Snow in New York!

Celeste & Ollie in Central Park during the start of the blizzard

I can't quite believe how lucky we have been with the weather! I have been praying for snow to hit New York for the last couple of months; I had pretty much given up on it arriving, so booked our flights anyway so we could at least get some wintery images for the book. Two days after we arrived news hit that the worst snow storm in a century was about to engulf the city, OMG, sorry New Yorkers, but I was SO happy!!! The blizzard started on Friday morning with more of a wet snow but that didn't stop Andy and I venturing into Central Park along with a number of other brave dog owners! Along with getting drenched we captured some beautiful scenery, it is amazing how snow can transform a scene, making the vista of Central Park so different from what we had seen the day before.

Rocketman patiently waiting for his ball

We have only been here for a couple of days and already we have met so many gorgeous dogs and owners, everyone has been so friendly and enthusiastic about the project, its wonderful and incredibly encouraging. The aim during this 10 day visit is to make as many contacts as possible, capture some winter images for the book, location hunting and researching areas for when we come back in the summer to create the bulk of the images for the book.

Valentino enjoying the snow in Fort Tryon Park, North Manhattan

Saturday morning we were up and out of the hotel at 6.30am, the height of the Blizzard had hit between 7pm and 2am, Manhattan was under at least a foot of snow and I have never seen the streets so deserted. By the time we had walked to Central Park, every man and his dog was out, it was a beautiful sight, it was such a joy to see so many happy excited and playful dogs LOVING the snow! The sun was out by mid morning when we got to Fort Tryon Park in North Manhatten, where we spent a good two hours with our new friends Jim and Ginetta and their gorgeous dogs Valentino and Geisha. The New Yorkers were in full snow mode, kids and parents were sledging down hills and staircases, dogs were frolicking everywhere, it was magical.

Mischka looking for the raccoon she saw in the fountain a few months back!

This trip has already been so fulfilling and we still have 5 days to go....... it has been wonderful to meet the team at The Humane Society of New York, they are all very excited about the project; they do an incredible job for the animals of this city and it will be an honour to be able to raise money through this project to assist them with the care they give. Tomorrow we are meeting with the team at Abrams Publishing, the publishing house that has produced my French series here in America and will be taking on The New York Dog. The greatest part has been meeting all the dogs, and building relationships for when we return.

Chaika, Cali & Sibi in Central Park the day before the snow arrived

One thing I have discovered during this visit is just how vast New York City is, it is going to be a huge project to cover the areas and show a true reflection of the New York Dog. We are on the streets making contacts and handing out leaflets, but we still need help with spreading the word. So please pass on the website and tell your friends with dogs here in New York to be in touch. We also need you to get behind the indiegogo campaign to help get this book produced. So please take a moment to view the campaign and if you can spare a few dollars, please make a pledge, every little bit helps to get this great project off the ground. http://igg.me/p/304538/x/2010186

The beautiful Cali in Central Park

DOGS in the Luberon

Earlier in October I had the pleasure of spending 5 days in Provence. I was there with writer Carla Woter, creating a story for DOGS Magazine, on traveling with your Dog in the Luberon.

Carla and I got to stay at some beautiful properties and meet some wonderful people and their beloved dogs. We discovered stunning walks, delicious cafés and restaurants, quaint villages and traditional markets, every place dog friendly.... like  most places in France, the Luberon is a perfect place to live or travel with your four legged best friend.

The highlight of my trip was meeting English Author Peter Mayle. Peter is a true dog lover with a kind gentle soul, his dog Alfred is ADORABLE, I wanted to bring him home with me.

Peter with Alfred

Peter and Alfred enjoying a stroll together

Garou cooling off in the fountain in Cucuron

Kira out for a walk on the property of Bastide St Victor

Pythagoras enjoying a walk through Les Forêt des Cédres near Bonnieux

Bibi walks Paloma through the beautiful gardens of Le Pavillon de Galon, Cucuron

A little Frenchie hangs out in a boutique in Loumarin

Kiko wanders the streets of Ansouis

Patchoun stops for a breather in the shade during a 3 hour hike from Rousillon

The Luberon is a beautiful region of France, particularly gorgeous during the autumn months

Juggling work with being a Mum

I have always been very career orientated, I know how to play, but work has always been my priority. For the first 2 years of being a Mum it was easy to combine family life with work, the three of us were on the road together photographing for The French Cat, The French Dog and Lunch in Provence, but now Charlize is nearly 3 years old and we need to settle down a little..... she started school in September!!!

Me settle down!!! not an easy concept!!! 

I love being on the road, traveling, having a different view everyday; but I do love spending time at home too, but I get bored easily! Andy is the same! I think every day we are planning new things, where we will head to next, what projects should we tackle, but Charlize is our priority now, so it is important that we do what is best for her..... THANK GOODNESS my Mum gave me some great advice during one of our 'what is best for Charlize' talks, she told me that travel is one of the most educational things a child can experience...... Whew, we are off the hook and don't have to pack the suitcases into the closet just yet :)

I love to photograph Charlize, though she is at a challenging age at the moment, a month off 3 years!!! I could catch her in a perfect mood where she is happy to dance for the camera, or she might be completely uncooperative and eventually lead me to total frustration..... why is it I have endless patience with all other subjects but when it comes to photographing someone you know better than anyone else, your patience vanishes out the window!

The other day we went out into the vines for a walk, Charlize wasn't in the most cooperative mood, but sometimes its best just to let them do their own thing!

We are lucky here in the South of France, the light is so crisp and clean.

A favourite place for a walk, The Canal du Midi

My costume making skills were put back into work..... I transformed Charlize into a Cheetah for the local schools Halloween Party.

The latest Book Release

My advanced copies of the French edition of The French Dog and the English, French and German editions of Lunch in Provence have just arrived on my doorstep here in France.... well in the garage as there is a palette full of them!!!

It is always very exciting to receive my advances as it means they are hitting the shelves around the world. The English edition of The French Dog was actually released earlier in the year, but the French edition has just been released in October here in France. Déjeuner en Provence was released in France in mid October, but the rest of the world saw it hit the shelves a couple of weeks earlier.

On the 21st October Monsieur Jean-André Charial and I hosted a cocktail party at Cabro d'Or in Les Baux de Provence to celebrate the launch of Déjeuner en Provence, we had a great turn out and I received some very kind and positive feedback on how well I had captured the true essence of the Provençal life. 

Jean-André and I in fine form 

Being Interviewed by a local French newspaper

The Speech!

More Cover Shoots for DOGS

I love heading to Germany for a few days to create Cover images for DOGS Magazine. I have had the pleasure to work with some gorgeous dogs, all are the adored pets of subscribers to the Magazine.... it is wonderful that Thomas, the Editor in Chief of DOGS, has given readers the opportunity to have their own pets as the Cover Stars. So Thomas and I head off on road trips around Germany to capture a variety of breeds, pure and not so pure, so the cover of each Magazine graces a different character and look for every edition.

ANGA

A stunning Black Great Dane

Anga was a little nervous to start, but soon settled into the role with ease, she was beautiful, rather tall but very regal.

AMY & OLE

A couple of gorgeous crossbreeds

Amy was sceptical, Ole was happy go lucky; both totally adorable and great fun to photograph for the first cover shot out in the environment.

FREIDA

An angelic petite Jack Russell

Ball crazy and full of beans, but an absolute angel to photograph, exceptional manners and a character that continuously makes you smile, secretly I think she thinks she is a Kangaroo!

HERR MOPS & ELF

A cute cheeky little Pug and an extremely energetic Weimaraner

An interesting combination of breeds, but these two are great mates. Elf has to be the most well behaved Weimaraner I have ever met and Herr Mops idolizes her, therefore follows suit in all aspects of character; plays hard, runs hard and steps into heel at the drop of a hat... a wonderful couple of dogs to capture through the lens.

NZ Life & Leisure

A few months ago I was approached by Kate Coughlan the Editor of NZ Life & Leisure Magazine asking if I would be interested in being interviewed and creating some images of 'Our Life in France' to be featured in the Magazine. I was thrilled, Life & Leisure is one of my favorite magazines, so to be included in a publication would be fantastic.

Along with the feature I was also asked to create the cover for the issue, so with a borrowed Egyptian Donkey, a friends dog, my wonderful husband, our gorgeous daughter and our new little kitten Oscar; our back garden became the stage for the Life & Leisure Cover.

Thank you so much Kate and Yolanta from Life & Leisure for creating this wonderful feature which I am extremely proud to be able to share with my friends and family back home in 

New Zealand.