PHOTOGRAPH INFO

Another photograph from the Westminster Kennel Club Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City this past Monday and Tuesday. These two handlers and two Australian terriers were about to enter the competition ring for Best of Breed. (The terrier lying on the floor won Best of Opposite Sex; the other one didn't win anything.)

Dog shows are a hotbed of physical and psychological tension for the owners, the handlers, the judges and the animals. Emotions run wild & deep and everyone is exhausted by the end of the day. As a photographer, I see so many opportunities for photos that I'm also worn out!

Ironically, dog shows are also a fascinating study of human nature. If only the humans were more like the dogs. :)

Here's some good info on the Australian Terrier.

Post-processing: Shot with the Canon EOS 5D and the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens at 30mm, ISO 1600, shutter speed 1/60s, aperture f/2.8. White balance adjustment; basic curves adjustment for contrast.

Thank you for visiting Durham Township!

--Kathleen

You've captured some of the mixed masses viewing the proceedings. I can guess who might be handing out the doggie treats.

I'm guessing there are a lot of owners who are like stage parents in a way.

I know when the kids had/have gymnastics meets and music competitions nerves often ran high. I know I got more nervous than the kids at those things.

Was the light difficult to deal with in terms of white balance?

You really captured a moment. The woman on the floor is clearly proud and adores her dog. I'm wondering what the woman standing is thinking. Was she sizing up the competition?

Did you get any shots of Cairn terries. We have one and I love them so much; the friendliest terrier out there. Dog shows are so much fun yet so weird too!

Kathleen, I hope you've seen "Best In Show" by the Spinal Tap people...

As with horse racing and all other animal pageants, I'm a little weirded out by dog shows. With all the real drama going on about us, it seems almost ridiculous to put that kind of energy and money into showing off your dog. I love your photography, but this subject doesn't do it for me. (I know, what a scrooge! And I am a dog owner too!)

Thanks for the comments and questions. Some answers:

Laurie: The auto-white balance was a little off, in my opinion, due to the weird fluorescent lighting in the building, so I re-adjusted it in the RAW converter.

As far as whether the standing lady was sizing up the competition, one can't say for certain, of course. The photo allows for your own interpretation of what's happening, which is another wonderful thing about photography.

I see many things going on here at many levels, from the macabre to the inane to the innocuous.

LwS: No Cairn Terriers, sorry! Maybe next year I'll seek them out just for you. :)

Theron Tan: Not only have I seen that film (many times), but anything with Christopher Guest's name on it is something of a religious experience for me.

RD: I can relate to what you're saying completely, which is why it's important to me to cover this event and explore what goes on behind the scenes. I've been attending the WKC show for many years and I'm working on a long-term photographic project regarding my ideas about it.
(Incidentally, this is the 131st anniversary of the show, so it's an entrenched tradition at this point.)

Thanks Kathleen. I've had to deal with some weird lighting and it can be a pain getting it right and adjusting it in RAW.

I took particular notice of the way the woman standing was holding the leash...hehe..made me laugh a little.

Funniest thing is that I was looking at the two women so closely that I didn't notice the dogs tongue was sticking out until now which makes this photo even better, and even more amusing to me...hehe...

Great picture. I can’t imagine how you kept up with the pace there, but I’m glad that you did since you wound up with some great pictures like this one to share. You’ve captured so much in this single shot – all the “physical and psychological tension” you mention in your description: the crowds focused on something just out of view, the two handlers absorbed in apparently contrasting thoughts, thoughts very different from those of the dogs themselves. And then there’s the guy in the leather jacket on the right who seems also to be watching some display. I think what I like most about your composition is this mix of points of view in one shot. I’m curious: were you there with a press pass, or did you simply show up and take these shots for yourself? I have the Cannon EOS 5D as well, and I’m just wondering if you feel it qualifies as a “professional” camera.

Canon:
Well... I expect you're a spammer given your name and corresponding link, but in the interest of providing general information for real visitors, I shall leave your comment in place and answer your questions.

I appreciate the time you took to look at this shot. It's one of my personal favorites. I'm not sure the Durham Township "audience" relates well to it because I've conditioned them to expect other things from me.

Anyway, to answer your questions:

1) The pace is frantic, no question. I tend to seek out one particular spot amidst the action and tell the story there, rather than worry about the entire event. There's a lot of detail right in front of your nose if you stop to look, you know what I mean?

2) I had no press pass. The floor is open to anyone with a ticket to the show - which is part of the allure of this particular show.

3) I think the Canon 5D is a good 'semi-pro' camera. I've worked for a few big agencies and they demand higher resolution than the 5D gives, so I rent other cameras for commericial work, i.e. the 1DS Mark II so I can use my lenses. I use the 5D for my personal work and it's great. I'll likely upgrade my personal camera when the the 1DS Mark III comes around, or maybe the 6D... we shall see!

p.s. I haven't upgraded my comments to 'Do Follow' so your attempt to gain SEO ground by using 'Canon' as your name may not work. :)