On this day in 1792, The French Republic was proclaimed.
My wife brought Lucky home one Summer's day over 9 years ago. A six-month old pup, he'd been abandoned on the roadside to fend for himself. Everyday when I come down the driveway, he's there to greet me, always welcoming, always happy ... I take it all for granted. He has witnessed every change that took place to the on-going renovations about our home, welcomed our children as the came along and been their friend. He shares his home and food with his life-long companion, Billy (another adoptee) and in turn, they share this place with an assortment of fowl and Coco the cat. Together they all make a happy and harmonious family and it spills into our own, I've never seen them argue or fight, they just get on with it. They are such a part of our family, I can't imagine it without them. The dogs are getting on a bit now, I'm thinking of bringing in some new blood in anticipation of the heart-ache that might follow an unexpected departure. I need to try a bit harder to show my appreciation, they don't ask for much, an occasional pat on the head or to throw a stick. I think I'll go and have a chat with them now. Be good to your pets.
Photo: Title is 'Stand-Off' but these guys are good friends really. Taken for a presentation I gave some months ago as a series of sample shots to demonstrate how depth of field is used to place emphasis on a specific compositional element. Very low angle, I was lying on the ground using Lucky (background) and Coco the cat (foreground) as my models.
Lens - 17-200mm @ 116mm. ISO 400. 1/800 @ f/2.8 Texture added to soften the blue cast and warm this early Spring day.
Photo: Came across this fellow while walking through St. Stephen's Green yesterday in Dublin. I'd not seen a heron there before but it was a treat. Lens - 70-200mm @ 200mm. ISO 400. 1/500 @ f/2.8 Texture added to warm the scene.
