If any of Santa’s reindeer aren’t able to make the trip on Christmas Eve, this guy might be a perfect replacement!  This is just one of the festive dogs that was in attendance today at the Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club show in Allentown, Pa.

Reserve Best in Show (which wasn’t shown on TV) at The National Dog Show Presented by Purina went to English Springer Spaniel, “Timmy” (GCh Cerise Blindside) with handler Howard Huber, Jr.  From my observation, Timmy apparently loves to give kisses!  If anyone has a particular breed that they would like to see, let me know and I’ll check my photos from the show and post your favorites!

So, it’s the day of one of my favorite outdoor dog shows of the season and I’m raring to go and see my friends and photograph lots of beautiful pups. The day dawns and the sun rises.  Poop!  Outdoor dog show photography in the bright sun is not fun at all.  Glare, shadows, blown out highlights, squinting dogs … all problematic from a photography standpoint.  Case in point …. these Spinone Italiano twins.  The photo above was taken late in the day when the sun was low and they were in the shade.  The nice even light is exactly what I want in my dog show photos.  Now take a look at the image below of the same dogs taken in the morning light.  It’s a great movement shot showing their perfect synchronization, however, the light is awful. Not to mention the crazy busy background which I could not control.  Just what I want … yellow caution tape running through the center of an image.  I know I can’t control the weather, but I sure do love it when the planets align and the clouds appear on outdoor dog show days!