rocco

Ok thanks Erin. I might just pop along for the day to get a feel, will look out for you.

The bloodhound is divine.

What time does the all breeds show start on the Sunday 14th? Would someone know roughly what time the Bullmastiffs would be on? Or is it a bit like a lucky dip.

Im sure Ivan is going to outlive you, just to piss you off.... He is stunning and your photos are exceptional.

Happy late Birthday wish Kibah. She's so dainty.

I forgot about this thread. Huga I love the pic of yourself and Lola, it's awesome. I have continued with Ralph with my 52 week project, he is filling big paws and doing Rocco proud. Here is weeks 6, 7, 8 and 9.

I like the second cat pic. Cool crop in the way it leads you into the photo and you nailed the DoF.

CM that first pic is great. Did you use a wireless shutter release or have someone to throw for you?

I think I might be guitly as charged with some of those too.

Thank you to everyone on your kind words. I never came into this part of DOL before this as I could never handle the thought of what people must go through losing a pet, now I know and it's so painful. But thanks for showing he how much he was adored and not just by me.

I took you on holidays and couldn't wait to see you run and play on the beach. This came to a sudden halt when your car ramp slipped and fell with you on it. Your injury from when you were a puppy was not stable enough to take that fall. I failed you there, I will never forgive myself. I should have got you out of the car, not someone else. If I had only done this you would be here. Your holiday was spent stuck inside trying to recover from such a heavy fall. I thought you were getting better, but you weren't. I know you tried to hide your pain from me. You tried to get up but your legs fell out from under you and you collapsed. Then your injury and your pain was evident. I booked into the vet to have you assessed, knowing in my heart that it might be time. We stood around in the vets discussing every option for you but kept coming back to that one right choice. All this time you laid by my side having no idea what I was talking about. On Thursday 28th January you looked at me with your big happy face and then slid into my arms to sleep forever. I told you how much I loved you. I remembered when I first picked you up as a puppy. I was so amazed at such a handsome puppy. You were stunning. But boy were you scary and crazy. I don’t know how you did it but within one second of being left unsupervised you would bring down a curtain system, consume a pair of shoes and disable a cell phone. You would run through the house making this weird crazy noise like you were possessed. At one point I thought you were. But then you matured into the most incredible, kind, gentle boy. We went through so much together big guy. You stood by my side through all of it. When we moved to Australia I think this is when you finally felt like you had a home and a pack. I know you and Cindy had this love hate relationship. Your arrogance and stubbornness annoyed her. Slapping your paw on her face, when sleeping on the couch, to get attention, is not the best way to make friends! Try not to do that where you are as it won’t get you any popularity points. When Ralph arrived you accepted him as the proud dog you are. He was there but you knew you were king. He adored you, you are his hero. He grew into the little guy he is today because of you and the manners you taught him to have. I know you gave up on some of those annoying Dachshund traits. Some things just can’t be cured, huh? You showed me my path with my photography. I loved taking photos of you so much. I never bored of you. Gosh you were one handsome boy. I know you might have got sick of the camera, but I also knew you liked cheese, and you were a sucker for it every time. I’m going to miss you like nothing in this world. If I could just hug you right now... I would do anything to. I’m going to miss you sleeping behind me every day with your disco dancing dreams. I'm going to miss having a drool slinger to carry around every day on my pants. I’m going to miss seeing your spins of excitement where we all run behind the couch to get out of your way (even Ralph). But most of all I’m going to miss just you and who you were. You were one in a million. You had a big heart and gave us so much love. You will forever be in my heart and there will be hole from the part that you took with you. Because you were truly too perfect for this world, I’m pretty sure you were an angel in disguise. You are back where you should be. Maybe even to return and help someone else like you did me with your gentle kind ways. I want to thank everyone on DOL for all your kind support. It’s been so touching to see how he has made such an impression on other people in this world. People I will probably never meet. He was a magnificent dog and happily gave anyone back that kindness. He was a true ambassador for his breed. Serena. Rocco you will always be a legend, dogs like you never truly die. Our bond will never be broken. Wait for me big guy.

Thank you all for your kindness. At this stage I am unable to read this thread. Maybe oneday. Fogive me as this is all I can write at this time. I feel very broken and lost. Again thanks for the support. Serena.

I struggle to read any sort of animal abuse but when you see your own breed being treated like this it can rip your guts out. People like this should be locked away from society. I want to write how much I hate this person, but it wont reverse what has happened to Boof. I hope he is OK and finds a home that will give him the love he deserves.

Thanks Ash, I was just going to buy a cheap second hand one off ebay to play with. They seem extremely pricey brand new

maybe I got the wrong unit. His was the only external flash plugged into his 5D, no speedlights were about. You held it over the subject, Like the olden day flashes. It was more powerful then a speedlight. I will go ask what he uses.

A Question for Kja. My tutor at my course I did uses these sorts of contraptions: Flash system Not this model, his was slightly older but same thing. He swears by them and think the speedlights are too weak. He showed me how they worked and even though slightly awkward things they gave some amazing pictures. I was thinking about buying a second hand one to play with as I LOVE flash work. Do you have one of theses and recommend?

So, do you schedule time? I make time and try to do something everyday to improve my skill. I never take 100's of photo's that I know will never process. Is processing something you simply consider a must do in a day for your own enjoyment? Yep, I love learning new processes. Do you think of it as a job (or is it a job as you intend on selling images/calendars/cards/misc or build a portfolio etc)? Yes and No. I dont take photo's for the purpose of sale, but have been selling them. How long do you spend with photos that you choose to process? Sometimes hours sometime minutes. Save alot of actions. I always know how I want my image to look before I take the photo, so I am not spending all day playing around with ideas. I think this can be time wasting when you get indecisive. Do you stay up really late/get up really early to have some you & processing time? Yep, but only because I dont sleep much.

TN you could put two post up in your flickr, one for 52 weeks and one of the story. In the 52 weeks image post the "link" to the story for people to click on. They cant get grumpy about a link. I think it would be sad to see you leave. I wouldn't get offended if you didnt get into the group. I think the mods of it are just very passionate not Nazi's. There are a lot of groups on flickr that have "criteria's" for you to join and I dont think it's really discrimination but managing their groups how they see them. Walk it off, it's about enjoying your photography. I chose Rocco for my 52 weeks. Week 1.

I was told he was Claude's dad. I saw Claude in him too. If Claude has his temperament, he must be a pleasure to own. He was actually quite difficult to photograph, so I was glad I got some of him. He is not great with his obedience yet so I had to just follow him around. :D

Tell them Ralph is trained professional. You can see more of the ralphmachine here also.

I shamelessly only took 3 photo's of Theo. He was a nice dog. The best focuesd shots I got as he was quite greedy and worked for food. seriously his feet are the size of dinner plates. He has the most incredible temperament. Thanks for the comments everyone.

They were pure joy. I could of easily walked out with Nala... Oh goodness! I went to the DVD store after yours and walking out I looked down at my pants, I was covered in Mr O's dried up slobber... Prob not a good look. I did get his name correct.

lastly Caesar, who has slimmed down and a Lab who I think his name is Theodore(?)

and of course I am going to capture Nala... we all know BM's are a bit spesh....

I went around to Caesars Mum place yesterday to meet and photograph her new Saint boy Olympus. He was such a big honey, drooled like a tap (yes way more then Rocco), and gave the biggest smoochy hugs. He needs bit of TLC to condition him better from all his re homing stress, but is is a lovely boy.