Musings About the Calendar

[F, Calla & Luca]

This post is not about me or any known DK member. Just musings as the midnight hour of the calendar deadline approaches at least here in the East. What if you are a world class photographer? But you have a unattractive less attractive doodle.We could ask the question, are there any such things? Aren't all doodles attractive? Especially to the people who love them. Should your doodle be in the calendar? Great picture, sharp, clear, gorgeous setting. Ordinary doodle. But then in the hands of a great photographer the soulfulness of a doodle's eyes comes through doesn't it? What if you have a spectacular doodle. But you are not at all a photographer?

Needless to say all the calendar submission preoccupation has gotten to me. Should I have carried a brush and camera around a lot? Should I have bothered the doodles so much? Aren't they dogs and entitled to be messy? I have seen some fabulous pictures of wet doodles though. But then the dogs did get dried liver treats for today's last minute shoots. Maybe they thought it was worth it all. At least I don't force them into costumes : ) But at times it reminds me of the Westminster Kennel Club and the backstage primping that seems insane to me.

Can anybody capture with a camera the love you feel when you look at your dog? Any thoughts?

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I wonder if some people just have an "eye" for great photos.  I love the digital age and I will always keep trying. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Some people do have that eye I think. Linda reminds us about Trey Ratcliff now and again. I think he could take great photos with a tin can. Otheres have infinite patience to wait for the sin to be just so, the bird to come along. Then there's the rest of us. Sarah, my son's SO, takes easily 20 photos to my one. But she gets some great shots.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I didn't submit any photos this year, it hasn't been a great year for JD healthwise and I am a terrible photographer.

Last year was the first (and will probably the last) time I have submitted photos for the calendar, and having two photos of him in the 2012 calendar is really enough. He was in another calendar from another forum years back, and between the two, I'm satisfied that he has been immortalized, lol. I always bought the calendars before he was in one, and I will continue to buy them and enjoy seeing all of my favorite DK doodles.

I never think any picture of him does him justice, and no, I don't think anyone could capture with a camera the love I feel when I look at him. But I sometimes think about hiring a professional photographer so I could maybe have a photo of him that comes close to showing his truly beautiful soul.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

JD is immortalized in your heart and memory. I often wonder if a photo even by a pro can capture that  soul. Not sure it can but maybe it can come close. I also feel bad that sick doodles often don't look well enough for these sorts of things. But I know the doodle is more important than the photo. Which is why I PhotoShop out leashes in photos from non home locales. No photo is worth having a dog hit by a car or running off. No photo is worth making a dog frightened or really uncomfortable.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think Jack's beautiful soul does show through in the pictures I've seen....his eyes tell the story of your love for each other.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Our eyes are the most critical, our hearts are the most full.

JackDoodle's photos show the full heart that he has and it comes through his beautiful soulful eyes.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Aw, thanks, my friends.

[Bonnie and Kona]

We paid an artist to paint one of our dogs years and years ago. It turned out to be a waste of money because to us it didn't really look like her. I think it was the love thing. We love our dogs so much and they look so extraordinarily beautiful to us that nothing will capture that look. I think JD is just as gorgeous as can be but I doubt I am seeing him as you do, his heart mom. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, Bonnie.

[PJ and Zach]

I didn't submit any photos.  I'm not that good of a photographer.  That is why I make Zach into cartoons... the photo skills are less important that way.  But of course MY doodle is very handsome in my eyes, but my photos don't do him justice.  :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

None of the photos do the doodles justice but we try. Join us next year. I do love your cartoons.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Rooney making last years calendar just about sent me to the poor house - I think we got 16 Puppy Calendars and the entire family all got one, no matter if they wanted it or not - lol.  Last year Stuart hadn't come into his "doodle" yet so for this year - I have my fingers crossed that Stuart makes the cut.  Didn't hardly send in anything for Rooney.  Having two doodles is like having kids - you want them both to make the team - so this year I'm on Team Stuart!!!