Logan's Snow Shoot at the Arnold Arboretum

The first pet shoot of the new year began with Logan’s third and final session of his Puppy Progress Package, which started back in April. His life began tenuously and he was barely the size of a shoe when I first met him.  Now, he’s a lean, mean, snow-eating machine. All 50 pounds of him. As with his second session in July, we began the day at home and then headed out to Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, right outside Boston. The Arboretum is not far from where we live, but we only think to visit during their lilac festival in the spring. We’re going to have to come out here more regularly. There was already several inches of fresh powder on the ground, with more falling lightly from the slate-colored sky. All around there was quiet whiteness, brittle branches, the occasional spray of red berries. It was beautiful; the perfect day and place to spend frolicking with a puppy.

But sniff! A puppy no longer!

I’m going to miss Logan. It has been so fun watching him grow from that fragile, nearly-euthanized little mite, to this handsome, healthy adult.  And it’s been a pleasure to document his first year for his parents. I might have to do a “seasons” package now to keep this going! So though this shoot might have been the last of the Puppy Package, it’s also the first of the Four Seasons Package – we have Spring, Summer and Fall to look forward to now! How ’bout it Logan?

I thought for blog posts going forward I would include some behind-the-scenes shots when Dan is accompanying me and holding the other camera, or self-portraits when it’s just me. Dan has absolutely no eye, so the simple technical accomplishments thrill me, like when his photograph is in focus. So it’s been a pleasant surprise that he’s actually improved his compositional skills too, and catching things that are interesting, like a line of snow collecting on a tree trunk:

And I thought I’d include some bloopers too:

Bye Logan!