Good Dog
by Randal Ford
Renowned photographer Randal Ford’s latest book of dog portraits is a refined collection of quirk, expression, and heartfelt sentiment. In addition to his brilliant images, Ford understood the equal importance of written stories. TELLER crafted 150 narrative-based captions for each unique animal, using a balanced blend of wit, whimsy, and tenderness. The result is a timeless tribute to our closest companions—one that will serve as a lasting impression on the hearts of many. Good Dog was published and distributed worldwide by Rizzoli New York.
“Poodles are without question the quintessential breed for creative expression. The sky's the limit and at times the inspiration. Porsche’s cloud of poof hung just above her eyes like shelter in a storm—although this sophisticated lady would never
be caught in the rain.”
“Nothing to see
ear folks!”
“This Jupiter may not have any visible rings but he sure has some visible rolls. It’s ok buddy, they happen to the best of us.”
Ceelo
There is nothing standard about this poodle. CeeLo is one of the most interestingly decorated dogs I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His pervasive grays and long, pointed beard likened him to a wise sage nestled in the heart of the Himalayas. No matter how many times we repositioned his pose, he continued to hold himself with a kind of meditative steadiness, as if inwardly chanting the age-old dog mantra,“Booooone.”
Allie
Allie captivated the camera like a young Marilyn Monroe. Lovely and elusive, debonaire and delicate. Her silkened coat draped itself perfectly around her slender facial features—her eyes containing just the right amount of Hollywood glow. Much like Marilyn, Allie was more than just a pretty face. She looked deliberately into my lens with such honesty, as if to echo the late star in saying, “Imperfection is beauty.”
Millie
Millie was found walking the streets alone with a heavy chain around her neck, having forged her way out of the abandoned post it was attached to. By the time she arrived at a shelter, her collar had embedded itself into her skin—but this story has a happy ending.
There are moments in life when a coincidence seems too great to be such. When the timing of many possibilities somehow come together to form a life-changing moment. When a dog finds a little girl in the midst of her own trials and teaches her how to hope again. Life can be painful, but it can also be redemptive and full of love. We all walk around with our own chains, but Millie is living proof that the trick to getting rid of them is keeping yourself in the way of love and allowing people close enough to help you take them off.
The eyes of a wolf are not like the eyes of a dog. But they used to be.
Barbaro
Barbaro filled the room like a thick-stringed piece of music—slowly spreading over the space and lowering the energy to a sonorous hum. Though his name means barbaric, he was no such thing. This gentle giant stood before my lens calm yet powerful. His muscular build and weathered folds mimicked that of his ancestors bravely guarding the high walls of ancient roman gates and castles.
Bandit
Bandit reminded me of a saying I once heard: “Even a bad dog is better than a good person.” As a Springer Spaniel Lab mix, this guy was all energy with a long list of endearing-but-naughty antics. My favorite story was when his choreographed entrance to his owner’s wedding went completely awry. Instead of sticking to the plan, Bandit tore into the crowd making sure to greet every guest, as well as their plate of food. If his paw-to-face pose was any indication, he must have harbored some leftover guilt during our session.
Houdini
Yes, there is a reason for his name and, yes, it’s probably what you expect. Houdini is an escape artist. In fact, his owners discovered him trotting around a parking lot having come from who knows where. I like to imagine that perhaps somewhere else on the globe sat a stunned audience, slack-jawed and silent, having just witnessed the world’s first disappearing dog.
“As soon as I snapped this photo, I knew it was in the running for the cover. It’s all there, everything that we know and love about our dogs. The joy, the goodness, and the depth. He must have known what a great job he did because as soon as we wrapped, Giddy flew from the platform straight into my arms. Good dog.”
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“Dogs have been in our lives for millennia—as our best friends and our family. While we attempt to navigate the ever-changing terrain of a global pandemic, one good thing remains constant: Our dogs by our side. If there were ever a time to pay tribute to our closest companions, it is now.”
”Ford manages to perfectly marry his exceptional technical precision with a raw, unrestrained connection to his subject. Warm, tender, and playful, this heartfelt collection of dog portraits gives us a beautiful look into the lives of our most cherished companions.”
“His unmatched ability to pinpoint meaningful moments with each animal is what allows for a collection of this caliber and captivation.”
”While other dog portraits can at times feel repetitive or predictable, every unique image in Ford’s book compels you to spend time with it. More than a book, Good Dog is a window into the heart of man’s best friend.”
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As we attempt to settle into the many changes of our post-Covid daily lives, I can’t help but think about Geronimo the wolf.
Humans are like wolves. We thrive in packs—we need each other to survive. When a worldwide pandemic strikes and proceeds to halt life as we know it, becoming lone wolves in our own homes is not a choice, it’s a necessity.
I am reminding myself today of Geronimo—of his quiet strength and the ancestral packs that passed it down to him.
May we all remember the importance of our packs in this time. I hope everyone is hanging in there and that our lone-wolf days will come to an end soon enough.
Until then, I hear howling at the moon helps.