Flying Cats and Dogs

This week I've been working on a campaign for the Asheville Humane Society, photographing cats and dogs in a studio setting with strobes so that I can catch the action. You can imagine some of the obvious challenges - these are just regular ole doggies and kitties - not necessarily trained (though some were) and each with their own agenda, whether it is to please,  to entertain, to escape, to mark their territory, or to confound. Together with art director Martha Dugger, we have cajoled, manipulated, pleaded, and squeeked to get our subjects to 1)  - just stand in the lights and 2) give me a second to focus the camera. Martha and I are doing this in conjunction with the Asheville Advertising Club, which is donating it's creative services this year to the Humane Society, creating an entire ad campaign, banners, notecards, etc for the wonderful new center that is about to open mid September. I am hoping to create, with Martha's collaboration, some fun B&W collages of the animals in all different positions, showcasing the multitude of their personalities in wall hangings and large banners. Here are a few of the shots.