Dog Soldier on ANZAC Day Photo

Photographer’s Note

Today, April 25, is ANZAC Day, commemorating the landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915, WWI. It was a historic, defining day for the two nations and holds a legendary status in the calendar. In all Australian and New Zealand communities ANZAC Day is remembered and respected with a dawn remembrance service, and usually a march of war veterans. The march in Brisbane lasts for several hours as it passes through the main streets past tens of thousands of onlookers. This year I marched with my grandfather who fought Japanese invaders in Papua New Guinea in WW2.

Before the march commenced, this little dog caught the attention of many people, parading around in this neat outfit similar to a WWI Australian soldier (note the emu feathers in the slouch hat). I would have liked the quality to have been better but I was jostling for a good position amongst other camera-people. The lucky dog was able to ride upfront in a vintage army jeep for the duration of the march, getting some charming waves and smiles from the state Premier, Lord Mayor and Governor General.

I have been busy with study the past few weeks, but hope to start posting and critiquing again in the next weeks. Going camping this weekend so hopefully there will be a few shots to share when I get back.

Matt

See more of this dog on http://tuppydog.com/anzactuppypage.html

See also workshop, in the car!

ribeiroantonio, robertosalguero, daddo, MLINES, mvdisco, Dyerco, pboehringer, InasiaJones, ktanska, Floydian, Jeppo, Muse, cherryripe, sevy, angela926, avene, kiwi_explorer, jhm, bakes888, John_F_Kennedy, ChrisJ, Wandering_Dan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

skippy007 (7337) 2008-04-24 20:12

Hello Matt,
Welcome back I have missed your well informed & interesting critiques/comments. Hope study is going well.
A nice & interesting shot, I think this well behaved dog looks a little odd all dressed up with his Diggers outfit but we know he represents a serious & tragic event, a very appropriate shot on a very special day for us.
Thanks
Regards
Santo
PS I like the woman's expression on your WS version.

ribeiroantonio (21969) 2008-04-24 20:26

But, the picture is truly fantastic and the dog is terrific. It is really amazing the way the dog is proudly holding the Australian flag! And the outfit is superb too. Well done Matt and good luck for your Uni studies.
Antonio

robertosalguero (110) 2008-04-24 20:31

Hello Matt,

Is good to see you back around here. I hope your studies are going ok. Excellent shot you present us here. The doggie definitely shows strong patriotism. Interesting subject and theme as the AZCAN day was a turning point in the history of the two nations. A good time to remember what veterans did for their nations. Nice work Matt and the image has some humour as well.

Roberto

daddo (11541) 2008-04-24 20:40

Hi Matthew. When I was taking some photos at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne several weeks ago, i did come across a modest monument to the horses that perished in WW1 (and 2, I suppose).I wouldn't be surprised if dog too did their bit as pigeons did. Whatever the case, this is a warmhearted shot, almost like something from a La Fontaine fable. Great details, great uniform and an appropriate, serious expression from the dog. nice bit of Aussie humour. Regards and best wishes in your studies. Klaudio.

MLINES (10966) 2008-04-24 21:26

Hi Matt. This is an absolute Aussie classic. The dog is very good natured and shows it is man's best friend. Good clarity and considering how awkward to get close, a fine pose. TFS. Murray.

mvdisco (11613) 2008-04-24 21:39

Bonsoir Matt. Bonjour.
Welcome back , WoW! this is a great composition , the dog is realy cute with his clothes, Nice note and details for the scene , beautiful colors and very sharp picture , Excellent POV. very well done.
My compliments
Michel

Dyerco (9302) 2008-04-24 22:04

Great shot Matthew. You couldn't ask for a better pose. I know how much Anzac Day means to the Aussies and New Zealanders. It is a time to remember your war heroes and those that didn't make it home again as we do on November 11 (Remembrance Day).
TFS
Phil

InasiaJones (20703) 2008-04-24 23:26

Hi Matt,

Hé, hé, hé! Doggy well groomed for the grand occasion.

A very patriotic and catchy image in honour of veterans, with a funny twist. A good looking mascot, proudly showing your great flag. I appreciate the fact that you have lowered yourself to get almost at dog level.

Have a great weekend in camping and keep on studying hard - while visiting TE from time to time...

Cheers!

André

ktanska (16695) 2008-04-25 0:50

Hi Matthew,
Quite a character. Why not, as long as the little dog cooperates. And looking at the website he really does!
Well framed. Fine simple background. I just might wish a bit lower PoV.
This fairly simple main version works perfectly as a fingerprint. But in fact I like the WS even more.
Kari

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-25 0:56

Hi Matthew,
Funny, very funny. ANZAC day seems to be an important day. I was once in Alice Springs at the memorial there and the place looked like sacred ground. What you did here with the dog is clever taken from above instead of a front shot.
Seems normal to do this, but i feel a bit sorry for the dog ;-)
Regards, Henk

Jeppo (12106) 2008-04-25 2:42

Hi Matt,

this dog is really sweet, the uniform is extremly detailed. Note is very interesting as well.
for your Info 25th April is also "freedom day" in Italy (End of WWII).
different continents but similar commemoration day
TFS
Silvio

aadilj (17950) 2008-04-25 4:48

Hey Mathew you've done well in this one too and have created a lovely 'portrait' with such sweet and funny subject. nice sharpness.

Muse (31059) 2008-04-25 7:21

Hello matt,
Très amusant :-))
Une manière charmante d'illustrer ce commentaire intéressant.
Bien vu!
Best regards
Denise

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-25 7:46

Mat,
not quite sure what improvement you would like to achieve here. It looks perfect to me and I can imagine quite well how this dog must have been the absolute hit of the parade. It seems to me that he even understands the importance of the date and moment. His look is pride and holds the banner quite tight honoring perfectly ANZAC Day.
Peter

cherryripe (19187) 2008-04-25 12:27

Hi Matt
I thought I'd seen it all today with a dog wearing a pink dress but you'res tops it by far.
Besides your framing with the slight tilt and the sharpness is superb.
I hope you enjoyed the holiday.
Regards
Nikki

sevy (13952) 2008-04-25 13:10

Hello Matthew,

Very interesting note which describes what is perhaps not so known in Europe.
Funny picture with the suit of the dog. Perhaps the photo could habe been better if you were lying on the floor to be at the same level as the dog. But if there were so much other photographs perhaps it was not possible.

Have a nice week end,

Yves.

batalay (21193) 2008-04-25 20:53

Hello Matt,

Fabulous photo, and most informative note. I would say, however, "Defining moment for all three nations — Australia, New Zealand and Turkey. Warm regards, and have a good weekend.

Bulent

SteveH (3995) 2008-04-25 21:03

Hi Matt, I'm not surprised that the dog attracted a lot of attention. Someone went to a lot of trouble kitting him out for the occaision. He must have been well trained too, to hang on to the flag. Can't see anything obviously wrong with the photo. You did well to preserve details in his black face and only blowing out the "flagpole". Enjoy the weekend. cheers, Steve

angela926 (1882) 2008-04-28 20:40

Hello matthew,
Great capture, excellent composition and point of view, superb sharpness and details, very good sharpness and good lighting, Fantastic funny shot.
Angela

avene (11138) 2008-04-30 15:23

hello Matt,
I'm glad that this photo has survived the scrutiny by the TE moderators who usually remove photos of dogs (although only randomly). I've read many stories about dogs in both World Wars being trained to bring medicine bags and water bottles to the troops in the front lines, so this photo fits perfectly the theme of commemoration. as Steve, I don't see any problems with the photo, all details are crisp and clear, all colours are clean. excellent work, I like it a lot.

with best regards,
Kristine

JPlumb (3153) 2008-04-30 23:55

Haha, now I've seen everything. Nice capture Matt. I saw little hats like that and wondered what they would ever use those for, now I know. The shot's good, but your model looks like a dog, haha, sorry couldn't resist.

Thanks, enjoyed! John

kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-05-01 1:51

Hi Matthew,
You deserve a medal for this capture ... really patriotic posting to celebrate ANZAC. Here in NZ it surprised a lot of people seeing a lot of young ones starting to join the celebration ... I hope this is the same in Aussie as we need the second generation to remind us how terrible war can be. Wonderfully captured and presented. Well done! tfs

jhm (83328) 2008-05-01 3:53

Hello Matthew,

I've this picture missed, what a very nice picture.
What a nice dog with his attire and flag in his muzzle.
Also your WS is a splendid picture, nice of quality and excellent presentation.
Very well done.

Best regards,
John.

bakes888 (18353) 2008-05-03 1:17

Hi Matt. I think ANZAC day celebrations are getting bigger in NZ as the years go by, it’s nearly as big here as it is in Australia now. Nice capture. Good tight crop and critical focus. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

John_F_Kennedy (31994) 2008-05-08 4:11

Funny shot. Good composition and very sharp colours. Very nice.
Best wishes,
Achim

savask (1813) 2008-05-10 1:20

unusual, funny but well captured. great moment shot here

carmia (4970) 2008-05-11 14:54

Hi Matthew! making very timely, good details of dog clothing, interesting and fun! TFS. Carme.

ChrisJ (70443) 2008-05-14 2:18

Hi Matthew

Lol! A very patriotic, canine subject. I like the workshop, too, showing the elderly woman. My uncle fought the Japanese at Aitape, on the north coast of PNG. Tfs!

Wandering_Dan (3293) 2008-05-15 11:27

Hi, Matt -

Oh, the things we do to our pets! Some of them, anyway - my cats would never put up with it. And it's a good portrait, following the rule of the eye on the center line, with good but not distracting background.

Best,
Dan

triptych2003 (1398) 2008-05-18 5:07

he's a real digger! ah, great puns never go out of fashion.

nice work, matt. even if you were jostling, you still managed a clean shot that is well composed and finely managed. it's been a while since i've been around but you certainly have grown in portfolio quality. nicely done!

jaywalker (12302) 2008-06-01 6:30

Hi Matthew, Wow! What a wonderful photo I love dogs & my wife seems to like dressing them up, however the outfit this dogs wearing beats any thing my wife hes in her doggy wardrobe, he looks happy though, TFS this wonderful picture, kind regards Wilson.

emka (22319) 2008-07-27 0:05

Hello Matt,

How funny! It is a real Australian soldier. I imagine it was a big attraction.

Regards

Malgorzata