Another recent visitor to the studio was Mickey, a 6 month old British Bulldog. He had such a cheerful disposition and constantly wanted to run to me for pats. I was only too happy to halt the photo session every few minutes to have some puppy cuddles – any excuse to spend some time with an endearing bundle of bulldog. I captured a series of cute puppy shots, along with a selection of formal sensitive portrait pics.
Having owned two Rottweilers in the past, I was delighted when Fonzy the Rottweiler recently arrived for his studio photography session. He was such a magnificent dog, with impeccable manners. He had a large adorable rottie head and weighed around 50 kilos! And as one of the best behaved big dogs I’ve seen, he was such a gentleman!
Meeting Fonzy made me nostalgic about the two Rottweilers I had loved…and lost. My first ever dog, given to me by my parents for my 16th birthday, was Alee. Her mum Sue was our neighbour’s dog, and the first time I met Alee was the day she was born. I would frequently jump the dividing fence between our properties to visit her each day, and enjoyed watching her grow up into a stout puppy. She was well travelled, living with us in Tom Price, Adelaide and Perth and whilst she liked people, she was not a fan of other dogs. Sadly she passed away after eating Rat Sack - not a substance I kept in the house, so I suspect she either ate a mouse who had succumbed to Rat Sack, or more horribly, was poisoned by someone unknown. She was 9 years of age, and passed away in my arms. I took some comfort in knowing I was there the day she was born, and the day she died.
Then there was Bear, who came to live with me after I adopted her from the RSPCA in 2000. She enjoyed bouncing and bumbling along on her walks (she had bad arthritis and was blind in one eye) and was the most loyal dog I’ve ever met. She lived a full and happy life for 12 years until December 2007, when she surrendered to poor health.
Rottweilers will always be a breed dear to my heart, and I know another one will be a part of my family down the track. In the meantime, I get to be in the company of dogs like Fonzi who give me a little rottie ‘fix’.
On Sunday 27th December 2009, the second Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre studio photo session was held. This time the reptiles and animals came to our studio, and once again it was fantastic to be up close and personal to such unique creatures. It really is the best part of my job!
This time around we photographed:
Two barking geckos, with the most intricate patterns on their body. These lizards were so fascinating to watch, with their bulbous tails and beautiful shiny eyes.
A bobtail who had a fondness for tomatoes. You haven’t lived until you have seen a bobtail eat a tomato – It’s messy and dramatic, but lots of fun to watch.
An active stimson’s python who enjoyed being on the dark backdrop, merging into interesting shapes.
An 8 week old female quenda, a relative of the bandicoot family. Quenda’s are sometimes mistaken for rats, and are often found in people’s swimming pools, falling in when they lean over for a drink.
A 10 month old rare Queensland Swamp Wallaby, the last of his type as he only has 10 chromosomes. From the comfort of his pouch, he watched with wide-eyed curiosity as the other animals had their photographs taken.
A 6 month old baby possum, named Charlie, who didn’t stop to smell the roses – he ate them! Charlie was a photographers dream, with his active nature and cute possum features.
Many thanks to Bec, Nathan and Margie for giving up half a day to bring in their reptiles and animals; to Pauline for entrusting us with her precious wallaby; and to Suzie for once again being my head-animal-handler extraordinaire!
Don’t forget about our current special photography promotion in support of the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. From now until 28 February 2010 every studio photo session and gift voucher purchased will include a 5 x 7 inch print, valued at $120. Plus, we will donate $25 from each session and voucher sold to Kanyana!
You can view our entire Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre gallery here.
Big congratulations go to June Butcher for being named of “Senior of the year”. June founded the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre with her late husband Lloyd in 1986. Together, from their home in Gooseberry Hill, they built Kanyana into the ”powerhouse of energy and passion” it is today, with over 140 volunteers and 2000 animal admissions a year.
I am thrilled for June to be recognised in this way, and am looking forward to the opening of the new Kanyana hospital and animal centre at Paxworld in Lesmurdie later this year.
To volunteer at Kanyana, or to donate, become a member, or adopt an animal, visit Kanyana’s website here.
The fabulous team from Clever Starfish have posted a news article on their website about Houndstooth Studio. You can read the article here.
Feeling like I should share the love, if you are in the market for an amazing new website (or software development or internet marketing) and want to work with professional, talented, knowledgeable people, then look no further than Clever Starfish. They really are the best at what they do!
As part of my official photographer duties for the RSPCA WA, twice a year I conduct pet photography classes for children aged 8 to 12. The sessions are part of the RSPCA’s school holiday program and staff rate them as the most popular activity of the program! Participants learn several tips and tricks to help them take improved animal photos and a practical session of photographing animals is held too. It’s great value for only $25, all of which goes to the RSPCA WA.
This year we are running two classes on two dates;
Friday 8th January 2010 from 9:30am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Tuesday 28th September 2010 from 9:30am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 3:30pm
For more information on the RSPCA WA’s school holiday program click here, or to make a booking call 08 9209 9325.
Oscar the black kitten often visits during the school holiday photography classes.
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a special celebration to welcome in 2010!
This New Year’s Eve I was lucky enough to be on Rottnest Island. For those not from Western Australia, Rottnest Island is 20km off the coast of Perth. It is a holiday playground for tourists and locals - with a stress free atmosphere fostered by swimming, boating and fishing. Private vehicles aren’t permitted, so cycling is the chosen mode of transport for most people, and it’s not unusual to find hundreds of bicycles lined up at the entrance to every beach and outside each coffee shop. Rottnest is also the home to a unique marsupial called a quokka.
The quokkas appear just before sunset, coming out into the cooler air to feed. Armed with my point-and-shoot Canon D10 (the big Canon regrettably stayed home) I photographed as many as I could find – Which was a lot!
They are possibly one of the cutest creatures ever! And it was a fabulous way to start the New Year. I have a feeling it’s going to be a big one!
Now, if only someone could can tell me how I can get a quokka into the studio…
