I'm getting back into the photographer swing, and the August challenge over at I Heart faces is perfect for me! The challenge is 'Pets' and I had three little hams running around the house begging for attention. Pickle was the most focused on giving me a charming smile though, so he wins!

Whats up??

I'm currently a bit smashed with lots of work, part-time single parenting to the dogs, cat and horses AND I'm doing a photography class this week in the evenings. However, I decided that you need to have more Pickle in your life! Enjoy:)

Really?

"Mom, I'm trying to sleep an the camera is making way too much noise."

Spring is the Hair

Spring is rough. Two horses. Two dogs. One cat. All of them fluffy. Yesterday I could barely breath for a large portion of the day. *snorf* Today I've got allergy meds keeping me going, but I am wishing that shedding season (known to others as spring) will pass quickly!

And by fluffy... I mean fluffy. Each of the house critters was kind enough to pose for a photo with their pile of liberated fuzz yesterday after I groomed them. My furminator is my best friend right now!

Fifty50: Pickle

I love photo challenges, but you wouldn't know it from recent post. I admit it- I have fallen off the challenge bandwagon. For several months I had my days planned around what challenges were coming up and what photos I needed to capture, but... it was too much for me. Between work, pets, life (and I guess I should mention the husband), I just couldn't devote that much time to photo challenges.

But... then I realized  the joy of periodic and monthly photo challenges- yay! Over at Chase the Light, Tracey has a variety of fun and no pressure photo challenges to enjoy. This month she started her Fifty50 project which focuses on diptychs (she has a great explanation of what that is). So what did I take 2 photos of?

Pickle, of course!

Well, I was mostly focusing on his ears.

They kind of do their own thing, no matter what he wants them to do.

"Mom- I'm being serious. Stop playing with the clicking black thing and pet my belly!"

"What? These are my serious ears!"

Poor Pickle- he won't ever be taken seriously until he gets more graceful and learns to control his ears.

I hope that never happens!

The week in Pickle

Why do puppies grow so fast? It seems like he gets larger by the day. Right now, his head looks way smaller than his body should warrant- not sure if we are on an awkward puppy phase or if that is how he'll end up:).

And we still have no idea what he is- sometimes he looks like a long dog (Corgi, Daschund, etc) cross, and sometimes he doesn't.

But he pretty obviously adores his older brother. He has a habit of sitting on Chowder's head or feet. For the first 2 or 3 times this happens, Chow will move. After that, he just gives up and accepts the awkward cuddles.

And they do spend a lot of time cuddled. I think Chowder is pretty content with his new little brother. They spend a lot of time wearing each other out with viciousness. Then they curl up and make me smile!

Pepsi still does not know if she accepts this interloper, but she hasn't tried to eat his face yet, so I take that as a good thing.

Puppy Eyes

I was up earlier than usual this morning, and before heading to work I curled up for a few minutes on the couch with Chowder. I got up to head to work, looked back, and this is what greeted my eyes.

Puppies are great at guilting you. "Mom, we need to talk. Really, you shouldn't have moved until I did, and then you should have pet my belly. And given me bacon. And cat food. Rude, mom, so rude." *sigh* I did give him a treat- I am a sucker for those eyes!

My workout

Puppy sweet and soft
Questions why I stand so odd
Perplexing yoga

I cropped the shot, adjusted the white and black levels, then used Pioneer Woman's vintage action to make it look a little dreamier.

Scavenge

1) Food-It is distinctly possible that I am spoiled when it comes to food. Case in point- creme brulee sous vide cheesecake (instructions can be found here for the culinarily brave). The red bits are raspberry that was frozen in liquid nitrogen. Yum!

2) Purple- I'm working on taking pictures of things that aren't as interesting to me and trying to make them look cool. This is basically my first try at that, and while I don't think it really succeeded, I do like the purple of the cabbage!

 

3) In Disguise- Somehow I didn't get one for this recently. I know- I'm a failure! I love Halloween, but this year I got the house decorated, then pooped out- no costume for me! Next year:) Instead, I shall share a photo of Chowder pretending to be a Hogwarts student!

 

4) Shapes- Meet Bear. He loves playing ball. And swimming. Sometimes. After working himself up to jumping into the water. Such a sweetie! I was trying to get shots of the shapes of the water ripples when he swam into the frame and I love this image!

5) Photographer's Choice- What can I say? I love Pepsi's smushed, sleepy little face!!

Next week's prompts are:
1) Before and After (processing)
2) Opposing Lines
3) Custom Bokeh
4) Which pair of shoes should I wear?
5) Little features (little hands, little feet, etc)

Chowder Up Close- the last!

I believe that if Chowder became people, he'd end up as a hobbit. Look at those toes! All that fuzz between them is really unnecessary! When he is flopped down, you can see that he has hair that grows down from between his toes... and it is an inch long at least! He has warm wee tootsies!

Chowder Up Close: Part 3

Welcome back for another installment of Chowder Up Close!! Chowder has random hair that sprouts at odd angles, and makes his little ears so adorable!! Squee!

Chowder part 2

Chowder loves to sniff. We'll be out for a walk and he'll sniff so hard to find the bunny that he doesn't even notice it sitting a few feet away from him. He loves explaining the world to himself through his little nose, he provides endless amusement to those around him with his constant questing!!

I love his wee little nose (and the rest of him!).





 

Chowder Up Close: Part 1

I think we all know I'm obsessed with my pets.

Copper doesn't like the camera. Lyric likes to stick his tongue out at me, and Pepsi only sometimes deigns to pose for the paparazzi.

I thought that Chowder, as happy go lucky as he is, would be more than willing to pose whenever I wanted. Just turn him loose in the yard, throw a few toys, and snap away!

I was wrong.

Chowder would ham it up, tear it up, then clam up the instant I lifted the camera! So I'll show you some of my favorite parts of Chowder, up close and personal, one shot at a time.

Chowder's eyes are warm, adoring, and they reflect back the world in a pup-colored light. When you are a Chowder, the entire world is your buddy.

Happy puppy:)

SOOC: I tweaked it by cropping and running PW 'Bring on the Eyes!' at 75% and Boost at 80%.