Typically, my “Artwork” posts are where I highlight what I’ve published over the previous week on DeviantArt. Given the current series being shared, that format is on hold. The following entries come from my Man’s Best Friend collection, which is reserved for those who purchase the gallery. Of course, if you become a patron, you’d also be able to see the images. While the images are locked behind your choice of paywall, the backing stories are for everyone. This trio captures Goose’s first true encounter with the ocean, an experience filled with tension, momentum, and sheer joy.
Though I missed his foray into the salty waters, I managed to photograph the moments that followed. A poised stillness before a run, the jubilant splash forward, and even the elegant propulsion across the waves. Each frame reveals a different aspect of his discovery, though they’ve been softened by their transition into watercolors. These written reflections are not a substitute for the images themselves they’re meant to lend shape to what you can’t see here. If you see any images here that aren’t available on Natural Desygns or SM Desygns reach out to me through the Etsy store and I’ll add the image to the correct store. In the meantime, click any of the images to head over to DeviantArt to get a better look.
The following images are part of my premium gallery on DeviantArt, Man’s Best Friend. It’s filled with images of dogs, both mine and those I’ve found out about the world. With a single payment, you will gain access to all the existing images, as well as all the ones added in the future. However, here I will include the descriptions of the images, so please excuse the phrasing that may assume you can see the image.
Goose by the Sea 005
While I was monitoring Goose, my gaze flicked to the other dog long enough to miss Goose’s foray into the ocean. When I whirled back to him, I started taking pictures. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture his first steps in the ocean. However, I recorded his first journey through the waters. In this first frame, he’s captured mid-stride.
His body was angled, ears perked, frozen in the alert tension of halted momentum. In this singular moment, you can see the tension throughout his body, ready to resume his sprint. This moment highlights the unrestrained joy of exploration. Regardless of the ripples disrupting the water’s surface, the focal point is the coiled dog.
The watercolor conversion softened the moment, without abandoning the sense of motion that existed in the original image. This is a rare moment of stillness. It’s one that isn’t about the enforced motionlessness, rather the moment between heartbeats that’s always a breath away from rushing forward.
Goose by the Sea 006
Switching my camera to continuous mode gave me a wonderful series of images capturing Goose’s inaugural run through the sea. After recording him tensing in the previous image as he prepared to hurl himself forward, this frame highlights him as he emerges from the water.
It’s a small, but decisive leap, captured with his front paws over the water. However, instead of looking for his family, his focus is on the jaunt through the surf. If the previous frame was all about the coiled energy, this shot is all about the release and the energy of the run. Goose’s motion is caught and highlighted for all to see. The water dripping from his fur is the exclamation of his dash.
The watercolor effect enhances the motion blur of the splash, making the interaction between fur and foam feel almost alive. This effect emphasizes the leap’s momentum. The disruption of the water’s surface created the whitening water. Everything about the scene feels alive despite the subtle hints of composition.
Goose by the Sea 007
With each frame in this series, we get to see another aspect of Goose’s run. In this instant, a dynamic moment is frozen for examination. The dog is as straight as an arrow and gliding across the surface with purpose and joy. The rich blues and purples of the water contrast with the earthy brown of his fur, helping him burst from the confines of the image and into your heart.
In addition to him angling toward the shore, his trailing leash further emphasizes his motion. You can almost see it flapping in the wind behind him. When your eye drops to the water beneath the dog, you find the patch of whitewater, formed by his churning legs and fur cutting through the surface. Both the churning water and the bright red leash help anchor Goose as the focal point of the image. The droplets under Goose help amplify the churned water, continuing the idea of foam emerging from the sea.
This image is all about his propulsion through the ocean. There’s a contradiction between the chaos of the water droplets and the flow of his body. He is nothing but sheer aerodynamic joy, chasing nothing, yet charging it with purpose. The ocean plays background to the moment. Goose is the star, as he’s suspended in his own rhythm.