And space is extremely limited.
For more information, check out the “education” tab above, or register directly below.
Artwork feature - van wrap
Some projects are exceptional from the start. Kim and Paula approached me with a vision for their new van, and from the very start, I knew it was going to be something special.
The idea was to use my coloured powder photography to wrap their van’s windows. It was the fact that the van was white that prompted me to finally decide to experiment with coloured powder against a white background.
The project was not without its challenges, as I was not accustomed to working against white. The fact that the art would be printed 8’ long meant that there was no room for error when creating the files for print. However, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, and I loved every moment of it.
Thank you to Kim and Paula for the opportunity to work on such a unique project. If you happen to see this van driving down the highway, or pulling up to a flyball tournament, please make sure to say hello for me.
The final product!
The photographs!
Behind the scenes
I love when clients capture behind the scenes craziness from our time together. My coworkers are the cutest things in the world (even when attempting to steal my lunch!).
How to step up your dog's JUMP for epic powder photography
Powder photography is an epic way to show of an animal's raw athleticism and power. The images are sure to turn heads and make jaws drop. It's no wonder that powder sessions are in such high demand.
But...
The strength of the images is directly proportional to the level of competence and confidence of the furry subject. The better prepared your pet is to cope with the strange sights, sounds and sensations of a powder session, the more successful everyone will be.
Want to polish things up a bit before our upcoming session? Here is a breakdown of the required behaviours, as well as some resources to help step up your training.
What about photos featuring things other than jumps?
We can capture fetch, flyball, running, bitework and more in powder photography. However, photo subjects should be fluent in the behaviours we are trying to capture. Young and/or “green” dogs frequently forget their jobs in the face of distractions.
Breakdown of the basic JBP jump sequence
Behind-the-scenes video of a jump at the inaugural Jess Bell Photography powder session.
Helper holds dog ~15 feet away from a jump.
Handler and/or helper applies powder to dog.
Handler moves to the opposite side of the jump.
Handler calls dog from ~15 feet from opposite side of jump. Helper releases dog.
Dog takes jump on the way to handler for reward.
Party! Reward heavily.
Reset again at step 1.
Breaking it Down
The basic components of the session are relatively simple, but are deceptively complicated once we factor in the necessity of performing in a new area with new smells, lights and back drops and the weird, cold sensation of powder applied to their fur.
Here are some things you can work on with your dog to get them used to some of these strange things:
Work on being held by a stranger.
Train your dog in new areas. Let them sniff and explore beforehand so they can focus more easily.
Crinkle plastic bags behind their heads.
Start with low jumps.
Start close to the jump.
Some dogs are not candidates for powder sessions, unfortunately. Dogs that are not physically sound cannot participate out of health concerns. Dogs that are nervous in new areas or who are easy to stress may not be suitable either. If you’re not sure whether your pet is a suitable candidate for powder photography, don’t hesitate to contact me. I will likely ask to see a video of a basic jump sequence, ask for some background information, and then provide my professional opinion.
Educational resources
“Many people think that dogs can jump naturally and there is no need to train them in the basics of jumping. ... dogs need to learn how to jump correctly. Jumping correctly involves teaching a dog weight transfer, how to use their hind legs correctly to take off for the jump, how to choose the correct path to the jump and most importantly to become confident, have an understanding of the jump task being asked and to jump with a relaxed body.”
Cultural Appropriation, or "why I don't use the word 'holi' when referring to my work.
With the summer kicking off into high gear and many COVID-19 restrictions being loosened, my mind goes to the many coloured powder photo shoots that will likely be taking place this season.
It is not uncommon for this style of coloured powder photography to be referred to as holi powder photography, but in my opinion this is not an appropriate title for it as it encourages cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from minority cultures.
Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “Festival of Love”, the “Festival of Colours”, and the “Festival of Spring”. To celebrate it, brightly coloured powder known as Gulal is thrown. This Gulal is frequently misidentified as holi powder. It is problematic when people who don’t identify as Hindus strip the festival of its spiritual context and history, and especially so to strip it of meaning for simple photos.
I argue that it is unnecessary to introduce issues of cultural appropriation into your work when it is perfectly clear and acceptable to use alternative terminology.
A few years back, after receiving some education, I made a conscious decision to refer to these sessions as “coloured powder” photography and not “holi powder” and I urge you to do the same.
Thanks for taking the time to read/share this!
Jess
Jess Bell Photography
Interested in learning more about coloured powder photography?
Check out these related blog posts.
Is Powder Safe to Use With Animals? And other FAQs.
Cleaning Up After Using Coloured Powder
Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. Thank you!
JBP on Billboards!
HOLY MOLY! There is an intense pride when a photographer gets to see their work up on BILLBOARDS. Check these out! They're, like, 100ft tall!
These billboards went up in South Africa back in September, and today I received photos of them in action. I'm beaming, folks! And these are just a handful of the boards that were erected for everyone to see! Wow.
Huge congrats to the models Vision, Marley, Force, Quinn and my very own girlie Cohen! You guys are the best. And many thanks to Ultra Dog for showing such interest in my work.
Today I'm feeling truly grateful for all the support that I've received over the years. ❤ You guys are awesome.
Check them out!
