101 Salivations: For the Love of Dogs by Rachael Hale

From the Publisher

Rachael Hale's signature style catches the eye of everyone who comes across it. Featuring 101 color photographs of Chihuahuas, Great Danes, and everything in between, 101 Salivations presents dogs in all sorts of wonderful poses that bring out their most endearing characteristics. Rachael's secret to capturing a dog's soul is to focus on his eyes—whether they are wide and shining, or heavy-lidded, in the throes of slumber. Within this book we can see the soul of our own best buddies staring back at us. In between irresistible photographs, the books is peppered with humorous and touching quotations from well-known authors such as A. A. Milne and Fran Lebowitz. This whimsical compilation of heartwarming portraits celebrates the quirky character of our canine companions. 101 Salivations: For The Love of Dogs is a tribute to the animals who have stood by us for centuries and continue to be our best friends.

Author Biography: Rachael Hale has won numerous awards for her animal portraiture. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her chocolate-brown Newfoundland named Henry.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0641909640
  
• ISBN-13: 9780641909641
• Format: Hardcover, 176pp
• Publisher: Bulfinch
• Pub. Date: October 2003
• Edition Description: Bargain

• Read a Sample Chapter

Read a Sample Chapter

101 Salivations

Bulfinch Press

Chapter One

A few minutes before, Darcy, a Dachshund, had been trotting
nonchalantly along the path in a leafy inner-city park. That was
until she spied us approaching-me flanked by two strapping
Newfoundlands named Henry and George.

When Darcy clapped eyes on these two hulking beasts ambling towards
her, she mustered all the speed she had in her miniature legs and
sought refuge. But rather than turn on her heels, she ran straight
for us. In a flash, she had scooted between my legs and planted
herself on top of my feet, burying her claws into the flesh for
further solace. An inch or so taller and a pinch bolder, Darcy could
finally eyeball the big dogs, by now bewildered by the little one's
dash to safety atop my toes.

It was chance meetings like this one in the park, or on windswept
beaches and street corners, that helped me fill the pages of this
book with the incredibly diverse range of personalities, shapes, and
sizes one encounters in the dog world. In my quest to find 101
special dogs, I often approached dog ownerswho were meandering
through parks that I visited every day with my dog, Henry Miller.
When I asked if I could capture their dogs on film, every one of
them replied, "Yes, yes, we'd love you to."

Perhaps their enthusiasm stemmed from the pride and sheer joy they
get from their dogs; maybe they wanted to share the love they hold
for their animals with us, in the hope that we may see our own
cherished hounds reflected in their images.

My earliest memories of photography are taking snaps of the family
pets. Looking back it was perhaps inevitable that I would end up in
this wonderful profession. My paternal grandparents were both keen
amateur photographers who traveled the world shooting beautiful
images.

I still have the "Box Brownies" they owned, and even today I use my
grandmother's twin-lens reflex Rolleiflex camera, now more than 70
years old. It's been driven over and dropped down stairs, yet still
takes exquisite shots.

I shot most of the images for this book using a 4 x 5 inch
large-format camera, like the old fashioned box with the black cape
over the back. I love the images it creates-you can almost reach
into the picture and feel the animal's fur. The shallow depth of
field is incredible; it draws you to the dog, especially its eyes.
Yet, using the large-format camera is probably the most difficult
way to capture animals on film. If the dog moves, which they are
inclined to do often and without warning, you have to take the film
out and refocus. It's a true game of patience, not point and shoot.
But it's what I'm used to working with, and what I really enjoy.

Some dogs go beyond the call of duty to please the lens. Take, for
example, Bruno the Spinone Italiano. Bruno was 18 months old and
everything you could ask for in a man-young, active and very
intelligent.

When we asked him to chomp down on a cigar we expected him to spit
it out just as fast. At first he did just that, unimpressed with the
taste of a cigar-which, I can assure you, was unlit. With gaffer
tape wound around one end, Bruno readily accepted the cheroot
between his teeth. With his paws crossed, Bruno looked like a
genuine Mafioso-all that was missing was a gold chain! It would not
have worked with just any dog; you have to find one with the right
attitude.

I am always mindful that you cannot force animals to do anything
they do not want to?you can lead a dog to the lens, but you cannot
make him grin. Even when owners are begging their dogs to perform
for the camera, I would never put an animal through any stress to
obtain a certain look. But there are ways to hurdle tricky
situations, if you keep your wits about you. I am sure I have earned
a degree in animal psychology from this experience!

I don't believe in the old cliche: don't work with animals or
children. I have worked with both, and I've adored them equally. I
love dogs, especially, for their innocence and their unconditional
love. It's a hard to imagine life without the joy and companionship
they bring. I consider myself on of the luckiest people on earth to
be able to combine my two passions-animals and photography. And I
would be happy if I could do this for the rest of my life, with my
beloved Henry at my side.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from 101 Salivations
by Rachael Hale
Copyright © 2003 by Rachael Hale .
Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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