I didn't know there was an Oceanside in our beautiful BC. I have been visiting Qualicum Beach for years, staying with my good friends and generous hosts Joe Rosenblatt and his wife Faye. (See the previous post which is an interview with Joe, aka: the Dogfather).
On one of my visits, my Dogfather (Joe) said in his gruff, matter-of-fact, fatherly way, "You should photograph the Dogs of Qualicum Beach. People are crazy for their dogs here ... the town is run by dogs. Even the mayor is a dog!" I didn't know whether to take him literally of figuratively. And, if the latter, it may be an insult to dogs!
I generally heed my Dogfather's advice so, I embarked upon my project 'Dogs of Qualicum Beach'.
Well, this Blog Entry isn't called that, you may be thinking, what about this Oceanside place? OK. People over there on the mid-East side of Vancouver Island were so excited about the project that I started getting calls from Parksville (a bit to the south of Qualicum). It was then that I discovered Qualicum and Parksville are no longer entirely separate entities; they have been united into the amalgam of Oceanside. Times they are a-changin' ...
So, the first dogs in my Dogs of Oceanside series are Mitzy and Benny. They are two rescues and are very sweet sensitive dogs. Mitzy has no eyes. I had never photographed a blind dog before and it was a special experience. Of course, she is very sensitive to sound and I had to be very quiet when photographing her as, if I did some of my wacky barks or meows to get dogs to look and tilt their heads in that cute way, she would look around, trying to discern what that foreign sound was! I had to be quiet; she only responded to the familiar voices of her human companions, Gerry and Ken.
I love this one! It is one of my favourite dog pictures. I think it captures the essence of her sweetness and delicacy.
This is one of the portraits Gerry and Ken selected for their Dogs of Oceanside special package. Here is Mitzy, in their colourful garden.
Benny is Mitzy's side-kick. He is a Bichon Frise and is also a rescue. I got some lovely shots of him in the front garden.
The magnolias trees were in bloom when I was there, so I got this lovely shot of Benny amongst the magnolia petals.
This one I call "Benny at Versailles." Yes, I do get a thrill from composition and design in my images!
OK, one more of Benny that I can't resist posting:
I adore this one! Look at the symmetry! Look! God I love symmetry. Not always of course, but in my Dog Art Photography, I strive for perfection.
The next Dogs in my Oceanside Shoots are Bravo and Regent, two most charismatic and snortely pugs! They live in a beautiful home high on a cliff that looks over the Georgia Straight. Here is one of Regent on their deck.
Is it possible for a pug to have even more personality? Regent you and your crooked tongue rock my aesthetic world. And the mauve deck, and those funny feet poking out. What a perfect guy! Regent is also extremely affectionate and spent a lot of time rubbing his head along my legs as I sat on the ground photographing he and his 'bro, Bravo. Here is Bravo on the couch. Notice that he is accompanied by a pug cushion?
And as the Magnolias were out and had fallen on Irene and Robert's front steps, I had to take advantage of such random Beauty. Here is Regent again "Regent & the Magnolia Petals." I will be making this piece 20" x 30" and mounting on Dibond for my studio.
And, finally, here are Regent and Bravo together on their front stairs, two stone Chinese Pug statues on either side. When people love pugs, they really LOVE their pugs.
Those are the first four Dogs of Oceanside. More to follow!
