Old Dogs, New Pics: 5 Photos Guaranteed to Make You Smile
By Susan Hauser
On a winter day in 2010, photographer Pauline Zonneveld recalls, she noticed her neighbor's elderly Australian shepherd, Kali, "walking gingerly, with such a gentle expression." She made a mental note to photograph her and surprise the neighbor with a portrait, but before she had a chance to do so, Kali died.
Recognizing that the clock is always ticking, Zonneveld, 53, set out to find more aging models--cockeyed teeth, grizzled smiles, graying beards, and all. "They might not be puppies," she says, "but these dogs have real vitality."
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For the Good Old Dog Project, now in its third year, Zonneveld has photographed more than 188 canines, all of whom have reached or surpassed their expected life spans. (She charges owners only a retainer for prints.) The portraits are exhibited in her studio and in galleries and coffee shops around Zonneveld's hometown of Portland, Oregon, but she plans to extend the project to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle this fall. As the dogs play their way through the shoot, their souls shine through. "In the studio I let them just be," she says. "No matter how lethargic old dogs are, they become energetic and alert, and when I'm lucky, even their past goofy selves."
Bailey
12, Shetland Sheepdog
His owner says: "He's Mr. Social with riders on the early morning bus, but come 9 P.M., it's bedtime."
Franklin
10, Saint Bernard-German Shepard-Great Dane
His owner says: "A regal giant, like John Wayne wrapped in a fur coat--with a tongue as big as Texas."
Cubby
15, Pomeranian-Spitz
His owner says: "He loves dressing up in his own tiny Santa suit every year. He's always on his best behavior, never growls."
Arête
11, Rhodesian Ridgeback
Her owner says: "Got food? Then you're her best friend. She will follow you anywhere."
Lexie
14, Pug
Her owner says: "She loves men--hobbles over to them and gazes into their eyes until they pet her. Such a little flirt!"
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