Spoony

Doh! That sucks. I use one of these http://www.vanguardworld.com.au/index.php/pv/products/photo-video/detail-1-1-Sling+Bag-657.html It's small and compact though I do use a mirrorless camera so still will allow for body + lens and 2 others plus some batteries. Handy part is allows one to jump on the pushy/dirtbike and scoot off to take snaps, have all ones gear on their back and chase the dogs around snapping pics, even get down on the dogs grown level with it on. Swing around front to access gear from the side. In hindsight I would probably get the next size up though now I want more lenses http://www.vanguardworld.com.au/index.php/pv/products/photo-video/detail-1-1-Sling+Bag-657.html Officeworks of all places is a cheap place to get them, and $35 and $45 they are really good value I think.

Just scrolled through all of this thread, so many great pics. That lens is decently sharp for so much reach. I'm getting length envy or something haha.

So Striker got his first day at the beach this afternoon. It rained most of the drive down and was pretty much overcast the whole time, at least the place was almost empty. Only used the cheap 50-230mm telephoto on all of these, C-AF tracking bust shooting for the action ones. DSCF7717 by SpoonShots, on Flickr DSCF7629 by SpoonShots, on Flickr DSCF7670 by SpoonShots, on Flickr DSCF7659 by SpoonShots, on Flickr DSCF7724 by SpoonShots, on Flickr I'm not sure in this one if his looking for the rest of his tail or a tasty baby haha. ;) DSCF7653 by SpoonShots, on Flickr

Snook, if you're browsing my pics on Flickr all the exif and lens info should be on the right, if not just change the 'mode' it displays. I use both lenses for action. Anything I can keep closeish in range I use the 35mm, it's simply just a better lens and so much faster than the 50-230mm so getting shallow DOF with it is easier. I'm not use to using any 'capable' camera so I dunno if I use the X-T1 correctly. You have 'performance' mode on, this is a must so good work. How do you use back focusing on the D700? You can use the AE-F button for this on the XT-1 and choose what it does, ie hold to focus, or push and lock focus. This works in single, constant and manual focus modes. Shutter focus priority I have as Focus for single and Release for Constant. Sure if tracking you'll get quite a few misses but I've found you'll get enough decent usable hits when burst shooting. I've only briefly tried Focus priority for contant but found with dogs being so random it sometimes just wont fire at all as it tries to work out what the nut bags are doing haha. The 56mm 1.2 is suppose to pip the 35mm, it's said to be super sharp wide open. Gets raved about lots so apart from ensuring you have enough DOF I wouldn't worry about opening it up, the 35mm also is a non issue. It seems one thing Fuji is really making sure of with the X system is all the lens are top notch. Using a prime vs a zoom for action is always going to be harder. I want wider angle lens now but also want the 50-140mm 2.8 when it comes out, I think will be very useful for dogs. It seems many of the 'pro' outdoor dog shooters use 70-200mm 2.8 Canon FF lenses alot, so it's close enough to that. Persephone, Yeah will be interesting. He might grow into his ears a little perhaps. His litter was dumped in the bush at 2 weeks and has grown up on a property with 10+ dogs and puppies, multiple cats, horses, pigs, and other animals so while the 'outside' world is all new to him I'm hoping his plenty use to all these things that 'suburban' only dogs go nuts because they've never experienced these animals. Hope it stays calm and chilled and well mannered also (well that'l be my roll I guess), having a dog of this nature that's also so capable physically and mentally is just perfection to me.

Thanks everyone :) One more (no doubt I'll snap a heap more very soon) Meet my new best mate Striker, I got him this afternoon, His a rescue, 5 month old Kelpie cross Stumpy Tail Cattle dog (only part that gives that away is his tail). I was amazed at how chilled and calm he was (both in and out of his comfort environments) for this combo and age. His about 12kg at 5 months, so not sure with these breeds what he'll end up, maybe 16kg I'm guessing? Striker Looking Up by SpoonShots, on Flickr

Ok I know double posting is probably frowned upon but felt these guys deserved a spot in the thread too. A couple of shots of my late Harvey(brown) and Chilli. Miss them heaps. Pic's are average from phone or point and shoot, but they deserve to be up :) Harvey & Chilli, always spoilt by SpoonShots, on Flickr I only had her 6 months, got Chilli to give Harv (6) a mate for his last 6 months or so on Chemo fighting lymphoma, and he ended up out lasting her by nearly 2 months. She a extremely rare tumor in the head, likely started before I even got her, she wasn't even two. Chilli Jumping at the Quarry! Waterproof camera helps lol by SpoonShots, on Flickr Best mate ever Harvey - 2008-2014 by SpoonShots, on Flickr -------------- Not my pics, but the wonderful work done by Ken of them. Harvey - 2008-2014 by SpoonShots, on Flickr Chilli 2012 - 2013 by SpoonShots, on Flickr Harvey & Chilli by SpoonShots, on Flickr

I haven't been on these forums for a while now, last posts were health related about my two, both sadly loosing there battles to cancers early this year. A photoshoot with Ken from Zoo Studio that Jen from Peiradise was too kind to organise for them both before their time kicked my photography interest into gear, I had so much envy of his job during that shoot haha. So I'm back considering/looking for another furry mate, had not noticed the photography section on here before. I recently acquired my first 1/2 decent camera, a FujiFilm X-T1 and love shooting dogs so figured I'd share some on here and get peoples thoughts from a dog lovers perspective :) ! Would love to think one day with enough practice could make it a bit of an earner perhaps (sure beats the current boring job) Wonderful camera though. Can see bank balance getting very small when the 2.8 weather proof zooms come out. Only have the 35mm 1.4 and the XC 50-230mm, which is a bit slow, but impressively sharp for $275 lens (at Ted's) A few below: Flickr Album here https://flic.kr/s/aHsjVj2kYf Jen's dog Acheron Ach by SpoonShots, on Flickr A mates Sheppard, Jess Jess in the morning mist & dew by SpoonShots, on Flickr> A friends Staffy, Rosie Rosie by SpoonShots, on Flickr Bronx, a rescue dog I shot, I think his just been rehomed Bronx - Rescue Dog Available for Adoption by SpoonShots, on Flickr A slightly smaller Snookie Snookie Jumping Tenis Ball by SpoonShots, on Flickr Not dogs, but was impressed how sharp the 1.4 in these just working with late arvo window light coming in, cat on the bed. Bell by SpoonShots, on Flickr Bell by SpoonShots, on Flickr

Cheers for all the support, hopefully you all had a good Christmas. I put this little video together this morning.

I had to make the hard decision today for poor Chilli to rest from her fight for life . Run free my girl, but not too far so that Harv can catch up. May the Kangaroos be plentifully and the chasing endless. Such an awesome furry kid, will love you forever. Me and Harv will miss you more than words can say. Taken way too soon. F'you cancer! 'Chilli' 5/1/2012 ~ 22/12/2013

The biopsy results came back today https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131217_194028.jpg This is an MRI slice front on at eye level. Scary to look at. Shows left and right side of the head front on, the RHS is normal, everything on the left that isn't right is abnormal/tumour. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131214_085216%7E01.jpg Their are quite certain she has an extremely rare esthesioneuroblastoma, which is a tumour that grows from frontal lobe of the brain. The oncologist had heard of two case. A quick Google seems there are less than 1000 reported cases world wide in humans! Searching with dog in the reference returns very limited results. The Oncologist thinks it has been there quite a while, perhaps a year, chance it could even be developmental. So she would have likely had it before I got her. Least she's been pretty spoilt since then :) Sadly this doesn't help Chilli at all. Treatment options are basically non existent. Radiation therapy may be possible, but it's effectiveness likely limited and short term sadly . Her eye is looking worse as time goes on but while she's very subdued around the house, she's still happy to get up and go for a walk, keen as to eat food, and more than happy to perform all her tricks for treats. She does seem to have good and bad periods. Like tonight she's certainly better than Sunday night. She's getting to do heaps of cool things, Sunday was the beach and bush with 5 of her furry friends (inc Harvey), she showed them cancer free dogs (and Harv, but his got an excuse) what stamina is haha. They've both spent the past two days at work with me, we close up tomorrow which is great as I hope she keeps at an ok level like she is tonight for a little longer :) I think as long as she's not constantly struggling at night/relaxing and is still happy to get up and do things, with no big signs of pain (Have Tramadol to help a little) she'll have me there 100% till the time comes, however soon, for her to sleep

Thank you everyone for your kind words. The MRI scans were a scary sight. The size and extent. 1/3 the size of her brain or more. A little time is a we have now and will cherish every moment. Special thanks to Ams (Jennifer), your generosity has me gobsmacked, just wondeful, thank you so much :)

Nope....I'm not normally up before 5 on a weekend but haven't slept much anyways so thought I come post on here. Lying on the floor Thursday night with harv and chilli relaxing, just watching her and looking at her poor eye I though why am I debating anything..... Money is irrelevant when it's your best mates as long as you can get it from somewhere, somehow you can get more of the filthy stuff to pay it back. So getting a little upset they both came over and chilli lay down next to me and snuggled he head in unde my neck. Deal signed, sealed and delivered.. MRI with all the trimmings for her Chrissy. Friday when eventually the specialist vet go back to me in the arvo he managed to squeeze a 4pm Friday arvo MRI in. 3 hours later I got the phone call. It was already clear in his voice before the details came. She's got a large spread tumor ;( I'll know more this morning but I seems to have originated in her nose/snout and grown out to push the eye, but also in and even eaten bone. My first comments were so if I'd just MRI scanned her first up!!? But no, he felt that by the time it had started to show up via the eye it would have been too late. Also nearly all tumors in that region are malignant too. Harv's oncologist was still there too to review, he said everyone was gobsmacked as seeing something like this in a dog under two is just unheard of virtually. While I'd wish I'd scanned straight away, I'm still so so glad I did in the end rather than putting her through the trauma of surgery option going in and losing the eye for no gain. I'll get a good idea this morning on how such a thing is affecting her pain wise to base how long (I think days ;( ) till she can run after roos and cats forever :) . I'm a bit worried how harv will now be in his final month(months maybe). I got her partly to give him a companion to the end. I've got nearly a month off so that's a plus.....I think with his other friends (mates dogs) hopefully he'll have a rotation of friends to keep him company Obviously pretty devisated and sad, but thanks to everyone for your input and support Dan Harvey Chilli

Thanks for your input kirty. Coming from someone that works in the exact related field does mean alot. Cheers Ams :) Eye would only be removed to gain easy access to remove the persisting issue behind, the eye is ok so no need to test it. I agree with the pain thing. They can be surprisingly tough buggers, us humans are sooks haha. Figures crossed at the off chance drugs work magic.

I talked to a friends surgical vet today to get other options. He could got at the issue directly, knowing the eye would be lost but with the aim to go straight in, remove the eye for maximum access and hopefully remove the issue. Obviously there is the possibly that it cannot be fully removed. This option may be around $1000, so certainly most cost effective. The Specialists want $1800-$2400 for MRI (depending on external scan reviews, biopsy requirements), and then if surgery is needed/possible $3000 - $5000 (with small chance of going higher if complicated) . They would aim to keep the eye and think most likely could. While the 'specialist' approach is best practice I'm seriously considering the other option. My concerns are putting her through unneeded trauma of surgery if it cannot be removed. Though in this case, say a tumour or whatever, anything removed should extend life. An MRI scan that finds something that probably would be $3-$5k operated due to low long term success would cost twice the price and not have helped her at all. She still seems happy today, no pain, actually likes me scratching right on her bulging closed eye (weird dog haha). Doesn't seem any worse today so really really hoping the double pred does something. As for the above choices, not an easy one. Curious to hear what others would do in this situation.

I typed all that on the phone so sorry for bad English/grammar haha

Actually just got home from the specialists, thanks for asking. It's progessed a little worse of the past week, so the drugs at antiinflammatory levels with antibiotics seems to have not worked. Given this, the progression over a month is fairly slow, pain still isn't presenting and her young age it does indicate to have a few things very unlikely and the vet and oncology (harv went for chemo to so could chat to them also haha). Lymphoma and Mast Cell Sarcoma (the more common cancers in young dogs),unlikely as the speed of progression is perhaps too slow. No pain and lack of drugs doing anything indicate an abscess isn't likely. That and the scan didn't show a clear distinct mass, irregular as mentioned. The possibility was bought up by the eye expert there that it could be an autoimmune response going on, not well documented but he had seen cases before. For 5 days will try double prednisole (20mg twice a day) to knock down immune system and see if it has an effect. Antibiotics will stay on just in case. I'm hopefully seeing a friends vet tomorrow whom does surgery involving eyes and surrounds to get a second option.

Wow, what a horrible situation. That really sucks that such scum ended up ontop in this situation. Some other horrible stories mentioned by others too. I feel realy fortunate with just how good all my neighbours are with anything, dogs, parties etc. What I find utterly sickening in these cases is the authorities do basically nothing. I wouldn't go into detail on a forum but I do know that some scum harming my pets vindictively and intentionally would certainly be finding life in general alot harder. Lack of govco authority resolutions to these problems surely indicates they want people to take care of their own problems?

Seems the antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs are sadly having no effect. While not a huge amount worse, I still think the eye is now pushing out more than on Wednesday. More out to the side than forward at all. She get's looked at again on Tuesday (Harv's usual visit day). Will discuss all possible options. Not sure if they see just going straight in to 'remove' the issue with the possibility to remove the eye if required as an option on their end though. I've been in contact with UQ Gatton, they may be able to help if need be, though their 'rates' are generally similar to specialists anyways. However they can do a diagnosis using the CT Scan equipment, and I guess from there can enact a 'fix'. Though I do realise CT Scan is not as good as and MRI for tissue type issues like this? $1000 vs $2000 though. I fell petty/pathetic as comparing such costs lol. The things now know are: Third eyelid first sign of problem straight after running through the bush Fairly certain the eye was also scratched (saw this 3 days later) Taken a few weeks for eye noticably bulge Antibiotics/Inflammatory drugs appear to have no effect (so not infection related?) There appears to be not pain or anything my than visual effect on Chilli. She still is acting and eating 100% normal and no level of normal touching anywhere produces pain response. I thing the 'trigger' is trauma related, impact to the eye and or head or something in through the eye. (If I can get the vet to agree, my house insurance has accident cover for the dogs which should help/cover this) .. Oh of interesting note also, the eye does seem to produce a slight odour. Hard to to describe but it's definitely there vs the other eye, not sure what that could mean/indicate.

Cheers. Yeah I've seen some scary pictures searching the net. I guess I'm probably overly paranoid too with Harvey's (my other dogs) Lymphoma now advancing faster and fast (maybe a month or few left) thinking the worst etc given the bad luck haha. Drug's will kick in and by tomorrow night should see it coming down..... there all fixed ;) lol.s

Oh OK, just noticed QLD in your profile bit. Oddly it really doesn't seem to bother her. Acting normal. I can even pat/scratch her (lightly) on her head just near the bulging and she doesn't care........ us humans really are sooks haha. To me it looks like the eye is being pushed my out to the side of the head then forward. Here is a few links to various photos taken today and yesterday. They are full size so you'll be able to zoom up really close (figured the more res the better?) so I wont embed them in here. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131204_173940.jpg https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131204_173938.jpg https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131205_182045.jpg This one looks most exaggerated, due to flash/darkeness behind https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131204_172604.jpg Reference photo from when I first picked her up about 5-6 months ago. As you can see that eye has always wept a bit at times (comes and goes) https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/HARVEY%20CHILLI%20TRIP%20HOME%20LUNCH.jpg Also note that my initial thinking when it first showed up was trauma. She looooooooves to run through the bush, and the 3rd eyelid came up that night straight after she'd taken off for a bit of a scamper late that arvo. No other signs of trauma or pain though. As I think I mentioned I'm sure I did see a scratch in the eye just after that though. This was take a bit over 2.5 weeks ago https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30992402/pics/20131115_062233.jpg Thanks heaps for your advise and information too by the way :)

South East Queensland based? Does the clinic focus only on the eye ball itself, or extend to the orbit etc? (The eye services specialist I first saw said he only handles the eye it self). I hear what you're saying with the whole eye saving, even the internal medicine vet I was talking to when I said, 'wouldn't you just remove the eye to get in and get rid of the problem' responded, no wouldn't be that drastic, would try to/should save the eye. I guess that's where the use of MRI etc then comes in. Times gone would a vet/surgeon just gone straight in, removing the eye and then working with what they find at a guess? I am still a bit confused as to why they were so reluctant to take a needle aspiration. Almost everything I've read it's what is normally done irrelevant of the type/level of non invasive scanning done. The 'reasoning' was 'not quite sure what it is so didn't really want to go poking needles around back there'..... To me, the not knowing part is why it's done? ............... 2nd night of drugs and no real changes, I don't think it's any worse at least. I'm guessing should hope to see some improvement tomorrow arvo?

To nut out the issues with one of mine, a combo of excitement, some bordem and a bit of SA I think leading to escaping/trying to escape, howling etc I found a cheap ebay IP camera invaluable. My Dog's stay outside during the day but it allowed me to see exactly what was going on remotely (via computer or on your phone). So for your type of issue allows to see what's going anytime, for how long, triggers etc. Something like http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tenvis-IPROBOT3-Silver-H-264-Megapixel-HD-WIFI-PTZ-IP-Camera-Night-Vision-NEW-/271315401510?pt=AU_Home_Personal_Security&hash=item3f2ba87b26&_uhb=1 They have pan and tilt and can be remotely controlled so can cover a wide area.

Yeah she loves the water, not bad given 5 months ago wouldn't even walk in to swim. I had to jump along side and take that pic in the air. Waterproof camera obviously lol

*double post*

First med's given last night. So I guess by Saturday would hope to see some indication of improvement? I'm certainly hoping. Yes this is my thoughts on the MRI too. Initially the plan was, Ultrasound under local, if looks like abscess or something the full anesthesia, ultrasound and needle aspire. But while they seen an 'irregular' shaped region they were a bit reluctant to go and and aspirate it. Turning to the MRI as their 'next' tool get get an idea, and aspiration from there. I do wonder sometimes when it comes to specialists who do have all the 'tools' and 'toys' if sometimes they play things too safe? Ie if I live somewhere more remotely, no access to and MRI would they have proceeded differently and perhaps had an answer at reduced cost also? The case you describe sounds somewhat similar. She's 100% fine, eating, running, chasing, playing, battling harvey, doesn't seem to have any pain. Thanks for explaining the drug doses, I did a bit of reading last night on the two myself. While I know they work on referral only, I emailed UQ Vet Centre at Gatton with my situation in the hope they may be able to help, at reduced costs. Website indicates they have CT Scan ability, no MRI though.