Let me caveat this epinion by saying that I am the proud mommy of a very charming and endearing little pug, so even though I will do my best to render an objective, unbiased review of Pug Shots, it still may be tinged with a bit of pug ethnocentrism. Pug Shots, a book filled with pug photographs by photographer Jim Dratfield is a wonderful tribute to the quirky, nobility of pugs. Dratfield begins the book with the following quote by Margo Kaufman: "The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor." I found that quote quite accurately describes all the photographs in this book. Each page portrays a different pug, in a different location, acting funny, mischievous and in general, puggish. The photographs are accompanied by witty quotations and puns that are bound to make any reader laugh unless the reader falls under that rare breed of persons who simply dislike pugs. This book is definitely not just for pug lovers although pug lovers will probably react more passionately to it.
I have never met a pug owner who wasn't absolutely over-the-top, in love with his/her pug, believing his/her pug to be the most adorable looking dog in the world. To non-pug owners though, pugs may look a bit funny, with their smushy little faces, wrinkled foreheads and liquidity big eyes. Now, even if you fall into the latter category, I would recommend this book for you because Jim Dratfield expertly makes the most of the pugs' unusual features, bringing out the character of the pugs in his photographs in such a way that humans can relate to their expressions.
Some dogs express their moods and desires by body language - tugging on your shirt sleeve when they want to play or hanging their heads when they are sad. Pugs, I think, are capable of conveying many emotions quite well just by their expressions. The pug on the cover of Pug Shots is a perfect example. The photograph is a three-quarters head shot of a pug with his chin slightly raised and his eyes angled in a challenging, almost defiant manner. The caption to this photograph - "Pugnacious."
My other favorite shots in the book include: "Litter Pugs"- a cradle full of bright-eyed, little pug puppies (or puglets, as one pug owner I know calls them); "Lady Pugs" - a dignified-looking, black pug with a white boa wrapped around her neck; "Hush Puggies" - two pugs sleeping like innocent children, cuddled together; "Horse and Puggy" - a determined-looking pug, tugging on the reins of a stationary black horse; and "Pugs in a Blanket" two mischievous pugs lying on the bed with their heads peeking out of a blanket while their owners slept. Although not the best pun, "Land Rover" is also one of my favorites because the pug in the photograph reminds me of my little one.
A note about the photographer: I first came across Jim Dratfield's work while at a dog event in New York City. A woman was handing out brochures advertising his pet portrait studio - Petography, Inc. He specializes in taking portraits of owners and their pets or sometimes just the pets. He has done work for some celebrities and their pets (e.g., Jennifer Aniston, Rene Russo), but most of his clientele are just regular people, who adore their pets. Looking through his portfolio at the dog event, I saw pictures of his clients with their dogs, cats, horses, snakes, even turtles. I was impressed by his ability to capture the natural spirit of the animals. Seeing Pug Shots made me an even bigger fan of his work. Now, if only my little pug was included in that book, I'd probably buy every copy in the bookstore. I told you I'd try to be objective, but sometimes it just can't be helped.
With his subjects donning adorable costumes and whimsical props, Dratfield captures the roguish essence of the pug in a variety of clever settings. 60...More at Buy.com
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