Doggy Style (Series)

About the image:

The Most Beautiful Dog

A few years ago, I took photos in dog salons and at dog beauty contests for a photo series. I don’t have a dog, but I found it fascinating how the animals submit to these absurd beauty procedures. Calm and devoted. I met the poodle in the pictures at a competition in Geneva. He strutted into the room with total arrogance. Something like: here comes the most beautiful and the greatest. But then he was washed, and all his self-confidence was gone. He sat there like a heap of misery as if something crucial had been taken from him. His curls! But then he was blow-dried, and I photographed him. I chose close-ups because I found it very interesting how many different facial expressions dogs can have. He didn’t enjoy the blow-drying; it was hot, so he stuck his tongue out. But at least his curls were back afterward. He also didn’t like me glaring at him. At first, he took it all in his stride. But when we were finished, the hairdresser and I jumped off his chair, walked straight to my photo bag, and peed on it. Not like that, you little human!