~*Shell*~

While I haven't used a sony dSLR, I have heard from quite a few people that they've "upgraded" to a canon or nikon after having one because the lenses aren't as easy to get hold of, or have as big a range. Personally I wouldn't go past a canon but if I had to get a different brand, I would get a nikon. You should ask your friend why he thinks you should get a Sony - it might sound a little judgemental but if he's recommending one, I'm guessing he hasn't had that much experience with dSLR photography.

That's what I thought!! Cooper makes me laugh - his eyes are just gorgeous! Feel free to join in Fran!

I really enjoy Cesar Milan but just because he uses a technique, doesn't mean you should too. He has a very special way with dogs and just using the actions that he does won't get you the same result. Case in point - I am training to be an obedience instructor (with Terranik, who posted before). One night in class we had a woman come with a rotty pup. She was told by her breeder to roll her pup over on it's side whenever it was doing something she didn't like (it's called an alpha roll) and now that the pup was 4 months old, it had started biting her when she went to touch it. Forced submission is not the way to go - it's about your energy and unfortunately that can't be taught easily because it's very easy to become frustrated when the dog doesn't do what you want which does a whole lot more harm than good. I do however agree with his "exercise, discipline, affection" mantra - a lot of the time what manifests itself as a problem is because a dog is bored or has a lot of energy to waste (keep in mind that energy is not always "physical" energy - nothing tires Zero out more than a game of "what can you do to get you the click?" and Zero knows some pretty cool tricks because of it - clicker training is a great way to drain some energy). I recommend reading some of his books - I think he has a book out about puppies and I know "A member of the family" and "be the pack leader" explained a lot to me.

I have a lunge rein - works great but if you take it to the beach like I do, you have to wash it out or holds dirt. It would be nice if it was thinner but it's all good!

I was just playing with the camera while sitting at my desk and he happened to walk in - I liked the light in his eyes. Being able to bounce the light off the roof makes me a very happy camper!

Nope! I stupidly forgot to put new batteries in my camera bag today so shot everything without it. I did get to play with a 5D today with the 24-70mm 2.8 lens and the same speedlite as i have - it was like looking into the future Here's a speedlite shot from tonight: Yay!! I'm doing a photo a day for a year too (as are a few of us I think) - project 365 is a lot of work but so worth it when you can see yourself getting better as the year progresses!

schnauzerboy - I'm loving all your cycling shots!! becandcharch - the skateboarding shot is brilliant! Sooo jealous that you can hang out in st kilda! It's my favourite part of melbourne. Terranik - I love your self portraits. You have so much more patience than I do! No way could I take a photo of myself everyday! Rozzie - That looks devine! Yuuuuuum! Flyingduster - That cat pic is great! Love the expression! Poomother - what a gorgeous foot! Anniek - Are they llamas or alpacas? I can never tell the difference. Either way they're awesome! Ashanali - I'm soooooo jealous!! I wish I had your eye (and your ability with the iphone - my iphone photos always come out all blurry!). Your post processing is brilliant. Kirislin - Love the sequence. What do whippets sound like when they talk? I don't think I've ever heard one. TLC - I like the second shot the best - I love your beach shots! Weibritty - I'm 23 and I have 45s. You're definitely not showing your age. Great shot! Poocow - I didn't know you had ratties! Gorgeous! Crazydaisy - Looooove the flower! Ness - How did you get up so high? I wish my house was surrounded by as much greenery! Justiceshades - Love the angle on that seagull! Wolfsong - great capture. I have a soft spot for black swans (it happens when you're from perth!). Ams - Love the layers in the paperbark! Huga - *steals Huga's dogs* You always capture such great expressions! Fluffypaws - love the reflection shot! The detail is brilliant! Redangel - Luci is just gorgeous. I love the flower shots - they're so interesting! Tangerinedream - Did you take that from your car? You don't see that too often! Here's mine for today. I was shooting at a conference all day today so didn't have time to plan a shot for today.

I think lots of new breeds will enter the ring here when Rally O takes off - Zero looooooves rally but gets quite bored in the normal obedience ring. I don't know why they would see rally as a joke - it requires just as many skills as OB, and I like that you can talk to your dog the whole way around. I find it more fun than OB and a lot more light hearted!

Great - now I'm in tears! I'm going to go cuddle Zero!

Ali Appollo Archibald Armand Bailey x 2 Balou Bandit Bardigrub Baxter Bear x2 Benny Billy Bing Boxer Brady Brock Brockie Brody Bruce Bud Bundy Caramel Carl Champ Charlie x 3 Chevy Chip Coco Cooper Cowan x 2 Cuba Danny Darcy x 2 Dashx2 Dean Declan Delgado Diablo Diesel Digby Digger Douglas Dumas Dylan Elijah FlashBazil Frank Gandor Greedy Hail Harrison Henry Hudson Ivan Jack Jasper x 2 JayDee Jethro Joshua Judd Juggie Kahn Kasper Kaos Kiba Kei smile.gif Kisho Kyzer Leroy Lestat Logan Luca Lukas MacKenzie Max x 2 Maxie Merry Milosh Minook Mistral Mortimer Mr Darcy Nammu Nigel Noah Nova Nudge Nugget Onslow Oz Payton Piikki Porsha Punch Quick Raffy Randy Reeve Riku Riley Rocks Rove Rover Roy Jones Jnr Rupert Rusty Scout Scratch Shadow Silas Speed Spencer Spike Sport Spud Sterling Storm Tazz x 2 Tey Dog Thunder Tiger Tirra Tub Tusca Tye Tyson Ulf Wags Walker Watson Weave Willy Zac Zedley Zephyr Zero Zeus

Awww - i love Harry!! Zero showing everyone what he thinks of people who think sibes shouldn't live in australia because of the heat:

Oooo - love the pony shot fluffypaws! Poor Justice has to wait for his bone! Zero showing me what he thinks of being taken to the vet:

It's a lipoma! Thank dog. No idea why it came up so fast but the vet said that it's quite common when dogs lose a lot of weight, which Zero has. He was the naughtiest dog ever at the vet but I don't care - I'm just glad he's okay! I'll have to keep an eye on it but I can easily do that!

I think we met Angel's new owners the other night! I'm sure they'll be over the moon with her!

Hmm - I guess I'll find out this afternoon.

He's 5 - the only thing that's really concerning me is that it came up so fast! Was Ivan's just suddenly there one day?

Thanks Staffyluv. I'll definitely be getting one done - I've been trying to research what it possibly could be an all I'm coming back with are people saying "i went to the vet and they gave me antibiotics - the lump was gone in 3 days". That won't be me. I just hope I'm booked in to see our regular vet. She knows why I have Zero on the diet he's on and why I don't vaccinate (she supports me in both those things) and doesn't talk to me like I know nothing so I'm sure she'll suggest a needle aspirate first up. There's no way I'm taking a chance with Zero's health. I'll let you know the outcome Mysticpaw - give your sibes a cuddle from me... and danny too!

Lol - I don't think Morgie cares!! Where's the shot of her in her pink underwear Poocow?!? Zero loves a girl in panties because they're all sexy and womanly

Let's hope it's one of those two and easily taken care of. I can't get hold of anyone at the vet until 8am. It's still there this morning, still not seeming to give him any problems and of course, still worrying the hell out of me! ETA: I couldn't get in to see the vet till 4.30 - I'll be watching him like a hawk today...

Hey guys, Tonight I found a lump on Zero's stomach where his rib cage starts. It's about the size of a golf ball and I know it wasn't there two days ago when I brushed him because I felt his rib cage and noted how much weight he's lost again after winter (we've been trying to lower his weight since he always bulks up over winter). He doesn't seem to be having any pain or discomfort from it - he's completely normal aside from the lump. Of course, I'll be taking him down to the vet first thing in the morning but I wanted to see if anyone has had any experience with something like this. I'm really worried about him - the area isn't red, he's not chewing or licking at it and the lump feels soft, squishy and moveable to the touch. It's just come up so fast, I'd like to know what it could possibly be!

My shot for the 19th - Zero trying to jedi mind trick the treats out of the tug-a-jug he got from his secret santa present which arrived today:

One of the producers from work is filming a movie at the moment - she's roped in all of her contacts to get it done professionally for next to no budget so we had sound recordists, lighting engineers, sound engineers, set dressers, actors, producers and camera guys all out there. We spent the weekend on a logging trail shooting the first half of it and we'll get the rest shot in about 8 weeks time. We were actually shooting on the other side of Edith from Oberon - would have been a great place to ride! We didn't end up getting the spiders out of their boxes - we're going to do it for the next shoot. They're huge though! Scared the hell out of me even though I know they're not lethal.

Mine for the last few days: 16th - Storm clouds rolling in on the way to Oberon: 17th - One of the dogs up on the farm where we were filming. She belongs to one of the crew and kept walking through shots! 18th - My friend hanging out at Bondi Beach (after a very yummy lunch and lots of sunshine) on my first official day of holidays. Wheeee! Today's photos are transferring over to my PC at the moment but I have to run out to see a movie so I'll have to put it up later tonight!!

These are my godmother's 2 cavaliers - I keep telling her I'm going to steal them so they'll be mine one day! Ini: Zac:

Ha! Charche is the cuddle ninja! Too tired to comment on everyone's shots except to say you guys are awesome! Still haven't edited anything from the weekend. Again, waaay to tired but I'm on holidays so I'll do it then!