JJP Designs | Photo Ninja

These shots are grainy. These shots are under exposed and blurry. I'm too far, it's too dark, the glass is too slow - they're awful. I love these shots. They are raw commitment, raw determination... and just pure grit. These shots are so sweaty and so dirty that they have somehow literally physically become exactly that what they depict... True Grit. I feel like I should hate these shots because they're not perfect... not even close. I love these shots. There ain't nothin' little about this lady. I watched some amazing men and women ride that night, but as the guy who watched this young lady make this specific run and the guy who chose these photos over all the technically great and action packed photos I grabbed that night, I have one piece of advice for everyone - myself included... Sometimes you just gotta' cowgirl up! Nah, that ain't right... You gotta' live life cowgirl'd up! But in case it is still not clicking, here's ...

I recently saw someone's photo here on PhotoBlog that reminded me of my favorite Siberian Husky photo I've ever taken of a Siberian Husky that was not my Siberian Husky. Whew - that was a mouth full! We have had Siberian Huskies in our home for the past 20 years. We currently have a 13 year old Husky that still leads the pack. Bandit, the "old man", leads the pack every day, all the time, rain or shine - no questions asked and no discussion. Our 'pack' consists of Bandit, my wife, my son, our 3 year old Husky (Tucker - who is twice Bandit's size) and 4 year old Husky (Raven), and me. There was a brief discussion between Bandit and Tucker when Tucker arrived. Tucker put on quite a show and was talking up a storm. If you've ever been around a Husky then you won't bat an eye at the 'talking up a storm' statement. It's just something you have to see and hear. They talk - it's a Husky thing. When Tucker was done, Bandit said...

Have you ever heard or said this phrase... "My dog is a great judge of character" There's a reason for that... dogs don't speak. Dogs see your actions. Dogs hear inflection but don't truly understand language - and inflection is an aspect of action... it is the action aspect of spoken words. Dogs see your actions. Here's another phrase you've probably heard... Actions speak louder than words. People say a lot of things. People talk a lot. You can say the nicest words but your actions give your true heart away if you say them falsely. You can say things that sound mean out of frustration or fear but your actions reveal your true heart. Those actions... those are all dogs see... it is all they truly know. It is why dogs are such good judges of character. The dogs know the true person. Dogs see the true you. It is why dogs love those they love so unconditionally. It is also why dogs immediately know who they don’t like... and who they trul...