Last week, I was on Vancouver Island in a beautiful area that is now called "Oceanside". It encompasses Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Nanoose Bay. Last May, I started a project "Dogs of Oceanside" where I offered promotional shoots to dog-loving residents and gave 10% to the Parksville-Qualicum SPCA. As I make a book in Vancouver featuring my favourite Dog Art Photography of that year, I decided to make a book for Oceanside which will be launched early December 2012. I went back last week to photograph more dogs and have enough material for the book. And, of course, hear more stories.
One of the most beautiful and heart-warming shoots from this segment of Dogs of Oceanside 2012 was with Lloyd and Sacha. Lloyd booked with me weeks before when I was in Vancouver but then suddenly had to cancel because of illness. I was very happy when he was able to re-book his shoot as I could tell that it was something that meant a lot to him.
Lloyd and his wife got Sacha when he was 5 from a small dog rescue organization. Sacha had been given up by his previous owners who decided they wanted a purebred and Sacha was apparently not pure enough. How could someone give up a dog they had had for 5 years? Unfortunately, I am told sad stories about human nature through people's lives through their dogs as well.
Lloyd says that when Sacha raises his paw in this way, he is thinking deeply about something!
How could someone give him up?
But Sacha was soon adopted by Lloyd and his wife and cherished. Sacha was Lloyd's wife's pride and joy; he went everywhere with her and was often on her lap. I am not surprised! Look at that face and that soft teddy-bear body! And a most divine swishy tail ...
Sacha never goes right on the beach. He and Lloyd are happy promenading on the sea wall. But, of course, I wanted the textures of the beach for the background. Sacha had a good time and was probably wondering what was going on.
Here is Sacha on the Qualicum Beach promenade ... off-leash though. I talked Lloyd into taking off his leash. I don't really like leashes in pictures and often Photoshop them out ... Another first for the precious Sacha: the beach then off-leash on his promenade!
Tragically, Lloyd's wife passed away a few years after Sacha entered their lives. I think it is more difficult for a husband to out-live his wife than the other way around. It seems that most women are better able to deal with old-age, dramatic life changes and even being alone. You can tell Lloyd really misses his wife. But his face lights up like a boy's when he talks about his dog. Sacha has various cookie rituals at night and he and Lloyd have a variety of friends that Sacha particularly likes visiting. If you say "You want to go to Lorne's?", his ears perk and head cocks to the side.
This is one of my favourite Dog Portraits. The sweet disposition, innocence and comforting nature of Sacha is communicated through his trusting up-turned face and the gentle flow of his tail.
Lloyd is a tall rather gruff looking man; he seems stern when you first meet him and doesn't smile easily. It is like you have to earn the softening of his face. But, when he picks up Sacha, it is with such tenderness that it melts your heart. I am sure that his love for Sacha is also connected to his love for his wife; it is like she lives in his loving little dog. And, when Lloyd cradles him in the palms of his large hands, Sacha is the most precious.
