huga

I have one in wedding and two in portrait. All three earned me silvers at the state awards, so I am hoping for the same at nationals :) It's really just an excuse to have a big catch up and drinks :D

It's that time of year again :) APPA judging will be on from Fri 13th to Sun 15th of September. The PMA trade show is on too. Free entry if you pre register: http://www.pmaaustralia.com.au/ APPA judging schedule: Watching the judging is such an eye opening experience and is a great way to learn how to improve. It's strangely addictive too. For the first time, I am going down to see it in person, but it will be live streamed also. I love awards time :D

smallest Pitbull ever! See its definitely the muscly thing as Sid is one toned Frenchie! Could well be, Raineth. He has also been called a boxer, a jrt x and a rabbit :D Mostly though just pug, boston or 'what cross is that?'

People have no idea. Sid has been called a pitbull more than once

'Frenchies aren't allowed to run 20kms'

LOL Mim! That's so cute! Mine are usually just a result of taking photos in between blinks, but I thought this one was super cute:

We certainly were! I think he is the second Lappie to gain his ET in Australia.

We learned our lesson after the first lap, he heard my voice and tried to come over. And then after each break, he tried to veer over to me until I was out of sight. The presentation was probably an hour or so after the race finished. He was standing around for a while, waiting to see what was going to happen next and then I crated him while we had breakfast. He ended up snoozing and I had to wake him up for the presentation - that's why he looks so zonked :laugh:

Yeah, it makes sense - 140bpm is high for him. He was 110bpm at the very last week.

Oh wow, really? I live in noosaville :)

You should, Elise! It's a bit epic (glad I don't have the sore butt today - yay!) especially when you include the drive out there, but it's a super cool achievement.

A phone photo of the first vet check, he is getting his temp taken - hence the face :laugh: There are four checks in total - one before, one after 8kms, one after 6kms and one final one after the last 6kms. They have their temp taken, heart rate recorded and also condition of feet checked. His heart rate started at 140bpm and was 108bpm by the final check :laugh: I think it was just Sid and the malinois left standing, ready to go again - everyone else was flaked out on the grass.

They have to do a willingness test before and after, so I took him for the second one :) Obviously the other dogs have done official obedience, judging by their sits :laugh:

I thought I'd share some of the photos I took at the endurance test on Sunday at Kingaroy. There were 7 dogs all together and they all passed with flying colours :) If anyone recognises any of the dogs, please let their owners know. We had perfect weather, first vet check was around 4.30am and it was 0 degrees. Not sure what the temp was when they finished, but pretty sure it stayed under 20. After the first 8kms. He didn't really even pant the whole time. His breeder did the test with him, I just trained him up :) She has also titled his mum - they are the only two frenchies in Australia with their ET. The photos aren't the best, I had to keep my distance, because if he spotted me he tried to come over.

Thanks Tassie :) He is the second Frenchie in Australia to gain his ET (the first was his mum). His breeder has done some research and thinks he might be third in the world (apparently there is one in Sweden with his ET and a Herding title!).

A certain Frenchie gained his ET today :D

D5200 is just the newer version of the D5100. I would get as good as you can afford. Kogan is cheaper because it's grey. So it depends on whether you want an Australia warranty or not. I buy from Camera Pro. http://www.camerapro.com.au/nikon-d3200-black-body-only-australian-stock-strictly-limited-time.html http://www.camerapro.com.au/nikon-d5200-black-body-only-digital-slr-camera-australian-stock.html

Only Frenchies from here on in. I think Sid is a bit of a stand out though - his energy levels are perfect and I love how much he loves me I could do without the little white hairs sticking out of everything, but compared to Lola, it's nothing!

Isn't she amazing? I've bought her prints before (but from Redbubble).

Yeah, so auto inside isn't great. Try the manual settings for indoors :) Sometimes auto just doesn't get it right. (And I don't believe you).

But are you letting the camera choose the settings (indoors, I mean)? For eg indoors, if there isn't enough light, the camera will drop the shutter speed right down. And also, 1/500th isn't fast enough for my dogs sometimes either :) Or, it could be completely missed focus - focusing on something that moves as erratically as a dog is really quite tough! My house is pretty dark. Yesterday I was at f2.8 ISO1600 and 1/100th for this (obviously I can only get away with pushing it that far because we are on the same focal plane and standing still):

Honestly, you really just need to get outside when there is enough light and switch it to manual. Trial and error :) Start with an ISO of 200-400, shutter speed of 1/500th and aperture of say f4. Experiment.

He was a douche if he showed you the AF one for your camera. Maybe you saw the f1.4 (for $500)? Camera Pro have the 1.8 (which is my version) for $247. I get all my gear from them. http://www.camerapro.com.au/nikon-af-s-nikkor-50mm-f-1-8g-lens-australian-stock.html The only time I ever use my tripod is for selfies or long exposures at weddings. But I don't shoot landscapes. Keep in mind the amount of money that is balanced on top of the tripod, don't get cheap and risk it collapsing or falling over.

Get it. Most of us have it, it's the lens that is on my camera 90% of the time. Be aware that it doesn't zoom in and out. Also make sure you grab the AF-S version, as your camera doesn't have the focus motor in the camera body, so needs it in the lenses :)