Just back from the VPPA (Virginia Professional Photographers Association) convention in Portsmouth and once again I took so much away from the experience of getting together with other photographers to share, as well as participate in presentations from some of the most talented professionals in our business. Personal and professional growth is so important in any business, but particularly important when you are in a business where fresh creative energy is so vital in delivering the very best to your clients. There are some pretty awesome photographers all over the world, and it is so cool that we can all share through internet forums and blogs etc. But, there is really nothing like the face to face that you get when people convene from all over our state to share what is going down in our very own neighborhood. There is some amazing talent out there and we are well represented in our little part of the state, too. Talented people who are committed to their craft, what a fun business this really is!

Now, I am also proud to report that Jack did very well while I was away, too. It kinda made me sad knowing that he would not have anyone to play with all day and have to spend extended periods of time in that place from which he thinks no dogs return (the crate). BUT, as with my own personal growth, Jack was able to grow as well and will now go into the crate on command and actually lay down without so much as a whimper. In fact, he spent about four hours in the crate yesterday without incident. Amazing! Good boy, Jack! I’m so proud of you.

So now, all that Jack has to fear is… er…. well…. the CAMERA! I can’t really say it is fear because he doesn’t really get that wild eyed look like he does when he hears a fire engine. But, it is clear that Jack is quickly becoming impatient and annoyed when the camera comes out and he is interrupted from his comfortable lounging on the bed or sunning on the living room floor. He is obviously NOT a poser. But he is so cute and I love him so much, how can I resist??? I mean I can hardly go get a cup of coffee without wanting to curl right up with him for a mid-afternoon snooze.

Oh well. Jack, you’ll be happy to know that pretty soon I will be too busy to annoy you. You’ll be lucky to get in that morning romp in the park, much less the after lunch one, too. So suffer me now for you will be able to rest later when the dog days of summer are upon us.

Good boy.

Well, he’s been here almost a month and I really cannot believe what a great dog he has turned out to be. I would have to say that Jack ranks right up there with the world’s best. He is just about completely house broken and uber intelligent. He can already sit and lay flat on command and knows the meaning of just about all his other commands. He can retrieve already, a feat it took my Golden about 6 months to learn. But best of all, Jack is a constant companion and loyal to the nth degree. He doesn’t chase people but makes every effort to befriend them all. He loves my friends and they love him. What else could you ask for in a dog.

Jack’s only issue is that he hates the crate. It is his most dreaded word and once you say it, his eyes droop down, his shoulders fall, and he will usually make a slow move trying to get out of your reach; an effort, usually in vain, to stay out of the dreaded land from where he thinks no dogs return.

So, if I had to choose, I suppose I would rather have a dog that loves you so much he can’t stand to be away from you, rather than one who is crate obedient. But I’m not quite sure how it is all going to work out when the time comes for him to be in there for an extended period. We’ll see next week when his first day crating challenge takes place. He really is so well behaved that he may even get to stay out by himself all day. His fave place now is lounging on the bed, although for the first three weeks he would be napping by your feet or otherwise following you around the house. He still will move from room to room with you unless he in his fave spot. He naps most of the day, but when it’s time for a walk out into the park, he is a bundle of energy. I suppose it’s all pent up and after about a 10 minute turbo-romp, he’s completely content.

So here’s Jack’s two favorite places. The bed…. and the park. Hard to believe it’s the same dog.

and I have to show off his “official portrait” …

or two…..

I’m doing a little housekeeping on the ole ‘puter and I came across my “Projects” folder. Funny how I made this folder to hold my “projects” like I was SO organized. Funny how I forgot all about it until I was moving everything around. Just so you know….I have MANY project folders. Of course they’re not all named “Projects” because, well, they won’t let you do that in computer land. Or maybe you could, but you couldn’t put them all in the same little squirrely nut storing place that I keep everything.

So anyway, I came across the “Projects” folder and started going through it. Of course that means that my whack right-sided thinkin’ brain (isn’t it funny how creative people, who from my life experience tend to lean left, think with the right side of their brain) once more becomes obsessed with something that catches my eye. Indeed, my mind wanders back to the fall two years ago when I was watching the now defunct maple tree (see previous blog entry) drop its helicopter seeds all over the sidewalk. Ok….who here is not fascinated by maple seeds? I mean, as a kid it was always fun to throw them up in the air and watch them helicopter down to the ground. Something that kept me entertained for at least a minute or two.

So I see all these files where I took the maple seeds and scanned them with my flatbed scanner. Then I started to think about how the seed actually helicopters down to the ground and what if you could capture that. So the mind wanders and we experiment, and sometimes you get some really cool stuff.

I think I need to clean house more often.

Ok. I must agree that for those who have to trek out in it, sometimes ice isn’t so nice. But for kids and teachers and photgraphers designing wedding albums at home, it’s kinda kewl.