Smile Like a Dog » Other Animals

So a Duck Walks into a Bar…

Mark — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:50:40 +0000

Photo of the Day

I’m on a non-standard pet photo kick this week so today I’m going with one of my favorites of 2011 featuring two Caiques (they’re parrots) named Bill and Pumpkin. This one always makes me think of two buddies telling each other a really bad, funny joke. See a bunch more of Bill & Pumpkin from their shoot…

I gotta million jokes just like it...

Bill and Pumpkin: Not Your Average Birds

Mark — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:14:02 +0000

Normally my clientele tend to be of the canine or feline variety but occasionally I get to work with more exotic subjects like Alpacas or Parrots — in this case a charming pair of Caiques named Bill and Pumpkin who live over in sunny Noe Valley. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect on this one but, let me tell you, I had more fun on this shoot than I can recall in recent memory. Both birds–especially Pumpkin– really got into it and started hamming it up big time. They also truly like each other which shows in the shots of them together. Please take a spin through my favorite pix from the shoot — Pumpkin is the guy with the orange head, Bill the black. I guarantee you’re going to become a Caique fan.

If you want to see even more of the shots (I took a ton) check em’ out here.

Pumpkin

Bill

Horsing around on the old lemon tree

Bill's bill

Pumpkin acted as his own art director for this shot

Caique or chameleon?

Bill goes inverted

My, my Bill, what big talons you have

Pumpkin offers his deluxe full-service cleaning special

No "walnut-sized brain" comments if you know what's good for you

Pumpkin

My fly is what?!!!

You put your left foot in. Yu put your left foot out...

Alpacas in Oakland: A Bittersweet Tale

Mark — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:08:01 +0000

As a pet photographer I’ve had the opportunity to photograph all sorts of different animals over the years but last week I met my first Alpacas — a herd of four hanging out in the wilds of Oakland, California of all places. They live in harmony with 30 chickens, 4 dogs and 2 humans and the whole crew gets their marching orders from the chihuahua…naturally.

These Alpacas are rescues and when they first arrived in Oakland there were just three of them: Bandi, Molly and El Fuego (yep, he’s red). However, it turned out Molly was pregnant and 2 days before I was scheduled to photograph them out popped little El Rojo — a beautiful, red 21-pound bouncing baby boy. Now that made it interesting enough that my wife — who ordinarily doesn’t accompany me on shoots — was ready and waiting in the car to head out that day before I even had my shoes on.

We got there and immediately learned several important things: 1) Alpacas are really beautiful and since they don’t have lanolin in their hair, they don’t smell at all 2) El Fuego is a total flirt 3) Don’t touch an Alpaca’s head 4) If you try #3 you will get spat on. Can you guess who figured out #4?

The shoot went really well and you can see a bunch of photos below and even more on this gallery. However, this is where the story does get a little sad. Unfortunately, two days after we were there I learned that the mom, Molly, suffered a seizure and died. This left El Rojo in a fairly touchy situation since he really needs mom’s milk to feed for the first few months. Fortunately, El Rojo was in very capable, resourceful hands and his adoptive parents were able to find another lactating female several hours away who bonded with the little guy and is letting him feed for the next few months until he’s strong enough to return to Oakland. In the meantime, another female has joined Bandi and El Fuego to keep them company and will stay on once El Rojo returns.

A very bittersweet ending but, fortunately El Rojo looks like he will be fine and we were able to get some touching shots of him with his mom. So, Molly, I dedicate these to you and good moms everywhere.

El Rojo - a 4-day old Alpaca

El Rojo and his mom, Molly

El Rojo next to mom

Molly nuzzles El Rojo

El Fuego, El Rojo and Molly

Bandi wonders when she'll hear back from her dentist and stylist

El Fuego serves up some ham...

...and a side of cole straw

The Mighty El Fuego turns on the charm

Hey, El Fuego, that's my wife!

The Red Team: El Fuego and El Rojo

Farewell, Molly

See More Photos

Honey Bunny and Trixie Belle

Mark — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:18:35 +0000

It’s been a while since I photographed any bunnies so it was great to get a recent My Mutt assignment for two rabbits adopted through the Marin Humane Society. Honey Bunny and Trixie Belle like to hang out in a sunny corner of their home where they have a view a backyard that’s occasionally visited by a curious squirrel. One of their favorite toys is a wicker basket that they’ve converted into a play tube by chewing out the bottom–the other is pair of well-gnawed pink crocs. Innovative and fashion conscious. You don’t get much better than that.

Honey Bunny

Trixie Belle

Honey and the Basket

Trixie is an aspiring shutterbug...

Trixie tries out the basket

You've never seen a bunny tongue...nyah nyah nyah

Bunny Love

I got your back

Trixie and Honey

The Goats of San Francisco

Mark — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:42:19 +0000

A few weeks ago we had one of my favorite fall San Francisco happenings over on my side of town: Goats R Us came to town. Yes indeed, there is a company by that name and every year they bring their flock to the hillier parts of the city where lawn mowers dare not go to clear out underbrush and fire hazards. A herd of hundreds descends upon the City College Ocean Avenue campus around the old Balboa Reservoir and for a few days they eat, fart, poop and thrill locals nonstop until they’re done.

Goats in the 'Hood

I recommend the Chevre

2 hours later that fence was clean

Ice Plants taste like chicken

Terrier Vs Goat

If anyone jokes about scapegoats I'm outta here

Off to the Pig Races

Mark — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:15:38 +0000

Here in California we’re hip deep in county fair season. You can see Ferris Wheels and Funnel Cake signs just about everywhere. I hit my first fair of the summer up in Marin over the July 4th weekend and along with the requisite fried food, 4-H contests (check out the veggie sculptures below) and petting zoo I hit the fair’s jewel-in-the-crown event: the pig races. Yep, the Hambone Express is back in town. Don’t worry, folks. The pigs race for oreos, live in a trailer with AC and are not harmed even after their racing days are done.

Marin County Fair: Flags & Ferris Wheels

Go Green was the Theme but the Mascot was Creepy

Kind of Like a Mime...but Lime

5 minutes 'til racetime

Arnold Schwarzenhammer takes the lead

SwynonnaJudd out in front

Race #2 out of the gate

I'll Race One Day

And Llamas, too

What Fair Would Be Complete without Veggie Art