Getting Lost - July

Good grief - somehow we’re already halfway through August and I still haven’t shared my photos from July’s Getting Lost session!

I’ll admit, I didn’t get through as many prompts in July as I usually do. Life felt a bit 'time poor' with weekends filling up quickly, so instead of my usual wandering, I grabbed my camera (and Alfie!) and headed to the Te Puke Dog Park. We met up with Krystal and Sadie for a big play before we had to dash off to other plans.

The day couldn’t have been better – sunny without that harsh glare, barely a breath of wind, and plenty of canine friends for Alfie and Sadie to run around with. It was such a fun morning, and an added bonus was having two tired pups later in the day when things got busier. Always a win!

Now, onto the prompts…

#1 Find a busy spot. Set a 10 second timer and see what wanders into your shot.   

This was such an easy one to kick things off with. The dog park was buzzing, so pretty much anywhere I pointed the camera counted as “busy.” The trick was remembering to switch over to sports mode so I actually stood a chance of catching something in focus. Totally worth it though – a handful of dogs dashed straight into frame, and the result feels full of energy and life.

 

#2 Find a line in nature to draw you into the heart of the picture.  

The dog park doesn’t have a huge amount to break up the space – just a couple of trees, a few water fountains, some tussocky plants, and a few things for the dogs to climb over or dash through. Among them were some wooden beams that caught my eye, creating the perfect natural line to draw you straight into the heart of the photo. The beams gave the shot structure, while the dogs provided all the chaos and movement around it. And sure enough, not long after, they all made their way over to the tussock patch for a big communal sniff – the doggy version of signing the guest book.

#3 Find a building. Zoom your lens to the widest angle. Move in close to make dramatic angles.  

No buildings at the dog park, of course - but there are a couple of doggie-doo bag dispensers at the entrances. They’ve weathered over time into this gorgeous rusty shade that really pops against the green of the landscape. Since the prompt was all about angles and drama, I figured they’d make a fun stand-in for a building. I zoomed in tight, played around with the shapes, and ended up pretty happy with how the shots turned out. Sometimes the best results come from improvising!

#4 Take a photo of a moving object while panning to blur the background.

No shortage of moving objects at the dog park! With dogs tearing around, sniffing every corner, and chasing each other, there was action everywhere I looked. Miss Sadie, though, was the absolute star for this one. She’s lightning fast and absolutely lives for being chased. If you sit back and watch, she’s usually the one stirring things up - swiping toys and dashing off just to tempt the others into running after her. She knows they won’t catch her, and she’s more than happy to prove it!

Trying to pan along with her was a challenge, but it couldn’t have been a better fit for the prompt. Honestly, if you keep your eyes on Sadie, the whole world feels like a blur anyway.

 

#5 – Close your eyes, spin, stop and shoot.

There was absolutely no way I was closing my eyes at the dog park - unless I wanted to be taken out by 20 to 30 kilos of zooming canine! So instead, after finishing up with Sadie’s photo, I spun around and looked behind me… and there was Mr Alfie, charging straight towards me with that “Here I am, Mumma – take my photo too!” look on his face. I barely had time to focus, but honestly, the shot captured him perfectly. The way he runs with his tongue lolling out never fails to make me laugh.

#6 Take as many steps as you have battery percentage left and frame your shot.

This one was such a fun prompt. My battery still had plenty of life in it, so I set off for 86 steps. Turns out that’s not actually very far when you’re in the middle of a busy dog park! Before long I’d looped back to a more central spot, and there was Miss Sadie staring straight at me with the most expressive look on her face - as if to say, “WHAT are you doing walking around in circles, Nana?”

Her personality comes through in every photo, but this one really makes me smile. Sadie’s face says it all.

#7 – Stop, look behind you and take a shot.

It felt like Alfie and Sadie had been tag-teaming the camera all morning – both of them love having their photos taken, and to be fair, they’re pretty good little posers. This time, though, when I turned around, Alfie wasn’t striking a pose at all. He was nose-down, hot on the trail of some mysterious scent. I’ve no idea what had caught his attention, but he was completely absorbed in it.

The dog park must be absolute sensory overload for them - so many smells, sounds, and friends to play with. No wonder Alfie is usually ready for a nap in the car on the way home!

#8 Use camera blur to make something appear different to what your eye can see.

I was really pleased with this one. My goal was to get a clear shot of Alfie with the background fencing softly blurred - and it worked perfectly. The bonus was that another dog in the frame (Max) also ended up out of focus, which really made Alfie the unmistakable star of the photo.

One thing I always notice at dog parks or the Redwoods is how everyone knows the dogs’ names before they know the owners’. It’s funny how the dogs become the real celebrities while we humans stay mostly anonymous in the background!

#9 Use the ‘wrong’ lens to photograph this scene.

I wouldn’t normally zoom in so close on the dogs while they’re racing around, but this ended up being such a fun shot. I love how it captures the soft brown of Alfie’s eyes and the glossy shine of his coat. Other dog owners often comment on just how shiny he is, and I’m pretty sure it comes down to his diet. His absolute favourite is Kooky Kibble, and since he’s been enjoying it, his coat has never looked healthier.

As always, I like to finish the month with a title card or photo from the session, and this one was a complete no-brainer. I had to feature Alfie, and this shot captures him perfectly in one of his favourite spots near the tussock. His tail is up in the air, and you can tell just how happy he is. I know he had an absolutely wonderful time playing with all his friends - both old and new - and it feels like the perfect way to wrap up July’s Getting Lost session.

It was such a fun month capturing Alfie, Sadie, and all the action at the dog park. Even with a few prompts tackled a little differently than usual, I love how the photos turned out and the little stories they tell. July’s session reminded me why I love these outings so much – the movement, the joy, and, of course, the personalities of the dogs. I’m already starting to plan my August photos for next weekend, and next month won’t be about dogs – I’m excited to see what new subjects and moments will inspire me!

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the internet.
Until next time,
Shelley