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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2022 \u00a9 Elke Vogelsang | FUJIFILM X-T3 and XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1\/1250 sec at F10, ISO 500<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI took pictures in the analogue days, but found it difficult to improve,\u201d Elke begins. \u201cWhen I got my first digital camera, around 2005, I noticed I could develop skills a little more easily, but I was still just a hobby photographer. It was only when I got my first dog, a few years later, that I realised what a compelling subject he could be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elke\u2019s reminiscing turns to more troubling memories, though without them, life may well have taken her down a different road. \u201cSometime later, my husband, Carsten, was taken seriously ill with a brain haemorrhage,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019d been planning a picture-a-day project and decided to start it, despite my husband being in hospital \u2013 or rather because of it. I wanted to maintain a sense of normality and have something to distract myself, so on 1 January 2010, I started taking one photo every day.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy then I had two dogs and my limited spare time was dedicated to them. I already loved to photograph them, so when we\u2019d walk, I\u2019d bring my camera.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2022 \u00a9 Elke Vogelsang | FUJIFILM X-T2 and XF90mmF2 R LM WR, 1\/250 sec at F2.5, ISO 400<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Thankfully, Carsten made a full recovery, but the profound effect photography had on Elke could not be shaken. On a new trajectory, she began to take tentative steps in the right direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought I would be able to make my living from photography alone,\u201d Elke explains. \u201cBut I was very active in making and sharing images. If someone asked me to write a blog, I would sit down late at night, after my day job as a translator, and write it. It was hard work, but fun. Around that, I\u2019d photograph weddings \u2013 which are much too nerve-wracking for me \u2013 and other projects. I was slowly able to reduce my hours as a translator, moving towards my current specialisation. It\u2019s been a ten-year process, so change didn\u2019t happen overnight.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Elke exudes an infectious sense of calm. In conversation, it\u2019s easy to imagine her cool confidence leaving animals somewhat spellbound. Still, she does rely on a few tricks when it comes to posing pooches.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2022 \u00a9 Elke Vogelsang | FUJIFILM X-T3 and XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1\/1000 sec at F2.8, ISO 2000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s useful to meet as many dogs as you can, because each one is different and responds to different motivation. I start with noises, which may be enough to get the dog to look interested, or maybe give a cute head tilt. I\u2019m not afraid of making a fool of myself,\u201d Elke laughs. \u201cLow volumes are advisable first, because you can always escalate from here \u2013 and you don\u2019t want to scare the dog.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, of course, most dogs would do anything for treats,\u201d she continues. \u201cAgain, I offer something low priority first. A food-obsessed beagle might end up on my lap instead of in front of my camera if I were to present anything too tasty!\u201d<\/p>\n
More often than not, Elke\u2019s sessions last around an hour, although some accommodations are made for young, old or nervous dogs. Breaks can also be required, to tread the fine line between engagement and overexcitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cCats are quite different,\u201d Elke muses. \u201cWhen they don\u2019t want to take part, they\u2019re not taking part. I usually visit cats in their own homes, rather than my studio, to keep them relaxed. Still, you should expect the session to be shorter and breaks are not recommended, because the window in which they might be interested is so short to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto 2022 \u00a9 Elke Vogelsang | FUJIFILM X-T2 and XF50mmF2 R WR, 1\/250 sec at F2, ISO 2000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The second element of pet portraiture groundwork is, of course, choosing the right tools for the job. FUJIFILM X-T4<\/a> is Elke\u2019s workhorse, relied upon for its impressive speed across the board.<\/p>\n \u201cContinuous autofocus is a must for animals in action, but even those sitting nicely are likely to move their heads, so I retain AF-C there, too, to maintain a sharp focus on the eyes. In most cases, I use a shutter speed of at least 1\/1250 sec and 5fps bursts. The camera is capable of rattling through many more frames, but I don\u2019t want to end the day with thousands of pictures. I prefer to concentrate on the animal and be slightly more intentional with my shutter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Photo 2022 \u00a9 Elke Vogelsang | FUJIFILM X-Pro2 and XF90mmF2 R LM WR, 1\/1600 sec at F2.8, ISO 1250<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lens choice comes down to a mix of practical demands and aesthetic preferences. Within the extensive XF line-up, Elke has found both in a number of optics.<\/p>\n \u201cOutdoors, my absolute favourite lens is the FUJIFILM XF90mmF2 R LM WR<\/a>, which is incredibly sharp and creates such elegant portraits. It\u2019s also long and fast enough for dogs in action,\u201d Elke notes. \u201cIn the studio, I use the FUJIFILM XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR<\/a> almost exclusively, due to its range of looks and an aperture wide enough for low light.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, with kit selected, settings dialled-in and your animal successfully wrangled, it\u2019s time to focus on the picture-making process. As ever, it\u2019s an opportunity to share your own singular telling of a moment \u2013 and paint a picture of an equally unique living subject.<\/p>\n Many will not have access to studio space, but Elke\u2019s portraits are a true testament to the minimalist beauty of a stripped-back set-up. With a penchant for the soft light of an overcast day, her images present a textural depth lacking in most human subjects \u2013 presented in pleasing contrast with gorgeous bokeh backgrounds.<\/p>\n \u201cI was not entirely fond of studio photography. I much preferred being out in nature, letting my dogs run and jump and play in the water. I\u2019ve brought that available light to all of my work,\u201d Elke enthuses. \u201cI love evenly-lit photos because more attention is directed to the expression or posture of the animal. I don\u2019t want anything to distract from the subject, so I ensure there\u2019s a limited mixture of shadow and light on the fur.<\/p>\n \u201cMy compositions are fairly simple \u2013 and I like to focus on one scene at a time,\u201d says Elke. This leads nicely to the second distinctive quality of her work, in which the subject is once again placed at the forefront of a viewer\u2019s gaze. \u201cI pay attention to the background, as I don\u2019t want any single object or colour to draw the eye away. This often means blurring the background as fully as possible, as long as the whole dog remains sharp.\u201d<\/p>\n Truly the windows to the soul, Elke also values eye contact as highly as any portrait artist. \u201cI like a look directly into camera, often with the whole animal positioned straight-on,\u201d she continues. \u201cIf I can\u2019t get that, I focus on the story that presents itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n