I went to Roger Williams Park for my photo this morning, planning to get some historic cemetery images in the Williams Family Cemetery. I was pleasantly surprised to find this obedience school in session for rescued pit bulls. The young lady on the right is one of the instructors, and both she and her student agreed to the photo. The young pup did require a scratch behind the ears as payment, though.
This class was for owners that recently adopted a pit bull. A second class is held in the afternoon for pit bulls awaiting adoption. There were about a dozen dogs and owners here, with each pup proudly wearing a tight sweater against the cold, and each one slowly beating their owner's legs to a pulp with an aggressively wagging tail. This is one of the most maligned dog breeds in the US, but the truth is, the pit bull is one of the most gentle and people-friendly breeds you will encounter. While the rare owner will train the dog for violence, it is not at all in the breed's nature. Despite their reputation, they are remarkably affectionate and extremely gentle around people.
Post processing started with a classic filter in Topaz B&W FX. I adjusted adaptive exposure, regions, contrast, boost black, boost white, and protect highlights. A sepia photo filter and a levels adjustment was added in PSE.
An interesting picture that tells a happy story. How cold it looks, and how heroic of the people to be out making the world a bit better for these dogs. Composition wise, there's a lot going on, and the interest circles around the two figures, linked by the dog.
