Sunday, November 9, 2014

Try to exhaust your photographer

It is not news that there are health benefits to caring for a pet dog.  I am grateful for the psychological aspects.  Loving Ziva makes me happy, and that in itself will probably be good for my health over the long term.  Physical conditioning is more directly measurable, and it can't hurt to add miles to one's routine walking.  I already feel my endurance increasing, though I have a long way to go before I can compete with, for example, people who have been running or swimming for years.  Gradual progress, small steps it shall be.

We covered a good bit of ground this morning, pausing once so I could pull out my phone and shoot a makeshift sculpture that I think neighborhood kids created over a park sewer access cover.  Charming, isn't it?  Throne on a throne?


After more than an hour of hiking, I thought we might relax for awhile, but the dog of endless energy insisted on about two hours of tug-of-war, fetch the ball, tug-of-war, give me something to chew, tug-of-war, fetch, etc.

My satellite generally follows me into each room of the house when I wander, as I try to get things done (or not).  When I sat on the bed for a moment, Ziva lay down on the floor.  I sat beside her for a pet, and she promptly fit her head in the bottom of my foot and gave me this look:


Within seconds she was asleep.



Without moving my legs, I used the iPhone to try photos from different heights and angles.



After just a few minutes, Ziva awoke and was raring to exercise again.  I tossed a ball, which she repeatedly caught, expertly playing caroms off the wall and trees.  She distracted herself by attacking a pine cone, which I caught on video.  Here is a still frame.


I shot a four second video of her running the ball back to me, shaking it like a captured animal (poor thing, had it been alive), and I like this frame grab, blur and all.


There was a point when this all left me a bit exhausted, but the enthusiasm of my little quadruped companion has me feeling energized at the end of the day.  Good deal!


Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2014/11/try-to-exhaust-your-photographer.html


18 comments:

  1. Oh, she looks completely enchanted with you!! She reminds me of a child who cannot get enough out of life and hates to sleep but will do so when it is time. Great "throne on throne" shot. Natural art is the best, IMO. Great shots of Ziva in action - thanks!

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    1. It's nice to be appreciated by one's family, including a special pet. I also appreciate hearing from my viewers and readers, so thank you for your comment!

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  2. From the satirical news source, The Onion (hope you have your funny pants on):

    Animal shelters across the country are filled with dogs, cats, and other animals that need homes, though bringing a pet into your family can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Here are some tips for finding the perfect pet and making sure its transition into your home goes as smoothly as possible:
    •Most dogs require a certain amount of regular exercise, so just go with a cat.
    •Owning a turtle combines the thrill of staring at a rock with the fun of cleaning a reptile.
    •You may be asked to provide a reference, so it’s a smart idea to remain on good terms with any dogs you may have met in the past.
    •Don’t forget about exotic pets. Your new best friend might be a chinchilla, iguana, or blood fluke.
    •Remember that pet adoption is a perfectly acceptable option for couples who are unable to conceive a pet naturally.
    •Adjusting to a brand-new owner can be stressful for animals. Move into the shelter for a few weeks prior to taking your pet home so it can get used to you.

    http://www.theonion.com/articles/pet-adoption-tips,37399/?utm_source=The+Onion&utm_campaign=741268261c-The_Onion_Newsletter_Daily_Template&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6a8b5ad20e-741268261c-16737741

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  3. Has Ziva listened/watched you practice your violin?

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    1. Yes. She is interested, but doesn't seem to want to get too close. As sensitive as her ears are, I can't say I blame her.

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    2. Maybe she prefers percussion instruments?

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    3. Maybe. She's adept at using certain percussion instruments, such as tapping her feet, but also vocalizes on occasion. Sometimes she purrs. It's not produced in the same way as a cat's purr, but sounds somewhat similar.

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  4. No fair - we don't get to see the video of Ziva catching the pine cone?!

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    1. I'll have to see about putting it on YouTube and linking/embedding here.

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    2. The video is now here in the blog, though not in high-def. :<)

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  5. I'm not surprised she moved closely to your feet - dogs enjoy strong smells;)

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  6. I'm glad you shared the video because when I watched the video, I realized something. In the video, I saw only a mutt that I would normally overlook. It is truly through your photos and words that the magic of Ziva appears to me. You should write a book (with pictures included in the book). Since the title, "Marley and Me" is already taken, how about "Ziva and my Feet?"

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    1. I'm chuckling at your foot fetishist humor, but you've made a serious point that I appreciate. When I photographed a lot of weddings, I tried to explain to people why I felt that still photos could have an impact that video generally doesn't (though of course there can be great video too). I try to catch peak moments. As the quality of video improves, the idea of a "frame grab" becomes more and more appealing (just choose the "best" moment), but even then, there's a difference between positioning and adjusting a camera for a video sequence, and moving oneself about and setting the camera with the goal in mind of approaching one perfect shot. The perfect never happens (for me), but the look and impact of a fine sports or wildlife photo can be beyond what I would manage to extract from a video. In other words, it comes down to a way of seeing, I guess.

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    2. Yes...it is possible that if your foot were in the video then I would've enjoyed a more complete package...

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    3. Then I guess my e-book "Ziva and my Feet" should be subtitled "The Compleat Canine and Foot Fotographer".

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  7. Jess took my wedding photos and his work was incredibly magical. The poses he caught (he seemed invisible during the whole event) before and after the videographer was recording were highly artistic, intimate and beautiful moments that I will cherish for my entire life.

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    1. This is so sweet of you to say, and I'm gratified that you feel that way after the passage of some years! All the best to you both!

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