January 3, 2009
When a dog takes on the “misery stance”, we will see the tail between the legs, the
eyes looking away from me, and the ears down and close to the head. This usually
happens because the dog is unaware of the owner’s wishes and unsure of my
intentions. It my pet photography photo sessions this can sometimes be a
challenge. When the dog looks bored or frightened or tired, these conditions make
the photo session next to impossible.
I use a low key and soft mannerism with this type of dog and my task is to make it
feel safe and happy. Before I begin photographing the pet to be seen alone or with
his the owner, we first have our “romping around time” together. I take the dog into
a fenced in area where it is free to escape for a while to eliminate if necessary, but
more important, to be free to wander around and lose some of the stress they have
when they first arrive for the photo shoot. If I am shooting several animals together,
I do this with each dog individually and deal with them individually so they are not
fearing me. I am very persistent with the animals and I treat them as if each one is
the only animal of its kind in the world. I use praise and reward to get the dog to
become confident. I always have a small bag of treats in my pocket, sometimes 2 or
3 different kinds, and I watch to see which treat the animals likes the most.
When I now bring the dog in front of my camera, I flash the strobe lights several
times while petting the dog. If his tail is not standing, the tail can be made to stand
upright by brushing my hand with the lightest touch from the base of the tail to the
tip using a fast flicking motion. This works very well with cats too. Eventually, the
dog likes this and the tail will stay up. If I am working outdoors, I have also run with
dogs while on a lead and given the lead a quick tug. Since the tail adds balance to
the dog’s movement, it will raise its tail when there is a jerk to the lead. The best
way to keep the tail up is by making the dog happy.
Most dogs are very clever and are seldom depressed. I ask the owner if the dog
knows how to respond to obedience commands and I reward the dog when it
comes, sits for me, and especially when it stays until released. I also verbally praise
the dog countless times (persistent positive reinforcement) until we become friends.
The dog no longer fears the photo session and now understands that this get-
together is all about him. By me being persistent, by returning the dog to the
targeted spot where my lighting will be optimal, and by constantly praising and
rewarding the dog when I get really good takes, I finally have the dog feeling
confident that the camera work will not harm him and that he is very special and
doing a good job. Everyone wants to know that they are doing a good job. Animals
are no different. They want to please us. I cannot shoot until the pet begins to feel
comfortable and happy. The ears and the tail go up when I squeak the squeaker that
is always near my camera. Sometimes the tongue comes out and I now feel that the
dog is ready to begin his portrait session. He is no longer unsure about the owner’s
wishes or my intentions.
He is feeling confident! I can now create a custom pet portrait that shows the dog’s
personality. If the owner is to be seen with the animal, I ask the owner to maintain a
smile or pleased look continuously because animals never stay still. Capturing
wonderful moments takes control. With the owner looking good for a continued
amount of time, I can now work the animal towards a great gesture, a smile or a tilt
of the head, and big open eyes that reveals the soul of the animal!
Michael Waine, photographer
My goal is to provide pet owners with photographic art. I love photographing
animals more than any other photography work I’ve done over the past 30 years.
I am highly motivated by the recognition I receive from pet owners who allow me to
photograph their beloved pets and animals.
Please visit my website to see samples of my work at http://www.michaelwaine.com/pets
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In case you aren’t familiar with betting establishment risks and chances, do please read on —
A running definition of a casino is a structure that features betting. Clients may test their luck handling coin operated machines or trying out alternative betting pastimes. Gambling saloon games for the most part include precisely determined percentages governing them which safeguard the betting house keeps up a lead above the clients.
A huge number of gambling saloon games can goad you into being obsessed very swiftly. E.g. there’s the standard 1-armed bandit, a coin munching box with 3 or more cylinders that whirl when a handle affixed to it is moved. This machine generally pays out according to a combination of images displayed on the screen of the machine. Regrettably, gaming room games encourage the glamor of influence, thereby conning the patron — the victim can make choice, but these do not really match the player’s overall disadvantage. That is due to the betting establishment not paying the full wager as hoped for. This structured policy is often seen at work in famous casino games such as poker, craps, roulette or blackjack. Seven card stud poker is undoubtedly an incredibly fashionable casino game. The gambling enthusiasts, playing with fully obscured hands, wager into a central pot which is ultimately granted to the last participant owning the highest combination of cards. (And as eveyone knows, the coolest bluffing hand may well prevail)
gambling and casinos
Quite like five card stud poker, blackjack is also an incredibly popular casino game. A considerable amount of its acclaim is a result of the mix of luck and mastery & decision making, and a trick titled card counting. It is a highly complex technique in which customers can actually change the winning odds of the game in their interest both by betting and fundamental opetations in accordance with the hands dealt.
Craps is a popular casino game utilizing the throw of 2 dice. Gamblers bet on the result of 1 roll, or on a series of rolls of 2 dice. In contrast to blackjack, there can’t be a practicable sustainable winning system people can cash in on to improve the odds.
Roulette is another famous casino game of luck. Here a croupier whirls a roulette wheel accomodating thirtyseven (French roulette) or 38 (in the case of American roulette) separately numbered pockets in which the rolling ball must settle, deciding the final winning number as well as its accompanying sequences. Whenever our gamester happens to bet money on a number which is successful meaning he’s indeed in luck, the promised remuneration will be thirty five to 1, the pledge itself is rebated. Accordingly in total the original wager is multiplied by 36.
Please take care to be alert notwithstanding for such betting hall games of luck may well be especially habit forming. So many lives are reported to have been destroyed in the course of uncontrolled gambling & albeit it surely feels enjoyable, please do aspire to ensure self-control.
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“Some people call the still, small voice insight or intuition…Our insight is a gift from God, not to be taken lightly or for granted… If we acknowledge that the voice doesn’t just pop up in our mind like some haphazard jack-in-the-box, that it is available to us always, we have the most important source of assistance in building our dreams. We can turn random intuition into regular inspired insight.” From Building Your Field of Dreams by Mary Manin Morrissey
Inspired Intuition - Following Your Inner Voice
I have a wonderful story to share with you - one that comes from a client who has given me permission to share her story. This client (Jenny) was on a journey of self-discovery, acknowledging her life’s dream (working with plants and landscape design), and being open to the possibility of exploring her dream. A natural fear that kept popping up was how to pursue her dream and generate income at the same time. Along the way Jenny got her answer and if she had ignored her intuition, she might have missed it!
Here’s what happened: Jenny always received a quarterly newsletter from her alma mater which she normally tossed without reading. One quarter,when the newsletter arrived, an inner voice (intuition) told her to read this particular newsletter. In the newsletter was a request for a sorority house mother. Reading this, Jenny got very excited, because she also dreamed about being a house mother and working with young people (something she is very good at by the way). Quickly her mind kicked in and said “Oh, why bother to call? They’ve probably filled the position”. But following her heart and intuition, she called anyway and was immediately asked to come for an interview. The sorority loved her and hired her on the spot.
Now here’s the best part - she received a salary, a furnished apartment in the sorority, all meals, cleaning service, holidays and summers off, a chance to work with young people, and time to take all the courses she wanted in landscape design right there at the university! And all because she followed her intuition (reading the newsletter) and acted on the synchronistic event (the opening for a sorority mother). This is a perfect example of SynchroDestiny - trusting one’s intuition, acting on synchronicities, and following one’s natural path (destiny). When we do this, we are on the path of least resistance, and resources line up to support us.
How many times have you had a hunch, inkling, a gut reaction or other display of intuition and failed to act on it? Sometimes our intuition is a warning; other times it’s a nudge to do or follow something. What happens when you don’t follow your intuition? Do you regret it later and say: “I knew that would happen!”? Here’s a personal example when I am playing golf: I am ready to play my approach shot to the green and my intuition (first reaction) is to take a 9 iron for the shot. But then my mind takes over and says, “What are you crazy? You’ll never get the ball there with a 9 iron! You need a different club.” And so I talk myself out of the 9 iron, reach for an 8 iron, and hit the ball over the green! Then I say: “I knew the 9 iron was the right club! Why didn’t I trust my intuition?” I find that the golf course is an excellent place to practice listening to my inner voice!
How do we know when it is intuition? Things happen synchronistically; there is a feeling of effortlessness; there is a feeling of elation or inspiration; it just ‘feels’ right; and it keeps coming up. (Remember the story).
Are you paying attention to your intuition? If not, what’s an area in your life where you could start listening to and following your inner voice? Pick one area and over the next week listen to your internal guidance. What is it telling you to do or not do? Take a chance and follow the guidance. The more we pay attention to and act on this guidance, the clearer it becomes. And with clear guidance comes more synchronicities leading you on your natural path. Voila! SynchroDestiny!
Copyright June 2003 by Vicki Miller
As a Life Transition Coach I work with clients to identify what’s most important to them and prioritize around these values. I help my clients identify and remove obstacles in the way and bring clarity and focus to their dreams. What is your dream? Are you undergoing a major transition and not clear where to turn? Call (972-306-4489) or email me, (coach.v.miller@verizon.net), to set up a complimentary, no obligation 30 minute coaching session. Download my FREE e-Book, 12 Fun Ways to Change Your Life, or sign up for my FREE monthly newsletter at http://www.thrivingthroughchange.com
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