How much time do you spend on this Instagram page in particular?
Only 15 to 30 minutes a day. But I think I should invest more because making videos is very important today.
What’s the most difficult thing about capturing these images?
The timing. It’s easy to photograph a dog catching a treat when you train it a little. But I like the eye contact thing, that intensive look, the big noses and the big eyes. There is one point in the process where you get those pictures. It’s always my goal to hit that moment.
And the most enjoyable?
When you hit the moment and when the models don’t want to leave, staying with me instead of going with the owners.
What’s one trait you need to be a dog photographer?
The most important thing is to have a connection to the dog. When you're in a studio you have time to get familiar and to create a nice workflow. But I couldn’t survive financially if I only do a couple of studio shootings in a week. So I have to go to events and fairs where you have 20 different dogs and characters a day. They all want that one funny expression of their dog — I'm the one who has to manage it, whether you have a dachshund or rottweiler in front of the lens. And believe me, if you do this three days in a row, everybody part hurts for the rest of the week.
For the love of animal art: three Instagram accounts to follow
Forget videos and pictures taken by amateur pet owners. These Instagram accounts take animal art and photography to the next level
Image: Vieler Photography
Ten years ago, German photographer Christian Vieler was playing around with a new flash, trying to figure out its functions. To ensure his model, his Labrador Lotte, sat still in front of him as he was doing so, he threw the occasional treat her way, snapping a picture each time he did. Just before he erased his memory card after this impromptu shoot, he came upon a money shot of her snatching a treat from the air. An idea was birthed and in 2015 his pictures of dogs catching treats went viral, setting him up to make the leap to full-time dog photographer in 2016.
Image: Vieler Photography
How much time do you spend on this Instagram page in particular?
Only 15 to 30 minutes a day. But I think I should invest more because making videos is very important today.
What’s the most difficult thing about capturing these images?
The timing. It’s easy to photograph a dog catching a treat when you train it a little. But I like the eye contact thing, that intensive look, the big noses and the big eyes. There is one point in the process where you get those pictures. It’s always my goal to hit that moment.
And the most enjoyable?
When you hit the moment and when the models don’t want to leave, staying with me instead of going with the owners.
What’s one trait you need to be a dog photographer?
The most important thing is to have a connection to the dog. When you're in a studio you have time to get familiar and to create a nice workflow. But I couldn’t survive financially if I only do a couple of studio shootings in a week. So I have to go to events and fairs where you have 20 different dogs and characters a day. They all want that one funny expression of their dog — I'm the one who has to manage it, whether you have a dachshund or rottweiler in front of the lens. And believe me, if you do this three days in a row, everybody part hurts for the rest of the week.
Image: Vieler Photography
Image: Vieler Photography
What’s your best tip for capturing the perfect dog portrait?
First: being prepared technically. Don’t start setting your shutterspeed when the dog is already running. Second: observe the dog and look at what point you get the best shot. If you want to shoot a jumping dog, let him jump two or three times and look for your spot.
Image: Jason Lee
@increamcat
UK-based Jason Lee’s love for cats led him to start an Instagram page dedicated to all things feline a year ago. He would share a variety of pictures and videos of cats being silly, funny and cute. Sometimes he’d take footage of the them wearing props or getting themselves into hilarious situations. He called his page @increamcat, short for a fantasy world he’d created called Cream Cat Island.
Then, four months ago, intending to differentiate his work and attract a larger audience, he started posting what could best be described as artistic cat portraits. Think cat eating ice cream, cats doing karate, cat baristas, even cat pilots. Excellently crafted, this collection of portraits represents the denizens of Cat Cream Island.
What's the story of Cream Cat Island?
The story of Cream Cat Island is similar to the world of Harry Potter. It's set in a place unreachable by humans, where a group of cats live like people. They have their own culture, history and lifestyle.
How do you generate these images?
To generate the images for @increamcat, I draw inspiration from real animal photos and use some computer technology to bring my ideas to life.
How long does creating one of these images take?
On average, it takes me about half a day to create one set of images.
Image: Jason Lee
Image: Jason Lee
Do you intend to take Cream Cat Island further?
I'm considering expanding the story of Cream Cat Island, possibly turning it into a novel or a picture storybook.
Why the obsession with cats?
My fascination with cats stems from their mysterious nature. One never truly owns a cat; instead, we are merely chosen by them.
Image: Jason Lee
Image: Jason Lee
What’s your best tip for capturing the perfect cat photo?
Exercise your imagination.
@chloris_agency
Stefania Bonatelli is an Italian-Colombian photographer and artist living in La Palma in the Canary Islands who's worked in the art world for almost 30 years. She embraced the possibilities digital technology could add to her work as far back as 2008 and today her art is showcased on various platforms, including online galleries and social media pages. Working as a mixed-media artist, she blends visual elements in her work as she explores the relationship between humanity and the complexity of what she calls the contemporary era. Her work incorporates animals to make for the most unusual, striking animal artworks on her Instagram page @chloris_agency.
Image: Stefania Bonatelli
Image: Stefania Bonatelli
Where did the idea to incorporate animals into your work come from?
The idea of incorporating animals into my work originated from a deep fascination with the intricate and often enigmatic relationship between humanity and the natural world. Animals, with their profound diversity and symbolism, offer a rich tapestry of narratives that resonate with the human experience. They have the power to evoke emotions, stir memories and prompt contemplation.
Do you have a favourite animal picture?
If I were to highlight one that particularly resonates with me, it would be the one that features the Great Blue Heron atop a dishevelled bed, created in 2017 to showcase the luxury fabric collection of an Italian company. The project is titled “When Textile Meets Animals”. The entire series comprises 11 photographs, each featuring a different bird, with the goal of ensuring each animal embodies the same colours as the presented collection. This image is especially dear to me, not only because of my deep passion for birds, but also because it represented a challenge that defied the conventions of interior design, where photographs often depict perfectly organised settings. This image encapsulates the essence of my artistic journey, capturing the convergence of creativity, emotion and the profound connection between humanity and the natural world.
Image: Stefania Bonatelli
Image: Stefania Bonatelli
How long does creating one of these images take?
The time required varies depending on the complexity of the task or the process involved. On average, the process spans several weeks.
When you first see a picture of an animal, how do you decide what setting you want to put it in?
Selecting a setting for an animal in my work is an intricate fusion of intuition, creativity and symbolism. When I encounter an image of an animal that resonates with me, I embark on a journey of visual storytelling. The choice of setting and its elements are carefully considered to evoke a specific mood or narrative.
Where do you get the pictures of the animals? Do you take them?
The images of the animals I work with come from a variety of sources. For certain projects I capture the photographs myself, particularly when I seek to infuse a personal perspective into the imagery. However, I also collaborate with professional photographers and leverage high-quality stock images to ensure a diverse and comprehensive visual repertoire.
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