Photographer Edward M. Fielding creative journey with man’s best
friend
Etna, New Hampshire
www.edwardfielding.com
Local artist Edward M. Fielding never really considered himself a
dog person. Growing up his family had a series of dogs, a
pointer, a boxer and a golden retriever, but he never really felt
a strong bond to them - a lot having to due with his allergies.
It wasn’t until his wife and son convinced him that it was time
to have a dog. Knowing full well that that as the one working
from home, he’d be the one most responsible for the caretaking, he
agreed to let the little white, hypoallergenic rescue dog into
their lives.
Tiki the West Highlands White Terrier made his journey from a
backwoods illegal puppy mill in Tennessee in a van full of scared
and barking dogs to the Petsmart in Manchester and then into the
arms of the Fielding family where he became the newest addition to
the family.
At the time Fielding was honing his craft by producing work for
the stock photography market which required a large volume of work
and thus a large variety of subjects. Tiki being the only model
available during the day became a natural partner in the creation
of a series photographs that grew into the publication of a book
“the Quotable Westie” and some of the most popular images on Fine
Art America, the online art store.
Tiki has modeled in a variety of photographs ranging from Aladdin
to appearing inside a Halloween Jack O’ Lantern. Often the images
are inspired by trips to the local Listen stores where Fielding
buys bags full of toddler clothes. These are often cut and pinned
to the canine figure.
Recently Tiki’s fame as a model has increased as he landed his
first magazine cover for Pet Junction Magazine distributed
throughout Florida.
The question that comes up most when people see the series of
photographs is how do you get him to sit there like that?
Fielding explains, “I started working with Tiki when he was a
puppy. It was like any training, treats were involved so
eventually Tiki has come to believe that flashing studio lights
mean that a treat is coming soon. Anytime I set up the studio,
he’ll be around even if I’m just setting up a still life or
something. He is such a good model that I’ve put him in a scene
and then forgotten something like a memory card in another room.
I’ll leave the room, come back a few minutes later and he’ll still
be there waiting patiently.”
“Of course shooting with split second flashes helps also.
Especially when working with other dog models who are not as calm
in the studio environment. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve,
a bit of bacon grease on the muzzle if I need a tongue shot or
hiding a treat somewhere. One of my most popular images is Tiki
pretending to be a photographer looking into a vintage 4x5 press
camera. What the viewer doesn’t know is that there is a doggie
treat sitting there in the viewfinder and Tiki has his nose
pressed up smelling it.”
Fielding works out of his home which he has dubbed “Dogford
Studios” and sells his work through various stock agencies for
commercial usage and to the public via his website
www.edwardfielding.com as well as doing private studio sessions.
Besides canine photography Fielding works with a variety of
subjects including mysterious images for the book cover market
through Arc Angel Images and is working on an ongoing series
looking at traditional maple sugar production in the region. Four
images from the maple sugar series will be shown at Gallery W at
the Whitney Museum in Pittsfield, MA this March.
Fielding also teaches a popular series of Lego Robotics classes
for children at the AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH.