Photographs of Dogs Catching Treats Will Make Your Entire Day
We’re obsessed with our pets, and any perusal of social media will prove that. There are entire accounts dedicated to individual critters with followings that would put some human celebrities to shame.
After a while, the photos can all look the same — but photographer Christian Vieler from Waltrop, Germany, has found a way to reframe our four-legged friends, and what started as an equipment test ended as a phenomenon.
It all started in 2013 when Vieler bought some new camera gear, including a portable flash that enabled him to work with incredibly fast shutter speeds and capture split-second movements.
When he received the new gear, he looked around for something to try it out on — and there was his Labrador retriever, Lotte.
“To make her move and in order to test the ‘freezing options’ of the flash, I started throwing treats at her,” the photographer told CNN. “Days later, when I cleaned my hard drive, I noticed how funny the shots were.”
His captures of the comical expressions on Lotte’s face proved to be the first few shots that turned into a much larger project showcasing all sorts of dogs experiencing the delicious happiness of catching dog treats.
The experiment didn’t stop with Lotte. He branched out, tossing treats and catching open-mouthed chomp photos of dogs belonging to close acquaintances.
The dogs clearly love the process — and what dog wouldn’t? Vieler has the magic: Treats.
“All models behave because I am the guy with the treats. And I have many treats in my bags,” Vieler said.
Word got out, and people began to follow the unique portraiture. It wasn’t long before people began flocking to Vieler’s studio for paid photography sessions starring their own beloved pets.
Vieler is careful to respect the dogs’ needs, and he gets to know them before using the flash and taking his split-second snaps.
A few dogs get spooked by the flashing lights, but on the whole Vieler’s had success photographing his subjects.
“I start feeding the dog with his favorite treats to become his best friend for the next 30 minutes,” Vieler said.
“Once we have our ‘deal,’ I start with low-level flashing.”
Vieler doles out treats during the photo shoot as a reward for good behavior and says he prefers dry dog treats because they are easier to handle and photograph better.
The shots are definitely unique, and Vieler has a hunch as to why they’ve struck such a chord with people.
“I asked myself: What is the magic behind these photographs? I think the expressions of the dogs remind us of well-known feelings like desire, loss, pain or joy,” Vieler said.
“And that’s what we normally don’t see that clear in the faces of our dogs.”
Vieler released a photography book in 2017 titled “Treat!” which showcases his collection of joyful, happy dogs that are wide-eyed and excited over gulping down their favorite morsels.
The Vieler Photography Facebook page also shows that he has plenty of merchandise for sale displaying the laughable mugs of treat-loving pups.
The photographer plans to release a second photography book in 2019 and hopes that his work will help owners see their dogs with fresh eyes.
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