I’ve had a few nick names in my time that I’d rather not have had.  I know they’ve been meant kindly but they’ve put too finer point on those aspects of me or my character that I’d rather weren’t highlighted.  I’m not sure how Fortnum and Mason like their term of endearment – my monkeys.  Not because they are mischievous but on account of their monkey like noses.  I can’t look at their noses without visualising a monkey’s face.  It’s not so much the shape but the texture, lines and primal rawness. Too much detail?

There’s nothing better than a stationery basset for a spot of photography practice although they tend to not look their most attractive when they are being laid back and cosy.  I have to take all opportunities to capture their cuteness so I can look at the photographs and smile again and again.  One such opportunity arose right in the middle of eating dinner this week and I had my camera to hand from some food photography (more on that later) so I grabbed the opportunity to capture my monkeys – one cool and restful and the other ready to pounce.  I’ll give you one guess which basset was adopting which pose.

Got it?

Yes, Fortnum being out laid back snoozy Big Basset and his partner in crime trying out a new begging pose.

This picture of Mason shoes the real dilemma basset owners face.  A hound with cute capacity in spades offset by untidy wrinkles and masses of slobber.

Photography fanatic note:

I wished I’d had a higher aperture and got more of his nose and paws in focus instead of just capturing his eyes with my 35mm f/1.8.  Needless to say little basset didn’t sit still long enough to make the adjustments to the camera.  But I like this picture because it emphasises the devilish thought behind those eyes.  In Fortnum’s picture I like the fact that their is a very shallow depth of field it expresses his dreamy like state but keeping his nose fully operational in case there is an edible treat heading his way.