We were taking photos for the "farm letter" for our winter/holiday 2011 edition of the print newsletter yesterday, and as usual, I thought you would enjoy seeing the outtakes. Kate was behind the camera, her usual sweet, patient self, while the subjects (Alayne and me and blind Cash) were in front of the camera struggling to maintain control. In all, she took 64 photos before I declared victory -- of those shots, only two were candidates for the final newsletter photo. (I know, I am par-tic-u-lar.)
In the photo above, it looks a little like I'm holding up a disembodied horse head ... or maybe a horse head balloon. Not sure.
Next we have a horse head growing out of Alayne's shoulder:
Here I was apparently doing an impromptu ear inspection (but why?):
In this next one the horse looks great, the woman looks great, and I ... well, I do not look so great:
If I hadn't screwed that one up, we could have stopped there at No. 38.
I was on a roll, it seems, because in this next shot everyone looks really good except for ... well, oh never mind:
So then we switch sides, but here Alayne is trying to control a certain horse head which is moving into her personal space:
The horse succeeds anyway while she bravely continues smiling:
And this last photo was just a complete disaster (although the horse looked pretty good, I must admit):
Finally, here's the one that will be in the newsletter:
Whew!
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Another Shelter Challenge begins -- and No. 3 again already!
The new Shelter Challenge started October 3rd and ends at midnight on December 18th. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
And remember, you can vote every day, so consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Please note: Use Rolling Dog Ranch for our name and NH for the state and our listing will come up. [Yes, we are still listed as Rolling Dog Ranch for the purposes of the contest, not Rolling Dog Farm.]
Because of your votes, we just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in this round of the Shelter Challenge. Please help us win more money for the animals here by voting every day, and by encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to vote every day, too. Thank you!
Great picture thanks for all you do for the "special" animals Steve! I vote for rolling dog rescue each day in the animal rescue.
Posted by: Erika Widener | November 28, 2011 at 04:51 PM
At least this time we an see it's not "cardboard Steve" in the pictures. Remember last news letter outtakes, he looked like a wax statue of himself? :) We love to laugh with you, Steve, not at you.
Posted by: Kelly | November 03, 2011 at 02:44 PM
GREAT PICTURE~~~
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | October 28, 2011 at 12:27 PM
I like all the pics, and Cash is so handsome! Steve, you are so funny, does Alayne ever just want to whap you up side of your head for being so picky? I'm laughing as I type this.
Hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias and Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | October 27, 2011 at 04:20 PM
I always love the outtakes! And everyone always looks great in them. They just have an extra smile factor. :)
Posted by: Tonya Allen | October 26, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Cute pictures from the picture-taking session. Thanks for sharing. Phyllis
Posted by: Phyllis Snow | October 26, 2011 at 03:04 PM
I always enjoy the "out-takes" and your explanation about why you didn't like a photo. Usually it's something I completely missed until you point it out, and then "oh!" I see it and laugh out loud.
Should we send donations for Photoshop so you can paste in the right expression from each subject on different photos? Justin kidding. I think Alayne secretly likes to stand there smiling through 60 pictures, and I'm sure Kate loves taking them.
Posted by: Linda | October 26, 2011 at 02:19 PM
I love all of these photos, but especially the one of Cash ear-to-ear with Alayne. He looks like he is listening for a secret. Great photos and funny stories! :)
Posted by: Angela | October 26, 2011 at 11:39 AM
It may go to his head (not disembodied!), but that Cash has grown into a most handsome fellow. Great pictures! Fun! Looking forward to the newsletter, as always.
ps: Wish we were all as photogenic as Alayne!
Posted by: Margaret | October 26, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Awesome threesome! And your prose is so fun to read. have a lovely autumn day!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | October 26, 2011 at 10:50 AM
I love all your animals, but am particularly fond of Cash. The outtakes are great and yes, we always love seeing them. Kudos to all of you!!!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | October 26, 2011 at 10:39 AM
CASH CLEARLY LOVES YOU BOTH BUT HE SEEMS TO LIKE TO PUT HIS HEAD ON ALAYNE'S SHOULDER MORE THAN YOUR'S STEVE. BEAUTIFUL FALL PIC'S THO - THANKS FOR SHARING.
Posted by: FELICIA | October 26, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Cash is absolutely beautiful!!! I love the first shot. "You're taking pictures? Oh, really? I didn't know, but since I'm here....." You appear to have had a beautiful day for taking pictures of beautiful people, two and four legged! :) :) :)
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | October 26, 2011 at 09:30 AM
The comedian, W.C. Fields, is credited with the line, “Never work with children or animals.”
It's just easier these days with digital cameras.
Cash is looking so handsome--and so are the humans!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | October 26, 2011 at 08:36 AM
OK Steve, so if no one else will say it, I will. You're so very lucky that we care about you for what you do for the animals - and Alyane is a saint! ha ha ha ha Everyone has their peculiarities and yours just happens to be photo taking. Could be a lot worse. And congratulations for winning the weekly prize in the Shelter Challenge. We're all still voting every day.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | October 26, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Thank you, Steve, for making me laugh on this grey October day.:-)
I just love Alayne's glorious smile...
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | October 26, 2011 at 04:03 AM
*perfect*!!!
Posted by: Valerie | October 25, 2011 at 11:01 PM
Sweet and funny Cash is my favorite horse to hear about. I remember when he was just a baby and playing with Steve's zipper. LOL He's grown in to such a handsome young man! : )
Posted by: Christine Baltazar | October 25, 2011 at 10:54 PM
I always look forward to the outtake pictures and these didn't disappoint! I think the "disembodied head" picture of Cash would be great for Halloween! :)
As always, you and Alayne look great, and Cash is such a handsome boy!
Posted by: Ann | October 25, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Can you guys hook me up with Laura from Helena who adopted two of the blind dogs? Please? There is a blind/older chihuahua at the shelter here in Great Falls and I am trying to find it a home with friends. They have questions about blind dogs and patio stairs.
Give her my email address please.
Thanks.
BTW the pics and story are hilarious.
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | October 25, 2011 at 10:45 PM
Bahahahahahahahaha!!! Horse head balloon, that's EXACTLY what it looks like in the picture. Way too funny. What fun "photo day" must be for all concerned:-) The final shot is definitely the best one but thanks for including all the other ones too.
Posted by: cslvestropez@yahoo.ca | October 25, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Now that is a lovely trio.
Posted by: Evelyn | October 25, 2011 at 09:18 PM
Well Steve..you know I have to make a comment about all the picture taking..hee..ok, ok I won't. I will say that Cash is a handsome boy and just too funny. Alayne love the new haircut!! Steve you are ok too! :)
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | October 25, 2011 at 09:00 PM