Dog Walking Session — Dylan & Obi
This session grew out of a shared appreciation for quiet mornings outdoors and the simple rhythm of walking with a dog. I met Dylan and his dog, Obi, for a late-autumn shoot shaped less by posing and more by conversation, movement, and time spent in nature.
We chose Kingley Vale as the setting — a place where misty hills, ancient trees, and open woodland naturally invite a slower pace. The idea was straightforward: walk as you normally would, follow familiar paths, and let the environment do the rest. My role was to stay observant and unobtrusive, allowing moments to happen rather than directing them.
Obi set the tempo from the start. Energetic, curious, and completely at ease, he moved effortlessly through bushes, over hills, and straight into puddles without hesitation. The session unfolded organically over several hours, with no sense of rushing. As Obi explored, Dylan and I talked — about dogs, about being outdoors, and about how walking the same routes day after day creates a quiet connection to place.
The focus throughout was on authentic companionship. Subtle gestures, shared direction, pauses, and movement mattered more than any single frame. By letting the walk lead the session, the images reflect a relationship shaped by trust, routine, and shared time rather than performance.
Editing felt like a continuation of the experience rather than a task — bringing out mood, texture, and atmosphere while keeping the images honest to the day. This project reinforced my approach to photographing people and animals together: calm, unforced, and grounded in real moments rather than constructed scenes.
