Gallery: PAW 2003-01

"Butch" - New York City April 14, 2003

The Picture-A-Week (PAW) project forces photographers to select a photograph each week and submit it for public critique. Each photographer has lulls and peaks of activity, the PAW project forces us to examine and reexamine our work on a continual basis.

I thought it appropriate to start my PAW series with a dog photo. "Butch" was taken on the streets of New York City in April of 2003. As I was working in downtown Manhattan on the lower East Side, I came across him and his owner and friend.

Butch had just had surgery on his ears and his appearance was priceless. I asked his owner if I could take a photograph of him. I was allowed to on the condition that "you don't use it on an anti-War poster." The sentiments of 9.11 are much more deeply felt in NYC than in the mid-West.

Butch initially wouldn't pose for me. A slice of smoked salmon provided by his owner solved that problem. So his expression in this photo is one of hunger and impatience.

Artistically, I'm pleased with this photo's composition. I'm especially satisfied with how the Serenar lens rendered the deliberately slightly out of focus owner and friend. Remember this is camera equipment vintage 1950s, which is why the overall contrast is low.

Filename: 030414a-13-NYCCanonP.jpg
Equipment: Canon P, Serenar 35mm f/2.8, Fuji NH film

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