2014, Day 230 - Determination

This is Bambi and she loves to run.  Her owner is so devoted to her that he is willing to drive her to any event within six hundred miles of his home so she can compete.  Bambi isn't the fastest dog on the field and at ten years old she is almost certainly the oldest but she is in great shape and racing is her greatest joy in life.  I admire and applaud her owner for his willingness to literally go the extra mile for his dogs.  It is obvious that they are loved and you can see it in her face as she barks while chasing the lure that she's having the time of her life.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 224 - Switch

This is my dope racing his little heart out.  The lure just made a 180 degree turn and his ears shot straight up.  I love that expression and how you can clearly see his single blue eye.  He may not be fast but the goober has heart!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/1000 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 222 - Stilt

Another great weekend of racing and with the help of the entire group it went quickly which means we were able to get out of the sun before the heat of the day became really oppressive.  This sweet lady had no one else to race with but she had a good time nevertheless.  It was a lot of fun having other breeds.  In addition to the single Rhodesian ridgeback there were pharaoh hounds, basenjis, Italian greyhounds, and silken windhouds.  Each breed runs very differently but with the same infectious enthusiasm, it's a lot of fun to watch!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
165mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 203 - Change places!

The most exciting part about lure coursing is see how the dogs handle it when the lure speeds off in another direction.  Shelby here did quite well and you can see she's putting on the brakes because the lure literally turned 180 degrees and is now speeding back towards her.  Some dogs are so agile they almost meed to pirouette.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II w/ Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 155 - Flowing

Miss Pagani had a great weekend and showed that she is pretty much amazing at everything she attempts.  Unfortunately a bad match racing distracted her on what started off as a good run and she didn't place where she should have.  Oh well, Pagani had fun it's only the people that worry about whether or not they win and in her mind she won all weekend.  It's sometimes hard to believe that this goofy girl is almost canine perfect because it's her personality that really captures your attention.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-300/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
205mm, f8, 1/1000 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 154 - Neeeeeruh

This is sweet Shelby showing us her moves on the course.  Today wrapped up the third day of racing and although the weather was near-perfect and the past few days were spent with friends they were long exhausting days.  The dogs were incredible, they were fast and focused on the track but morphed from racers into cuddly friends moments after they finished running.

I am back home swaddled in the comforts of modernity and enjoying it immensely.

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 117 - Diamond in a slingshot

Little miss Cartier is on fire!  Last weekend she went lure coursing and won best-in-field two days in a row and today she won the oval racing meet.  Those are pretty big accomplishments especially considering she is just two years old and half the dogs on the field are twice her size.  And yet, at home, she's a princess, Cartier loves to cuddle and be carried but on the field she wants to win.  Congratulations Jason, Melissa, Karen, and Paul but most especially congratulations Cartier!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 160 ISO

2014, Day 96 - Bouncing

This is my turtle.  Yes, Frankie is the perpetual loser but he loses with style and has such a great time doing it.  It must be nice to participate in a sport where the winner is whoever has the most fun because Frankie is certain that he wins every time.  The nice this is that there is a prize for "most appreciated" which is usually a toy, not that Frankie cares about toys but it allows him to be a good uncle and send it to his favorite nieces and nephews.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 89 - Zoom

This lovely boy is Nike and his father is Frankie's great uncle.  He is a very sensitive boy and it really helps when he gets a lot of attention prior to racing, especially if it comes from children.  Unfortunately the kids we brought to give him a pep talk were a bit busy playing so I had to do the honors.  We had a little pre-race cuddle and while it seemed to help some it wasn't the same so next time Analena and Amarie better bring their A-game so Nike can win.

It's kind of fun that there are so many dogs in my extended canine family (literally) that I get to see frequently :)

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 16 - Siblings

Well, not really siblings.  Frankie is racing with his half brother D'Artagnan.  They have the same father who I guess is a little slutty but have different mothers.  If he didn't leap straight into the air before he started to run Frankie would be a bit faster but if he were human he would have been the odd kid who wore a cape every day in middle school.  He has a flair for the dramatic which he definitely gets from his mother.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II w/ Canon EF Converter 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 1250 ISO

2014, Day 15 - Flecked

Midweek fun!  Somehow it was decided that we should have a little racing practice again today.  We had a practice a couple of weeks ago but since it was shortly after I got back from visiting my parents for the holidays I went but Frankie stayed home.  Today he got to come and run hit heart out.  He had such a good time and did quite well although he would have done better if he didn't bounce all over the field but I suppose if you're going to do anything do it with style.

We had some heavy rain over the weekend and the ground isn't anywhere near being dry.  Sadly, if there is another dog in front of you it is inevitable that you'll end up with mud on your face and Frankie's face is flecked in mud.  But where his high leaping running style pays off is that you don't kick muddy water onto your butt so all it took was a washcloth to make him look shiny and new again.  He's tuckered out, when we got home he ate his dinner and put himself to bed and now it is just about my bed time.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II w/ Canon EF Converter 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 800 ISO

2013, Day 257 - Slow and steady

Usually puts you in last place.  Today Frankie didn't disappoint, he won the turtle award for at least the fifth time this season, dead last.  Fortunately there is always a prize for being the slowest so it is actually better than being second-to-last.  The best part is that Frankie LOVES to run, he  has such a good time, this is his favorite thing in the world so even though he is about as fast as a snail it is worth it :)

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/800 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 208 - Return of the turtle

Another day of racing and another turtle award!  Yup, Frankie came in dead last again although this time his normal running companions weren't able to make it so he had much tougher competition than usual.  Being the generous guy that he is Frankie gave his turtle award to the puppies who love toys more than he does.  The little man is passed out on the sofa behind me as I type; he has a lot of fun and tries his best even though he errs on the side of "slow and stylish."

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/2500 sec @ 250 ISO

2013, Day 207 - Gums flying

The fun thing I found about lure coursing is that the dogs don't wear muzzles.  They don't run tightly packed so I suppose it isn't considered necessary.  Normally a muzzle wouldn't allow the dog's face to fly like this but I love it.  She isn't upset, her face is relaxed and the motion of her running combined with raw speed is pushing back her flew (lips).  Think of Jeremy Clarkson driving a track-day vehicle or elite runners.  She did great, it was a really nice run and I got some fun pictures in the process.

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f4, 1/5000 sec @ 250 ISO

2013, Day 206 - Freight train

This is Frankie's brother Sand lure coursing.  Although they're both handsome Sand is a really solid boy, he is about the same height but literally twice Frankie's width.  He is a freight train; Sand builds momentum quickly and there is absolutely no stopping him.  This boy LOVES to run and even though he has more weight to move than most dogs his size he has so much heart, so much drive, that they can't keep up.  Here he's barking at the lure to let it know who's boss!

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f4, 1/5000 sec @ 250 ISO

2013, Day 198 - Rivalry

These two are not quite six months old and although they have a little more growing to do they are just stunning.  Mocha, the little girl about to be eaten by her sister, looks just like her mom.  Pagani is a bit of a monster but she is a happy girl who knows no fear.  She demanded to be with the adults when she was three months old and when it came to play time they were afraid of her instead of the other way around.  I don't know if they're going to be fast but they sure love to run!

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f7.1, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 180 - Precious

This was Cartier's first time on the oval and she had a bit of a rough start.  Her excitement got the better of her and she got turned around in the starting box.  When it opened all that could be seen was her posterior.  Not to be deterred, she turned around and got a really late start.  But, being the good girl that she is, Cartier took off after the other dogs.  She ran the whole course flawlessly but, given her late start, came in dead last.  By her third race she was doing really well and enjoyed every minute of it!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 176 - Demented

I was told over the weekend by a friend that Frankie might actually be a decent racer if he didn't politely slow down to let the other dogs pass him when they get close.  As far as I can tell, he would be faster if he didn't worry so much about looking pretty when he runs.

This morning I was trimming the hair between his toes.  Yes, it is weird but he gets little mops on his feet and tracks in dirt if I don't get out the clippers from time to time.  As I removed all the excess hair I set it aside in a small pile to pick up when I finished when, out of the corner of my eye, I see movement.  It's Hubert coming to check out what is going on.  He is a curious little monkey and I thought nothing of it; he sniffed the pile of hair and then, to my surprise, he took a mouthful and ate it.  Who eats hair?!?  I always knew he was an oddball but that was a new one...

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 173 - Prodigy

Despite the rain it was another great day of racing today.  Halle, at not-quite two years old, showed us what a phenomenal competitor she is.  Her stride is long and low so she covers ground quickly and is well on her way to being one of the country's top racers even though she has only three months of experience.

Frankie, on the other hand, showed his consistency again.  That's right, he won the turtle prize for being consistently last.  Well, that's not entirely true, but he did end up with the lowest score of the day despite having over a year of experience.  As per usual, Frankie just wants to look good and he is way too polite.  As another dog gets close he slows down to let the pass!  I don't think he understands racing but he is winning a lot of turtle themed toys and having a great time and when you're that spectacularly bad it is funny.  I love that little monkey!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f8, 1/1000 sec @ 320 ISO

2013, Day 164 - Panning practice

Fast action shots are so rewarding but my favorites require good panning skills.  In this photo the dog is sharp but the feet and grass is blurred, even at 1/1000th of a second.  Ideally I would have shot at half that speed but with dogs it is hard, they move so quickly and change speed frequently so it is hard to get good panning shots of them and the keeper rate is already low.  I would love to get out to shoot the racing at Portland International Raceway again some time this year.  Cars move much more predictably and you can really work on your panning skills with them.  In fact it is really fun to use a short lens on the inside of a corner because you can get some amazing motion blur.  I guess that is another thing to add to the list...

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5, 1/1000 sec @ 400 ISO