A change from the usual pictures.

Here is a video that my son, Alex, shot recently.

In Alex’s own words, “My main camera is the OM system OM-1 mkii with the 150-400 TCPro lens and had an external 2x teleconverter on the lens giving me over 2000mm effective reach.“

The video is fascinating.

If for any reason you cannot watch the embedded YouTube video above, then try this:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/i9K4Xsc1g4U?si=ubT_7KSvCL3nHW2o

It is all about taking photographs of dogs!

I shall go straight to Penny’s article.

ooOOoo

How to Capture Stunning Photos and Videos of Your Dog With Ease

For beginner dog owners who want Instagram dog photos without stressing their pup, the hardest part is how quickly dogs move and how fast those perfect moments disappear. One second brings a head tilt, a goofy grin, or a soulful look, and the next second it’s gone, leaving blurry shots that don’t match the bond dog owners feel in real life. The good news is that pet photography basics don’t require fancy gear to start capturing dog expressions with more consistency. With a little patience and a creative pet photography mindset, everyday walks and couch cuddles can turn into photos and videos that feel true to a dog’s personality.

Quick Summary: Better Dog Photos and Videos

• Use natural, soft lighting to flatter your dog and avoid harsh shadows.
• Choose calm, comfortable locations so your dog stays relaxed and camera-ready.
• Get down to your dog’s eye level and try simple angle changes for more engaging shots.
• Use treats or toys to guide attention and capture alert, happy expressions.
• Keep edits light with basic photo editing software to enhance, not overhaul, your results.

Set Up the Shot: Light, Gear, Angle, and Composition

A few small setup choices can turn a “cute but blurry” pet photo into something you’re proud to frame or share. Use these quick, beginner-friendly tweaks to make your dog’s expressions look crisp and natural.

1. Start with gentle natural light: Put your dog near an open doorway, a bright window with indirect light, or outside in open shade (like under a tree or porch). You’ll get softer shadows and truer fur colors, natural light improves photo quality in ways harsh indoor bulbs often can’t. If the sun is strong, turn your dog so the light hits from the side, not straight overhead.
2. Choose a pet-friendly spot that sets your dog up to succeed: Pick a location where your dog can relax and move safely, your living room rug, a fenced yard, or a quiet park corner away from busy paths. Avoid slippery floors, crowded dog areas, or places with tempting trash and food smells that pull attention. The more comfortable your dog feels, the easier it is to capture genuine expressions without pushing them past their stress threshold.
3. Stabilize with an adjustable tripod (even for phones): Set an adjustable tripod low for “dog-level” photos, or raise it slightly for a clean, simple background. Stability helps both photos and video look instantly more polished, especially indoors where shutter speeds drop. For extra flexibility, try a wide stance for the tripod legs so it won’t tip if your dog bumps it.
4. Use a remote shutter or timer to free up your hands: A remote shutter lets you keep your attention on your dog instead of hovering over the screen, which often leads to better eye contact and calmer behavior. If you don’t have a remote, use a 3–10 second timer and cue a simple “sit” or “touch” right as it counts down. This also helps with ethical handling, you can reward quickly and keep sessions short and positive.
5. Shoot from your dog’s eye level for more personality: Kneel, sit, or even lie on the floor so the camera is level with your dog’s eyes. This angle makes faces look more expressive and avoids the “tiny dog on a huge floor” effect you often get from standing height. For videos, hold that low angle steady for 5–10 seconds at a time so you can capture a full expression or head tilt.
6. Use simple composition rules to spotlight the face: Put your dog’s eyes near the top third of the frame, and leave a little space in front of their nose in the direction they’re looking. Scan the background for distractions, bright laundry, trash bins, tangled leashes, and shift a step left or right to clean it up. If your dog is dark-coated, place them against a lighter, uncluttered background so their features don’t disappear.

Common Questions About Easy Dog Photos & Videos

Q: What lighting conditions work best for taking Instagram-worthy photos of my dog?
A: Aim for soft, even light so fur texture and eye sparkle show up naturally. Bad light, you have bad video, so step near a bright window indoors or choose open shade outside to avoid squinting and harsh contrast. If your dog seems restless, keep it short and try again later rather than forcing the moment.

Q: How can I get my dog to look directly at the camera for photos and videos?
A: Make the camera “predict good things” by rewarding calm glances with a tiny treat or gentle praise. Hold a treat near the lens, cue an easy behavior your dog enjoys, then release quickly so it stays fun. If your dog turns away, respect that and capture a candid moment instead.

Q: What types of equipment are worth investing in to improve my dog photography?
A: Prioritize stability and speed: a simple tripod or phone clamp and a remote shutter reduce blur and let you focus on your dog. If you shoot lots of video, a small light or reflector can help in dim rooms without startling your pup. Upgrade only when your current setup feels limiting.

Q: How can I edit my dog photos to make them more engaging without overdoing it?
A: Start with gentle tweaks: crop to emphasize eyes, brighten slightly, and lower highlights to keep fur detail. Keep colors realistic so your dog still looks like your dog, and avoid heavy smoothing that erases whiskers and texture. Save a “natural” preset so your style stays consistent.

Q: What should I consider if I want to create and share a dedicated Instagram account for my dog?
A: Let your dog’s comfort set the pace, not a posting schedule, and skip anything that stresses them for the sake of content. Share moments that reflect your values, like enrichment, consent-based handling, and everyday joy. Use short clips, then optionally clean them up with a web-based video creator to trim, stabilize, and add simple captions.

ooOOoo

Excellent advice.

A recent trip to Cape Verde.

This is over 21 minutes long but is a wonderful video of the joys of wildlife photography.

The link to the video is here: https://youtu.be/5SwGH5vdF_Q?si=XbztgauiVr4s6_Uo

Different this day!

My son, Alex, filmed this video.

First, Alex’s words.

“Join me on an unforgettable 36 hour adventure to Sal, a hidden gem in Cape Verde, where the stunning beaches and unique wildlife make it a bird photography paradise.

With its incredible array of shorebirds, kestrels, and ospreys, Sal is a must-visit destination for any wildlife enthusiast or bird photography aficionado.

In this video, I’ll be sharing my experiences and tips on how to capture the perfect shot, from low angle bird photography to using the right equipment, such as the OM System OM1, to get up close and personal with these amazing creatures.

Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife photographer or just starting out, this 36 hour challenge will provide valuable insights into the world of travel wildlife photography and the techniques used to photograph birds abroad.

From the beautiful landscapes of Cape Verde to the thrilling experience of photographing birds in their natural habitat, this video is a must-watch for anyone passionate about nature photography, birding, and wildlife conservation. With its unique blend of stunning scenery, fascinating wildlife, and expert photography tips, this video is sure to inspire and educate, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey to Sal, a true bird photography paradise in the heart of Cape Verde., in the Cape Verde islands, is known as a winter sun destination—but is it any good for wildlife photography?”

Watch along and get some Wildlife Photography Travel Tips and How to photograph shorebirds.

📸 Camera Gear:
OM System OM-1mkII
OM system 150-400 TC pro
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI mic 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SwGH5vdF_Q

A few photographs looking East from our deck.

They were taken recently.

oooo

oooo

oooo

oooo

See you next week!

Wave clouds.

Here are a collection of photographs taken by me at home. They show wave clouds.

Wave clouds are brilliant for glider pilots. Rarely at a low altitude (below two to three thousand feet) but nonetheless a soaring ambition when they appear within range. Here’s the AI description:

Cloud waves, or Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds, are rare, transient formations that resemble breaking ocean waves in the sky. They occur when a faster layer of air moves over a slower, denser layer, creating shear that curls the top of the cloud. Often appearing as a series of curls, they are considered a sign of high atmospheric instability and turbulence.

oooo

oooo

oooo

oooo

oooo

oooo

Reflections.

I was born in 1944 and that makes me 81. I am still relatively healthy but find myself wondering how long I will live. My father died in 1956, aged 55, and my mother died when she was 97.

The website Super Age recently spoke of foods that slow biological ageing. I quote:

The gut microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in your digestive tract. These microbes help regulate inflammation[in-fluh-mey-shuhn]nounYour body’s response to an illness, injury or something that doesn’t belong in your body (like germs or toxic chemicals). LEARN MORE, blood sugar, immune function, mood, and metabolism. Research increasingly links microbiome diversity to longevity and reduced risk of chronic disease.

Researchers have come up with a simple way to measure how your diet supports your gut. One science-backed framework being studied right now is the Dietary Index for Gut Microbiota (DIGM). It’s designed to help people (and researchers) better understand the connection between diet and gut microbial health.

Developed by a team from the University of South Carolina, the DIGM pulls together two decades of research linking specific foods and food groups with positive or negative impacts on gut microbiome diversity, richness, and functionality.

Then there is the emotional health of a person. Here’s an extract from Equinox.

HOW EMOTIONS INFLUENCE LONGEVITY   

The most popular scientific study on how emotions influence longevity is the “Nun Study,” a longitudinal study that involved 687 Catholic nuns. Researchers found that the sisters who experienced positive emotions (like happiness) lived longer than the sisters who experienced negative emotions (like depression). Another scientific study found that people with a high level of optimism were associated with “exceptional longevity,” which means surviving to 85 years old. 

The way emotions influence health is not fully understood, says Robert Levenson, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California Berkeley. But what is known is that continuously experiencing negative emotions (like sadness, stress, or anger) can cause wear and tear on the body, which can accumulate over time. He explains that chronically high levels of stress or depression cause sustained levels of autonomic nervous system activation. This, he says, can raise blood pressure (bad news for your heart) and weaken the immune system. “On the flip side, experiencing feelings of positive emotions, like happiness, can undo that activation,” Dr. Levenson says. 

One emotion that’s well-documented to shorten lifespan: anger. “People who are angry or show a lot of hostility are more likely to experience heart attacks and get coronary artery disease,” Dr. Levenson says. These emotions cause blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder. Over time, this can put too much stress on the heart.

Besides the physical reactions emotions can have on health, negative emotions can cause people to neglect taking care of themselves, adds Dan Blazer, M.D., Ph.D, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral science at Duke University. This can, in turn, negatively impact their health. For example, someone who is depressed may not have the energy to go to the gym to make nutrient-rich meals. They may stop seeing friends or doing anything social, something that is associated with a shorter lifespan. Dr. Blazer says that people who are depressed are more likely to have trouble sleeping—and getting consistent, good sleep is very important for longevity.

So staying positive isn’t only good emotionally but it has benefits for our body.

For me, I just welcome the deer each morning when I go out to feed them.

They give me a perfect start to the day!

The Cerebral Cortex

This is a two-minute review, courtesy of YouTube, to the most important part of the brain.

I write purely as a layman, interested in the brain. It is wonderful how much has been understood, and documented, about the human brain.

Here is Part Three.

I was thinking earlier today when feeding the deer how the brain is predominant in so many species. And from that the rich return we have from evolution.

Long may all species continue to evolve!

The wonderful world of the wolves.

Just perfect!

The Silent Global Emergency.

First, let me go to the Skeptic website where more details are explained.

Today on the podcast, economist Dean Spears explains the forces driving global population change, from past fears of overpopulation to today’s concerns about declining birth rates.

He contrasts the perspectives of biologists and economists on population growth and highlights the role of human ideas and innovation in sustaining progress. Spears also discusses misconceptions about zero-sum economics, the links between population, health, and economic well-being, and the rise of anti-natalism.

The conversation covers population size and environmental concerns, government policies on family planning, and why cultural attitudes toward reproduction may be as important as policy in addressing the challenges of a shrinking population.

Dean Spears is an economist, demographer, and associate professor at the University of Texas.

His talk is available on YouTube. It is not a short talk, about an hour and a quarter, but it is incredibly interesting.