When I proposed my thesis project to my graduate committee, I’d suggested that I’d need to photograph between 200 and 250 animals over the course of year and a half project (the MFA program at the Academy of Art University is 63 credits which typically takes three 
years). They were concerned at the time commitment that photographing so many subjects would require and my program director actually did the math so that he could ask me directly if I’d thought my proposal through. I apparently gave an adequate response because they let me continue in the program. At yesterday’s session at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society, I photographed seven puppies and four dogs bringing my grand total of animals photographed to 460 for the calendar year (well, year plus three days). And I don’t graduate until December. I flat out don’t think my committee would have believed me if I’d told them I’d be photographing upwards of 700 animals over the course of the directed study portion of my education. It’s probably best that I had no idea what I was really getting into when I was making that proposal. Oh, and did I mention that I’ve contacted the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter about regularly photographing their animals too? If that works out, 1000 animals really isn’t out of the question.
Anyway, getting back to yesterday’s session, I couldn’t help wonder (again) how people come up with their pet’s names. Benton-Franklin Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that receives almost all of their charges as owner-surrendered. The BFHS staff does sometimes name their kittens and puppies but by and large the names the dogs and cats come in with were given by the animal’s previous owners. Some are easy to figure out. If you are a fan of Plain White T’s, then you might be able to guess where the inspiration for Delilah’s name came from. I’m sure eight month old Marley can can credit the success of John Grogan’s Marley and Me with his name especially since he was born about a month before it was released as a major motion picture. Fiona and Missy seem a bit harder to pin down. I doubt Fiona’s previous owner considered Lyle Lovett’s work as an inspiration since Fiona clearly has two beautiful eyes. And of course the puppies. Well, they don’t currently need names because they will be adopted very quickly and that honor will be reserved for their new families.
Everything I read suggests that it is very important for photographers to have a blog. Oh, and that if you don’t frequently update the blog or at least regularly update the blog, that you are better off not having it at all. The advice that seems to be lacking is how the busy photographer is supposed to find time to write. Hmm… I guess I need to try harder.
I just celebrated my 38th birthday this week and received a book by Deng Ming-Dao of daily meditations reflecting on the Tao. After the brief forward, each lesson is just a short page and is meant to be reflected upon as the reader finds a bit of quiet time through the day. The author’s intent is to help the readers find how the teaching of Taoism can apply to everyday life. I don’t pretend to have any more than a superficial knowledge of Taoism but am looking forward to the daily lessons over the next year. Today’s lesson asks us to reflect on beginnings which is obviously an excellent way to start the journey. Beginnings can be full of many things but Ming-Dao suggests that they should be a time of hope and anticipation. Lately as I look forward to graduation, I can’t help but think I am on the verge of a new beginning. At this point I’m unsure of the destination but I am very optimistic that it will be a good journey.
Back in March, I asked you to vote for some of my Benton-Franklin Humane Society photographs in the photography journal PDN’s (Photo District News) Faces contest. The popular vote was only a portion of the contest and the images were also judged by industry professionals. I’m very excited to announce that the photographs of Maralee and an unnamed kitten were each selected for publication in the July 2009 issue. I’m also very happy to report that both animals have long since been adopted.
I hope to have news to announce soon on a project that I’ve been working on. While the project is an ongoing part of my thesis work, this avenue definitely represents a new beginning for me. Hopefully it represents a new beginning for the homeless animals too.
