LIFE IS BETTER WITH A DOG

There are so many things I love in this world.

Animals occupy a huge space in my heart, especially dogs. I grew up with a dalmatian and he was the most human like creature I've ever met. He never used to play, he looked at other dogs as if they were silly. When I was sad, he would patiently sit by my side and look into my eyes, deeply, in silence. It was like having a brother.

Approaching his 17th birthday, he decided it was time to go.

April 2016.

Someone very special bought me a camera. I've always wanted one. Here are a few photos I took this year... 

Sue.

Loyal, lovely natured staffie, but as many dogs of her breed she has an hyper temper which can be hard to control... especially when she sees me ! - probably because I always give her sweets (hopefully her owner will never read this).

To me, photography is a way to remember things I would usually forget. By capturing these moments, I remember the precise feeling I had when taking the photograph. What happened before the scene? After? What about the subject? Did I go back to this place since or was it a unique trip? Who was I with?

Here is Sue's best friend, Kye.

Lovely labrador, madly in love with her, clumsy and very affectionate. He gets incredibly excited by the word "biscuits". However after spending all day playing in the water, he is giving us one of his more intense and dramatic looks.

June 2016.

We took a walk to the Conic Hill, above Balmaha. The views over the Loch were incredible, but Kye was too busy fighting the highland midges (small flying insects typical from Scotland).

A French lady, Milka.

Her eyes can be disturbingly human at times. She doesn't have much patience towards younger dogs. She normally goes out to the fields where her owner works or stays home to protect her kingdom.

Diva, her rival for attention.

Spanish dalmatian, stubborn and as energetic as Sue. She keeps stealing shoes from people.
This summer, she came on holidays to the Basque Country...

...where she met Milka. This photo illustrates well their relationship.

I think it's amazing to see how each dog I meet has their own personality.

They're all different, with their qualities and their defects, their attitudes, habits, reactions, faults and guilty pleasures... just like humans.