2014, Day 236 - Head, shoulders, knees, and toes

This is my boy Johan basking in the morning light.  Johan is my constant companion, he will follow me from room to room and is my best cuddler.  That's not to say the other dogs don't cuddle, they do but none are as determined nor as consistent.  Even when I'm working at my desk Johan usually has part of his anatomy pressed against my foot.  He worries about me as much as I do about him and my friend Teddy who works tirelessly in greyhound adoption deserves a lot of credit for ensuring that I have fantastic dogs.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.8, 1/90 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 204 - Little spoon

Johan is my little spoon.  He loves to cuddle and he has to be touching me at bedtime otherwise he fusses.  Yes, it may be rather odd to have dogs in bed but it is a battle I lost a long time ago and now there are three or four vying for their favorite spots every night.  Hubert likes to be close but not always within reach.  Stubbs snuggles up on and off but is always within reach.  Frankie is the most independent, he likes to cuddle on the sofa but he is usually on the other side of Hubert but it could also be that he was the last added to the household so he gets the worst spot and doesn't care enough to try for something closer.  With all these pointy dogs it can be like spooning a garbage bag full of coat hangers but I can live with it.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/125 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 107 - Recovery

Johan and Stubbs went to the vet yesterday to have their teeth cleaned and get their vaccinations updated.  Both had a growth or two that needed to be removed while they were anesthetized.  When I picked them up Stubbs was happy and energetic but Johan was happy and drunk.  I just figured that he had his dental second so he would be a bit more out of it.  By the time we got home I thought he would be more with it but he wasn't and after a five minutes standing in the back yard at the bottom of the stairs I had go back out and help him walk up one foot at a time.  He's back to normal now but he was even slower than usual yesterday.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f2, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 78 - Shifty

Johan, you're such a handsome guy.  He is always up for a cuddle and with Nicole in town he has already snuggled up with her.  Good thing I'm not the jealous type :)

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/125 sec @ 1000 ISO

2014, Day 67 - Get your feet wet

I can tell instantly by looking at the picture that the ground was still wet yesterday because Johan's foot is wet.  Still, he doesn't mind wading through puddles, for a greyhound he likes water.  A couple of years ago I had to go out of town for a couple weeks over the summer so I took the greyhounds to a boarding kennel.  Because the weather was so nice the owner put out multiple wading pools and filled each with about a foot of water and Johan practically lived in one the whole time I was away.  When I went to pick him up the owner of the kennel apologized profusely because he was still in a pool and she meant to get him out and dry him off before I arrived.  I didn't care, it was just nice to have my pups back and when we got home he received a bath and all the mud he made and bathed in turned by sparkling white tub into a brown sludgy mess.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 1000 ISO

2014, Day 30 - Patience

My sweet simple Johan.  He isn't playing with a full deck and sometimes simple things confuse him be he is one of the happiest most loyal and cuddly dogs you'll ever meet.  Unfortunately he is also one of the gassiest dogs as well but we all have our flaws.

This portrait was taken with my Canon EOS M.  It's funny how the press raked this camera over the coals because of its shortcomings.  Admittedly it is far from perfect but it is tiny, the image quality is great, and the autofocus, while not particularly fast, is very accurate.  Plus with the adapter I can use all of my big Canon glass on it and it becomes a tiny backup body.  It is much maligned and completely under-appreciated.

Canon EOS M, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/40 sec @ 4000 ISO

2013, Day 331 - Thanks

On this day it seems appropriate to reflect on our lives and consider all of our good fortune and offer our gratitude for those things.  For myself, today I give thanks for my family, friends, dogs, health, job, and all those little moments of serendipity that are so easy to miss.  It has been a little bit of a roller coaster today because one of the pups is sick, poor Hubert has been throwing up and I have had the dubious honor of being the cleanup crew.  I am so happy that I decided to invest in a small commercial carpet extractor a number of years ago.  While it is probably nearing the end of its life it has been worth every penny, especially on days like today when one of the dogs can't keep anything down.  I suppose I should give thanks for having a great vet who is working normal hours tomorrow so I can get Hubert in first thing in the morning before I too have to go to work.

Below is sweet Johan who has been worrying over Hubert all day.  He is always worried if I or one of the dogs doesn't feel well and I am sure he will worry even more tomorrow when Hubert and I leave together.  Johan isn't the smartest boy but he is very loving which more than makes up for any of his shortcomings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji 18-55/f2.8-4R OIS
55mm, f4, 1/10 sec @ 1600 ISO

2013, Day 268 - Sweetness

My boy Johan doesn't get a lot of photographic attention, he's not a big ham and tends to fall into the background when I have my camera in hand.  But when it is time to relax this boy is center stage.  He loves to cuddle and will get too close if you let him.  Poor Johan thinks he's a lap dog but he's really eighty pounds of pure love and this is my winter cuddle buddy.  He insists on sleeping in bed with me and I am fortunate that he is not only a sound sleeper but he doesn't hog to covers either :)

Canon EOS M, Canon 22/f2
22mm, f2, 1/40 sec @ 500 ISO

2013, Day 183 - Anxiety

It's that time of year again, the 4th of July.  The dogs hate it and, with time, it has become a stressful holiday for me as well.  No sleep because of all the noise, the neighbors invariably having some kind of minor fire started by their illegal fireworks, walking the dogs early and playing bad movies way to loud to drown out the noise.  And it wouldn't be bad if it were only one night but the celebration goes on for night after night often over the span of a week or more which means the trauma continues.  It gets bad enough that Stubbs, my sweet old man, will refuse to go outside after dark for months, literally.  Last year it took three months before he would willingly go outside after dark.  So make sure that the doors are locked, the windows are closed, the dog door is shut and that your pets are safe.  Blow off part of your own hand for all I care, but make sure your celebrations don't hurt anyone or anything else.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/40 sec @ 800 ISO

2013, Day 18 - Dumb prince

Johan has always been my cuddliest boy.  All the other dogs are affectionate but he is the one who insists on snuggling up with me every night.  The poor boy isn't the brightest bulb but he is incredibly sweet and loves to make new friends so it is easy to forgive his limited intellect.

For the photo nerds, check out the EXIF information.  I was pretty impressed...

Olympus OM-D E-M5, Olympus 9-18/f4-5.6
15mm, f5.6, 1/4 sec @ 400 ISO

2012, Day 138 - Smaug

My sister Laura has always commented on the slightly prehistoric build of my greyhounds.  I see what she means at times, their anatomy is obvious and they have some of the same look of pack hunting dinosaurs about them, something I am sure is not an accident of evolution.

This morning Johan found a comfortable sunbeam at the top of the stairs so I took his picture.  The way he is resting his head and his long neck puts me in mind of Tolkien's description of Smaug as he rested on his hoard.  Fortunately Johan is much more cuddly and hasn't laid waste to a city in months.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
30mm, f5, 1/640 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 265 - Dopey

This is my dope, Johan.  He was born with almost no brain at all but the near-empty cavity in his head was filled with more heart.  Johan is a sweet boy who loves everyone and whose goal in life is to cuddle.  If you come over to my house and sit down he will try to crawl into your lap and, failing that, he will curl up next to you as close as possible.  There are days when his simple-mindedness drives me crazy but moments later he professes his love again and all is forgiven.  Unfortunately his rather lackluster intellect isn't helped by his inability to keep his tongue in his mouth...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f2, 1/50 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 253 - Simple

The rumor on Google+ is that this week is all about dogs so even though I've shared photos of my hounds before I don't need much of an excuse to post more.  This is Johan, the sweetest and dumbest greyhound I've ever met.  He is all cuddles and affection but after a year with me he still gets confused by our daily routine.  Somehow he manages to be surprised when it is time to walk or eat or go to bed.  Don't misunderstand, he loves all of those things but he never tries to initiate any of it.  Despite an average of five walks a day he still forgets which side is his (always the left) and if Hubert gets in his way when he wants to go to the bathroom he simply gives up and opts to hold it.  Despite the occasional frustration he is a wonderful gentle boy whose dopey good nature is totally endearing.

Oh, and if you're not a part of Google+ just click on this link for an invitation.  It is a different kind of social networking but if you give it a little time it becomes addictive!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/50 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 150 - Sleepy

It has been a long weekend and I am exhausted.  Johan has the right idea, I am going to bed!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
31mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 125 - Micro-model

The sun retreated today and it was milder and overcast but quite pleasant so I went out with camera in hand to explore.  As I was admiring the garden of one of my neighbors I saw these tiny clusters of white flowers nestled in the ground cover.  They are probably a little more than one eighth of an inch across and when a fly alighted on one of the blossoms I knew I had a willing model...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 400 ISO

And because he was being so sweet, another picture of Johan relaxing and waiting expectantly for a belly rub.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 119 - Shifty

My sweet irresistible boy Johan. He was napping in a sunbeam until I pestered him and I adore the look on his face, those shifty eyes and long-suffering expression...


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f4, 1/60 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 111 - Inquisition

My sweet dopey boy! Johan is possibly the most friendly dog, he's not excitable, but he loves to meet new people and is a slut for belly rubs. To top it off he's a pretty boy and his eyes are just stunning :)


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/250 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 050 - Laziness

More of my lovable sofa slug. Johan is my cuddly boy and what he lacks in brains (substantial as it may be) is more than made up for with affection. Constantly rolling onto his back to beg to belly rubs and laying down immediately underfoot, I admit to being completely charmed by this big dumb boy.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

68mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 049 - Consumed

I've returned to an old friend; I've held on to my Canon 1D Mark III for quite a while because of problems I experienced with the autofocus of its replacement. Yup, my 1D Mark IV was a dud but Canon's Pro Rep took care of me and replaced it with a new copy that has been flawless. Still, I was nervous but after over 12,000 pictures I'm satisfied with its reliability so I sold the 1D Mark III and replaced it with a 1Ds Mark II. Yes, it is a step back technologically and I will miss the larger screen, easier navigation and the lithium-ion batteries of the newer generation but it is a return to a full frame sensor. There is something about the feeling of the files from this camera, the way they process and the details they capture that I really enjoy. Somehow the technology feels less digital.

With a freshly charged battery and poor weather I didn't have many opportunities to reacquaint myself but I did take a few shots while running around.

This poor tree was fenced in but refused to be contained and is slowly devouring the chain-link.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

70mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

And it has been a while since I've graced the blog with one of my boys and Johan looked so sweet cuddled up on the sofa.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

50mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 016 - Johan in love

I'm still working on my weekly portrait project and seeing as my friend Rachel came by to visit last night I coerced her into being my model and during the shoot Johan feel in love. That's right, Rachel has a new boyfriend, or at least that's what he thinks.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

52mm, f5.6, 1/60 sec @ 200 ISO