her sweet little voice. She was begging to come into the pasture with me. Pleading and crying like only Ellie can. She knows I can’t resist it. I let her in.
Choosing an image for today was very difficult, because the snow afforded so many lovely photo opportunities. Horses, snow, a red barn and beautiful kids create instant photographer’s anxiety for me. I want to capture it all. Today was wonderful.
Ready for the thaw now.
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Everyone is in on it
Posted on 18. Nov, 2010 by maryanne.
So, we here at the Morgan house are getting ready for our Christmas family sessions coming up on the 27th. Even Cowboy and Ellie wanted to get in on the action. Here are a few from their time in the studio, trying out a few props. Cowboy even got a haircut! Indiana thought it was beneath her. If you know her, you understand. Make sure you get in on the fun!
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Favorite Photo of the week 8
Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by maryanne.
Had to choose this for my favorite photo this week. Meet Indiana, aka Indiana Appleseed, Independent Sunshine, or just Indie. She will answer to them all. We got her shortly after my sweet Taylor of 12 years died. Taylor was an English Springer Spaniel and dearly loved by the family. I knew we could not replace her, but we wanted another dog, and our Golden Retriever Cowboy was lonely. We found Indie advertised online by a local homeschool family. She was the last available female. I loved her immediately. As you can tell, she is very smart, and sometimes we think she can look into our souls with those eyes. She is so much fun. She had a litter of puppies in her first year, and many of our friends benefitted! We get to keep up on their progress in their new families, and they are also dearly loved. Our other puppy, Ellie, was the runt of the litter. She “wears the pants” as Johnny so aptly puts it. Demure looking, she really runs the show, as most little dogs do.:)
