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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pet Portrait V (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: 2015
Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED
Date: Nov 9, 2015
Date Uploaded: Nov 10, 2015

 These are wolf pups with my friend, the very tired Steve Wastel, co-founder (with his stunning wife, Paula) of the Apex Protection Project. Yes, they rescue wolves and wolf dogs.

He's here with his youngest charges, which he got when they were 3 weeks old. They are now 8 weeks, and pretty much do nothing but pee, poop, sleep and squirm, 24/7. Poor Steve and Paula have not had much rest since this mischievous trio entered their lives. The female (in the center) is the real rascal :)

I wanted to use this image, but even though the pups are much better in it, I wasn't happy with how Steve looks.



The shoot was quite a challenge, as they truly will not sit still for more than 10 seconds. They had to be let down to pee, poop, or have Steve lay down pee pads, or scoop up poop. He and his wife are both training and socializing the pups, and whenever one would pee on the pad (as they are being trained to do), they'd get a "good pee!" from Steve.

Plus the house is not only stuffed with crates, and puppy-proofed with chicken wire (because they chew on EVERYTHING), setting up my lights was quite an adventure. Every time he put the pups down, I'd run to hold onto the lights, as they seemed to find endless amusement trying to wiggle UNDER the stand legs...

It is a miracle I got this shot at all.

Apex is currently running a fundraising campaign in which you get to name the pups, if you would like to donate towards their substantial medical bills. My recent entry with my other friend, Vernon, was also created for fundraising purposes :)



The wolf in that image is the same one in the shot with Paula.

For those who may not know, an apex predator is the one at the top of the food chain :)

[Nov. 13th, 2015 04:50:02 PM]

Derek, you are absolutely right. But what with all the squirming, and this being a very tight beam, I was lucky to get them in the light at all :)

Statistics
Place: 2 out of 75
Avg (all users): 6.9479
Avg (commenters): 8.0000
Avg (participants): 6.1500
Avg (non-participants): 7.5179
Views since voting: 2608
Views during voting: 212
Votes: 96
Comments: 23
Favorites: 10 (view)

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AuthorThread
Canon EOS-80D
 06/27/2016 09:53:27 AM
Awesome photo. I looked up the Apex project, what a wonderful group of people.
One of my very favorites.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark III
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 11/24/2015 07:32:12 PM
Stunning image...congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 11/21/2015 03:38:51 PM
Congratulations on the red, Johanna. The shot is so lovely.
I enjoyed reading your notes. If Steve has had the pups since they were 3 weeks old, I assume something happened to their mother? What does the (intended) future hold in store for these guys?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/20/2015 10:27:02 AM
Great to read the story Johanna. An excellent result from your hard work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III
 11/19/2015 07:20:02 PM
Absolutely love this!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS R6
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 11/19/2015 04:33:11 AM
I wasn't surprised to see you get a ribbon in this challenge and you sure win the blue for the cute factor. Really excellent photo. Congrats on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D750
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
 11/18/2015 09:34:29 AM
Wow!!! and Wolves really can't be trained, can they?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A580
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 11/18/2015 08:55:27 AM
Really nice job, Johanna. They look like a handful, too :) Congratulations on the ribbon.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 11/18/2015 07:40:56 AM
I thought this would be a ribbon winner. Congrats Johanna, such a great shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-80D
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM
 11/18/2015 05:25:35 AM
Congrats on the ribbon. The outtake is super as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
 11/18/2015 05:17:38 AM
Congrats on the ribbon - didn't comment, but was in my top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon Canon 1d x Mark II
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 FG HSM Art
 11/18/2015 12:16:40 AM
Not bad for a human sorry pet portrait :)

Cutest dogs!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
 11/18/2015 12:14:52 AM
Congratulations on your red ribbon, I just love this image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Nikon Z7II
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 11/17/2015 08:01:16 PM
Beautiful light and composition.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 11/17/2015 07:06:30 PM
Beautiful shot. Top shot for me. 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a55
Sony DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM
 11/17/2015 12:08:50 PM
And so they are. Nice portrait.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
 11/16/2015 09:36:09 PM
This is my favorite in the challenge. these are such beautiful dogs. Great detail and lighting. I gave you my only 10.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
 11/16/2015 04:27:19 PM
Strong on a few levels. Cute pups. Great light and tones. Kinda funny. The composition is lacking in drama and the connection between the dogs and the camera and model could be stronger. 8 Voted earlier.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a7R III
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II
 11/15/2015 02:11:44 PM
Very very nice portrait. Give 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 11/14/2015 04:08:03 PM
The man or the puppies? Maybe both. Nicely done, although if I had an armload of pups I'd look a lot happier!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-7D
Canon EF 35-135mm f/4-5.6 USM
 11/14/2015 08:17:59 AM
beautiful dogs... but more a portrait of the man to me
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
 11/12/2015 03:42:17 AM
Nice shot, but lighting focuses attention on the human in this, not the pets, so this is a portrait of a pet owner, not a pet.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 11/11/2015 10:58:42 AM
Oh! How totally adorable they are! (the dogs, ha!)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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