Hardly any black GDs in the 2013 calendars

[Black Doodles]

Anyone else notice that? What's up with that...

I think I counted maybe 4 or 5 total in both the Goldendoodle and All Doodles calendars.

I submitted about 4 photos of Bo and I made sure I followed the suggestions and instructions well. It just seems that the cream, white and apricot colored doodles get the most exposure on Doodlekisses, especially in the calendars.  I wonder if part of the reason is that black is not one of the more popular colors for a doodle. Anyway, I'm not spending $20 on a calendar full of cream colored doodles, but the photos are nice. I admit I'm a lil irritated.

 

[Eva]

Thanks for noticing. I also submitted some great shots of my black doodle and followed all the guideline rules, but no luck. I also have the worlds most beautiful goldendoodle also and she didn't get in either. But year after year many of the same doodles keep getting in there. I just thought I was a sore loser :)

[Laurie Young]

I also noticed. I think we may be more aware of it because we do have black Doodles.

[Tammie Miller]

Your not alone. I chose not to spend the money also for the only reason of lack of black goldendoodles. I was disappointed on this also.

[Adina P]

JoAnne mentioned ratios...the ratio of black to light doodles is pretty small.  Even smaller for black goldendoodles.  Early in our DK history we had one active member with a gorgeous black goldendoodle with some really nice photos...that doodle made it in at least one if not two years in a row.  Anyway don't give up.  There's no harm in trying again and NOT trying guarantees your dog won't be in the calendar. 

[Adina P]

I know how much everyone adores their own doodles and I feel bad seeing you disappointed.  I personally love black doodles, I have one myself.  And we had another black doodle before this one.  So I have no bias against them, nor do I purposely leave them out for any reason other than as I go through photos I choose the ones I think are strongest. 

The photography group is currently having a discussion on the photos that got in vs. the ones they submitted.  The members in that group are always super helpful and every year before the calendar they get together and make suggestions to each other about the photos they are considering submitting.  I stay out of that discussion and do not look at those photos in order to to prevent biasing myself, but I highly recommend you join in.  You can post the photos you are considering and quite often the members will not only help you improve them but actually do it for you.  Camilla and Ann (& hubby Mike) have superb photography and photoshop skills and are always ready with helpful suggestions.  I found out after the fact that Camilla actually helped many people tweak the lighting and color on several photos that made it into the calendar. 

Anyway, I highly recommend joining the Photography group and posting your thoughts in there and if you want, posting your submitted photos.  If not now, then next Aug/Sept when they start discussing their potential submissions.  I would love to get more black doodles in!

[Adina P]

Don't worry Daniece, I am not offended.  But I did want to make sure nobody thought I had any bias against dark colored doodles. It sucks to be hopeful about something and not have your adorable cutie get chosen.  That's why I offered up the Photo group as a great option for next year.  They will not only help you choose your photos but give you tips on improving it or they might take on the job themselves.  Just to increase your chances. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Three things I would like to comment on:

*I did have a black doodle who made the calender last year

* There was no bias with the creator of this calender in regards to black doodles.

* Ratio

I can attest to the fact Adina's first  doodle Thule, was a black doodle. After she suddenly lost Thule, she visited some cream and apricot puppies and chose Boca, a black doodle, a parvo survivor and rescue, instead.  At the time she even mentioned she would prefer another black doodle and passed on all other colors of cute puppies and older doodles.  I'll find that post if you need me to.

On to photography-  I take about 10,000-15,000 thousand photos of dogs a year.  At the very least.  I may be being conservative here in my estimates.   I take about a 100 at a time, then maybe keep one. Maybe. 

I do belong to this group and have posted in the discussion about my difficulty in photographing a black doodle.  Eyes, coat gloss, their beauty just is impossible to capture.

But, so are white doodles.  White doodles wash out, take in all the glare, and I find it just as much of a challenge.  Often my white doodle will look like a cloud or fog. Not a dog. 

I have to arrange the sun, the lighting, and recently just purchased an expensive light to place on top of my camera that will bounce the flash-thus making the eyes not glare, and the coat colors true.  We shall see if this lessons 10-20 thousand photos-but I doubt it.

In the photography group we work all year long just for this one chance.  Just to choose 5 pictures.

I will say, I only liked two I submitted and thought came out-so so.  Out of 15,000!

I do hope you join us.  We would love to work this year on this challenge.

Ratio:  In terms of black vs White or Apricot what is the ratio in numbers.  Not as many black doodles as there are other colors. 

Mike Kendig contributed once about holding certain lights and sunshine on his black doodle as he is a seasoned photographer and was also challenged. The photos finally resulted in stunning results.  Stunning. But he really had to work at this task, as we all do. We all have challenges with focus, moving dogs, colors, glare, perfection.

Sad to see this post, but I also wanted to reach out to all of you.  I hope you join us in the photography group. I would love to work on this with you

[Amy Simpson]

I actually noticed this too, there's one in the Labradoodle calendar, Kona (Feb) and she's a fairly Silvery Black, then there's one in the Goldendoodle calendar, Sheba (June) and again, a very Silvery Black, and finally in the Lotsa Doodles calendar, there are two all black doodles, Sundog and then my girl Brontë (both Sep). Yes there are a couple dark Browns and some Parti throughout as well. 

But as I'm sure you know, Black doods are often so hard to photograph...getting in all their little details, their eye colour etc that sort of thing is quite a bit easier to pick up on the lighter doods I find...
And that's the other thing, there seems to be a lot more pale coloured doods about, I'm a member of a few Doodle websites, and most members own pale ones.

But I don't think there's a bias when it comes to picking the photos for the calendar :S
Maybe the paler ones were just stronger this year? 

But I am very proud of having Brontë in there, I feel like she's representing the all-Black doods of Doodlekisses :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Part of the money from the sales of the calendars goes to support doodle rescue so consider making some wine out of your sour grapes and purchase a calendar and support a good cause and all the doodles that did make it into the calendar.  I have a black doodle and a cream doodle.  I had a picture of the 2 of them in the all doodles calendar last year but did not submit any this year because none of my pictures of Cubbie (the black doodle) were really calendar worthy because they just don't photograph as easily as the other colored doodles.  Black doodles do make it into the calendar so keep trying.

Adina and Clark have so many wonderful submissions to review in order to chose the final calendar photos and i'm sure that is no easy task.  Following all the rules and suggestions is no guarantee that your photo will get chosen.  There are so many pictures submitted that there is no way that every dog entered will be included in the calendar.  I know several people on DK that take their photos and make their very own doodle calendar so that is something fun for you to consider doing too. 

[Amy Simpson]

Well said! 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

The "I'm not spending $20 on a calendar full of cream colored doodles" is the part that struck me as sour.  I didn't see why it would matter what color the doodles are.  I wasn't looking to start an argument, just trying to point out that the money still goes to a good cause regardless of what color doodles are in the calendar. And if I had wine before I replied, you might really not have liked my reply  lol  :)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Clink!  Clink!   Good wine, thank you.

I wish I lived closer. The challenge of photographing your doodle is so tempting for me.  I am constantly trying to improve. Actually, it gets on my nerves because I am a tad obsessed. As obsessed as my dog is with his ball