Dock Dogs

[fidgety]

Okay, so this isn't a sport with humans but these guys were sure working their littles tails off so we'll call it sports anyway. My son and I were asked to shoot On The Waterfront, the largest music festival in Illinois with 300-400 thousand people attending. One of my assignments was to shoot Dock Dogs. Trying to track one of those missles coming at me was a real challenge but also alot of fun.

[OldClicker]

Nice job - you got some excellent expresions. - TF

[sgriggs2006]

I LOVE #2. Did you take any of them just as they were entering the water? If I hadn't read your intro and pic #1, I wouldn't know what these dogs were actually doing.....I'd love to see some splash landings?
sg

[Frog]

I've seen these on tv but not in real life. Amazing what they can do and you captured them well. Would also like to see some landings and maybe take offs.

[jacobovs]

That first one is AMAZING! The look on his face and the positioning of the legs is perfect. Nice capture! If horse racing is a sport, so is this.IMHO

[SmartWombat]

I agree, I'd like to have seen some landings.
That 1st one a fraction of a second later as the leading paw hits the water would be great.

[ddkb00]

These are great and the dogs really do have some great expressions. Made me smile.

Dawn

[Lori11]

How fun, that first shot is amazing, I love the last one too. I bet it was like trying to shoot lightning! Well done!

[sgriggs2006]

Its actually really funny, looking back through these posts...the favorite seems to be #1, which is actually my last pick...I guess maybe it seems to me that the dog is flailing...maybe it comes from shooting horses- but that just doesn't seem like a natural position for a dog....I still hold to the one w/ the handler running in the background is just a cool shot, and the timing on it was even more challenging than just capturing the dog alone...great shots regardless of your fav...

cheers,
sue.

[fidgety]

Its actually really funny, looking back through these posts...the favorite seems to be #1, which is actually my last pick...I guess maybe it seems to me that the dog is flailing...maybe it comes from shooting horses- but that just doesn't seem like a natural position for a dog....I still hold to the one w/ the handler running in the background is just a cool shot, and the timing on it was even more challenging than just capturing the dog alone...great shots regardless of your fav...

cheers,
sue.

Most of the dogs look like that just prior to hitting the water. After they jump they put their front legs out but as they prepare to land a leg comes down to feel for the water. The dogs in these snaps were also the competition dogs so even though they've been jumping competitively for some time, they're always feeling for the water prior to impact.