Bree The Australian Cattle Dog (Click to enlarge)
I know I’ve mentioned our clients as the best pet people in the world, but they are also some of the most creative folks out there as well. Meet Bree, Australian Cattle Dog. She is owned and bred by one of our clients. I know Bree and other Cattle Dog house mates are shown in breed rings and hold accolades that I don’t remember or understand, but suffice it to say that they are well bred, loved and cared for.
I post Bree today to illustrate and give impetus to discussion about beauty and other things. Bree’s mom and dad have acreage where dogs and cats of many breeds and mixes live with horses and other livestock. Every holiday season they come to our studio from Mississippi with two elderly (they’re now 13) Pomeranians to be photographed with Santa. Sometimes they bring one of their pride and joy dogs, the Australian Cattle Dog. A couple of years ago Bree arrived with hay and saddle to be staged in the studio for promotion on their web site. Immediately I had the picture in my mind, and set out to make it a reality. Night sky. Hard working cattle dog. Day is done. I could almost see the cow folks eating beans and drinking coffee around a camp fire ala Wagon Train or Cheyenne. I was a horse and dog loving child of the ’50s after all.
You might think I would love to watch the old remastered shows on Encore now. Not so. I cannot watch them knowing that prior to 1980 and 1940 (explanation coming…) animals were regularly endangered on film sets for the purpose of advancing the story line. Horses and cattle were run off cliffs and trip wired to fall, all for the shot. The American Humane Society (AHA) disclaimer, “No animals were harmed in the making of…” is a registered trademark first used in 1940 due to the scene in the 1939 film Jesse James in which a blindfolded horse was ridden off a cliff to its death. The public was outraged and prompted the Motion Picture Association of America to grant the AHA legal rights to set guidelines and to monitor the treatment of animals on movie sets. Yea, right? Well, this protection fell under the Hayes Office, which as near as I can discern was responsible for censorship in Hollywood. Uh oh. Why in the world was animal (and child, by the way) protection relegated to the Hayes Office? Then in 1966 the Supremes dissolved the Hayes Office. Okaaaay…then who protects the animals, right? No one. Now the film companies no longer had to abide by the regulations that the AHA created. From 1966 to 1980 they were free to do any old dang thing they wanted with any animal on any movie or television set without regard to their welfare.
In 1979 another horse had to be euthanized due to the planned detonation of explosives under a saddle during the making of Heaven’s Gate. Public outcry. Are we getting it yet? In 1980 finally the entertainment industry granted the AHA sole authority to protect animals in film. So prior to 1940 and between 1966 and 1980 animal abuse was not only tolerated, it increased. You may ask, why wouldn’t I like to watch film produced between 1940 and 1966? Because I can see. I know they did not have the technology to use animatrons for rough scenes such as being shot and falling, which seemed to be a part of every episode. As an adult I have a problem with that. Now they do have that technology and I trust they use it to leave animals out of those scenes and use the robots and dummies instead. If you would like to know more about this check out The History of Human-Animal Interaction-The Twentieth Century and Horses In Film Fact Sheet.
I digress. Back to Bree and our discussion of beauty. Bree’s mom and dad saw beauty in the close-up of Bree and wanted to showcase her with a lot less saddle and hay and more Bree. I saw the beauty in the story of Day is Done. I think we’re both right, but this serves to illustrate what your objectives as photographers are. I got caught up in the story line and forgot my client’s objective. That’s a big no, no. So, to Bree’s mom and dad, I humbly defer.
I would love comments on this or any photo or post. Please don’t think that I think I am the keeper of the pet photography knowledge. I know a couple of things, not everything!
Bree The Australian Cattle Dog (Click to enlarge)
May 27 Update: I have a shy but talented artist friend who won’t comment on this post because she does not want to “be negative”. However, I look upon this blog as a place where we all can share and learn. It was her feeling that there was way too much saddle and hay and not enough dog…my client agreed, of course, but the re-do consisted of a close-up of Bree and not enough hay and saddle to tell the story. I looked at this image again a couple of days ago and left out some saddle and hay and…by jove…I like this better. It still tells the story and, yes shy friend, there is more dog. In my original crop I was so intent upon protecting the story that I didn’t immediately see the improved compromise.
And let this be a lesson for all 
. Post your comments and suggestions. I may or may not agree, but your respectful sharing increases the knowledge base of all of us. I know you are reading out there as I see the stats. Come on, don’t be shy. Add value!
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