Dogs of Flint Portraits: Part Deux

rexbobcat · Mar 24, 2014

Last December I started a project I titled Dogs of Flint (because the photos are taken in a park on Flint Avenue and I'm bad at titles) in which I go up to (mostly) strangers and offer to photograph them and their furry friend. My city doesn't have a designated dog park, so this park is kind of the de facto dog park even though everyone who lets their dog off a leash in the park runs the risk of being ticketed.

For my first go-around I used a telephoto with off-camera flash, but I just didn't...like it. The compression mixed with the small apertures (my camera only syncs to 1/160) just didn't look that nice.

So for these, I decided to go a little more wide angle and I used my X100s. The leaf shutter/built-in ND were nice too lol.

1.

2.

3. Yes, I know, the shadow behind her. I should have moved her to the left (her right) into that clear spot of grass.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8. I guess there is some truth to the saying that dogs look like their owners, ha.

Honestly, I'm just not sure I have any purpose or overlying theme with this project. I mean, obviously I'm giving people free photos with their pets that they probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise, but, I don't know. I just wanted a personal project that didn't require a lot of moving parts. IE: Various locations, models, etc...

Let me know what you think.

sarah_19_nz · Mar 25, 2014

I LOVE these, what a cool idea! so do you send the photos to the people when you have finished editing them? Very, very cool. Love the processing.

DanOstergren · Mar 25, 2014

I love them all, but particularly love 5 and 8. It helps that the guys are easy on the eyes too. :heart:

Braineack · Mar 25, 2014

what size was the softbox you were using?

Nevermore1 · Mar 25, 2014

I like them all! #'s 5-8 are my favorites of the batch. The coloring on #6 is really nice, the little girls dress is bright compared to everything else but still fits the rest of the colors in the photo.

jenko · Mar 25, 2014

Very nice shots! My favs are the more candid ones, like #1 and #6. I think I like these best because you get a glimpse of how these people interact with their dogs. The personal items just add more to the narrative.

As far as the purpose of the project--what will it be used for, or what is the best case scenario you can imagine for it? A photo book, show at a gallery, something else?

Robin Usagani · Mar 25, 2014

Hand them your card and have a gallery ready for print and digital purchase.

rexbobcat · Mar 25, 2014

sarah_19_nz said:
I LOVE these, what a cool idea! so do you send the photos to the people when you have finished editing them? Very, very cool. Love the processing.

Thanks! Yeah, I pretty much just get their email and information (dog's name, etc...) and email it to them if they want it. I don't charge because, well, it would just seem kind of sleazy to just show up and take photos uninvited and then hold the photos for ransom. If they knew I was going to be there for an event or something, then it would be different. Dealing with money for a project like this is too much stress. I'd rather just know that they have my business card and one of my photos. Heh.

rexbobcat · Mar 25, 2014

DanOstergren said:
I love them all, but particularly love 5 and 8. It helps that the guys are easy on the eyes too. :heart:

Thanks. Yeah, that's one of the nice things about going to college in a boring city. The only things to do are work out and take your dog to the park (or both, dogjogging), so it was just a matter of time before the handsome guys showed up.