WHERE TO START ....!!!

WOW.... times seems to fly when you are having FUN. 

 

So much seems to have happened since our last update.

PUPPIES

We have two new members of the Workingline team, Flossie, a tri-colour roan Cocker Spaniel bitch and Blue a beautiful dark blue roan dog from the Lowforge Kennels.

Now a very lively 20 weeks old, they have a formed a "fast and furious" friendship and are testing my patience and training ablilites already.

They are as happy on the moor as they are modelling products !!!

FRRREEEEEEEEEEE........

FLOSSIE ON HER FIRST MODELLING ASSIGNMENT

We attended a brilliant training session at Kirkbourne Spaniels, "An Introduction to Beating" ... from learning where and how the young pheasants and partridge are reared to introducing dogs to working in a beating line with flags, shot and distraction.

For more information on training days and sessions please visit the Kirkbourne Spaniels website. 

To see the full gallery of the day click HERE

And whilst all this has been going on the Swallows have nested and fledged their young out of the barn and up onto the ridges

Then off down south for a fabulous photoshoot in Dorset with Hilary and the Larwaywest Team.....

Bali, Quincy, Flint, Tula & Jack

Great to catch up with the older dogs, some of which I  have now been "shooting" since they were puppies ..... but the main reason for the visit was to meet and shoot the newest members to the kennel.

MORE PUPPIES....

This shoot was booked as soon as Hilary was sure that Sydney was in pup.  Ever thoughtful, Hilary wanted to send her puppies home with a nice "puppy shot" included in their Puppy Packs. We aimed for about 6-7 weeks of age to make sure they wouldn't be too camera shy and as it happened (despite a very grey and damp day, which we just had to work with) ... they all stepped up to the task.

Three of this litter have extra special lives ahead of them, they are going to join the team at Ability Dogs 4 Young People on the Isle of White ( please please check out their website HERE) 

One in particular is young X-JAY, he is sponsored by Jaguar and definitely making an impression.

For more information on Hilary and Larwaywest Gundogs check out the WEBSITE

It was also time to pop into Corbinsbere Gundogs and catch up with last years pup Stomp and his new kennel friend Newt.  Tracy is keen to keep her website update with images of the dogs and these two young lads both needed some shots.

STOMP !! THEN AND NOW ...  6 MONTHS ON...

For fantastic one to one, group and special gundog training in Dorset head over to the Corbinsbere WEBSITE .. and maybe I will see you there at their NON KC Working Test as the end of September....

THEY WEAR THEM WELL ...... !!!

We were recently approached by "Dog and Field" to see if we could help them with some images for a new product launch .... guess the product !!!!!

These great microfibre dog coats come in a range of sizes from XS to XL .. and there was a size to fit everyone here. 

THE BLACK GROUSE ......

THE LEK

Last year Andrew made the trip north to capture the Black Grouse lekking.  

The weather was determined to play it's part and very early on a saturday morning in the deep mist and murk an addiction spawned.... 

It has become less about "that shot" and more about being part of one of natures stunning rituals.

So this year, we both headed north, last year a 200 - 400mm lens proved to short, even with an extender and a crop sensor, so this year the weapon of choice was a Canon 600mm.

I wish I could describe how it feels to be sat atop a moor with the weather sailing past... vast, open, space, peace .. nothing really fits.  For those that have been, you will hopefully understand, for those that haven't, should you ever get the opportunity.. grab it, with both hands.

We spent a while at dusk checking out where the grouse had been lekking and getting a feel for the Polaris which we had very kindly been loaned.

In all honesty some of the Workingline team could maybe have spent the rest of the evening putting this through it's paces, but a very early start dictated an early evening. 

MORE THAN A 4X4

HEADING OF THE MOOR AT THE END OF THE EVENING

 CHECKING OUT THE SCOPE OF THE 600MM

Well the alarm called at 4am and after grabbing a flask we headed back across the moor in the gloom and the low cloud !!!!

Could the sun just not have shone a little.

Nothing however could have prepared me for what came next... 

The noise ... the huge amount of noise that the grouse were making .. a constant vibration and then as a pair started to display a more insistant shrill call ... 

There were around 30 birds displaying and right in the middle, two grey hens, calmly watching the spectacle.

We sat with them for a good few hours, and although there were no aerial displays, it was truly a priviledge to be able to watch this breath taking display.

   

TWO PAIRS OF GROUSE DISPLAYING

BLACK GROUSE

 DISPLAYING

To view the fully gallery from the 2015 Lek, visit our website ...

BLACK GROUSE 2015

PLEASE DO NOT COPY OR REPRODUCE THESE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION.  THESE IMAGES ARE THE WORK AND COPYRIGHT OF WORKINGLINE IMAGES.

SHOULD YOU WISH TO USE ANY OF THESE IMAGES FOR PUBLICATION PLEASE CONTACT US.

PUPPY POWER ......

Well in fact "RUPERT POWER.... "

What better than to turn up to training and to meet the newest member of the "Bracken Cottage" gang.... Rupert. 

12 weeks and absolutely gorgeous, with eyes only for his new mum oh and maybe a puppy dummy or two.

Really excited to watch this young man grow... won't be long until he is part of the "Kirkbourne Training Crew..."

To read more about Lucy and Rupert checkout the Kirkbourne Spaniels website and their fabulous member journals ..

KIRKBOURNE MEMBER JOURNALS

If you would like Workingline to capture your puppy or even your training class then contact us either at :

email : info@workinglineimages.co.uk

call : 07798 883142

or send us a message on Facebook

www.workinglineimages.co.uk

Rufriver Charity Working Test in aid of Prostate Cancer.

Massive congratulations to Allie and Toby from Rufriver Gundogs for putting on this fabulous Open Team Event to raise funds for Prostate Cancer.

10 Teams of 3 dogs and all at "Open" standard meant that nothing was going to be easy.

The event was held amongst the rolling hills of Oxfordshire on the Swinbrook Estate and what a beautiful setting .. a little slice of heaven. 

The sun refused to shine but at least we didn't get wet. 

An "up and over" ... proved a little too much for some as they found their way under the fence ...

Smiles and joviality all round kept the Judges happy, the photographers amused and everyone in good spirits.

...and then there were the "golden dummies" ... so clearly visible but with some swirling winds an challenge to actually pick... 

A fantastic spread of tea and cakes was laid on by the our hosts and some very generous helpers and together with the lots donated for the Charity auction the day ended a complete success with a total in excess of £2,000 for this worthy cause.

THE RESULTS 

1st - TOYS R US: Pip Williams and Mango, Dan Higgs with Falcon and Tracy Flood with Willow.

2nd: THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY: Mike Brown with Bertie, Nick Jordan with Lottie and Basil Smith with Reed.

3rd: THE WELSH EXILES: Simon Hagin with Emmy, Richard Edwards with Sid and Andy Fisher with Trigger.

Top Dog: Sean McGrath with Alf - only dropped 8 points across 5 tests.

Best Team Name: Keep Calm and Drop Your Pants! Philly Pinn, Sean McGrath and Beth Payne

 "TOYS R US"

THE MRS "B"s

A normal day at work consists of dogs, dogs training, competing, puppies, older dogs of all sorts of shapes and sizes, but a recent commission was all about dogs and boys !!!

A session that has been in the planning for a good long while but that  a bout of kennel cough, a broken car and various other unplanned event saw fit to postpone the shoot.

Eventually we managed to slot in a time to and I headed north for a session with dogs and boys !!!

And what a grand session it was ... 

The saying never work with dogs and children must have been thought up by someone who didn't like either because bring the two together can only induce laughter and smiles.

Cocker spaniels, PUPPY Cocker spaniels, Flatcoats, and boys, together with three lovely ladies, tea and cake who could possibly ask for more...

Sunshine ??? ... oh yes, we had sunshine as well.

THE BOYS

THE FLATCOATS

THE PUDDLE !!!!

We spent a lovely day wandering round the Lancashire countryside and came away with a portfolio of happy shots that reflected a wonderful day.

The whole gallery has since been pulled together in a stunning photo book.

 P.S

It would be rude not to include this beautiful young lady ....

If you like the sound of a private photo shoot, why not give us call or drop us a line and we can tailor a day to suit your requirements... 

e.mail : info@workinglineimages.co.uk

 call : 07798 883142

www.workinglineimages.co.uk

BACK ON THE MOORS, AND DOING IT ......

THE LAOCHIN WAY

It's always nice to meet new people, and on Thursday I headed north to spend a day on the Moors with Andy Cullen from Laochin Gundogs and a group of dogs and handlers.

We were in search of grouse to point !

As a photographer you can end up becoming addicted to weather forecasts, and the morning of the eclipse we were forecast heavy cloud.   As it transpired the day dawned very bright, if not a tad windy and not too cold, which to be honest is a change from the norm of late.

AN OFFICE WITH A VIEW

Once at our base , a brief outline of how the day would run by Andy and we headed out across the moor, 8 dogs and handlers.

HEADING OUT

LISTEN AND YOU WILL LEARN.

Having plenty of spaniels and labradors at home, it is always really interesting to watch how the HPR breeds work.  Reading the wind, and working at distances that would make me feel uncomfortable.

The rangey strides of the pointers moving them across the moor  with such fluidity and grace ..

POWER & GRACE COMBINE

… a nose that lifts into the wind, takes a scent, then POINTS !!   

For a few of the dogs and handlers, the moor and it's grouse  was a fairly new experience and with the amount of scent around it was a case of learning if the dog was in fact pointing a bird or the scent of where a bird or hare (and there were plenty of those about) had been.    Learning to push the dog on and letting the dog work it out for itself and thus building on the teamwork.

Then once you've mastered that,  you have to stay steady to a flush !!!.. so all in all lots to have to understand and learn.

Andy, with his years of experience, I found to be an extremely articulate and fair trainer, and more than happy to share his knowledge with an extreme novice.   It's one thing knowing what your pupils need to be doing but something very different  being able to "teach and instruct"them how to do it.

Sometimes being firm and fair is difficult but throughout the day as the handlers relaxed and understood that critique is a positive tool (and not meant personally) so the improvements started to become very obvious.

CHRIS HOLDING MILO STEADY AS THE GROUSE FLUSH, AFTER HIS POINT.

The term HPR (Hunt, Point, Retrieve), covers a host of breeds and I was lucky enough to watch young Belle "The Bracco" learning her trade …

BELLE TAKING THE AIR

as well as the two stunning Brittany Spaniels Gypsy and Mya, although I would have to say that Brittany's aren't for the faint hearted !!!

GYPSY

MYA

We stopped for a bite to eat, and to let the dogs have a moments rest and then headed out again for an afternoon session. 

The weather by this time was "changeable" and the wind took a chill edge, although we did manage to stay dry all day.

The moors are an incredible place to be, whether it is Scotland or Yorkshire or anywhere in between… stunningly beautiful but also formidable.  We covered nearly 10 miles on the day, (I couldn't guess how far the dogs ran), across ground that doesn't always make for the easiest walking. 

But with this as "the office" why would a gundog trainer or a photographer want to be anywhere else.   We are very privileged to be allowed access to this beautifully managed land, that without the work of the owners and keepers would not hold the plethora of wildlife that it does. 

FAVOURITE SHOT OF THE DAY !!

This was a difficult choice, but for me the shot of this Wirehaired Vizsla, flushing a hare on the wrong side of the wind and then being steady enough to turn away and not chase, captures the spirit of the HPR.

 As a footnote I would like to add my congratulations to Dawn and Julian, two of the handlers on the moor that day, that went on to be graded "excellent" in their tests over the weekend. 

for the full gallery from the day CLICK HERE 

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