It’s A Bird… It’s A Plane… It’s Julia Christe’s Flying Dogs
They’re man’s best friend and likely the only creature on the planet that loves you more than they love themselves. What on earth did we ever do to deserve dogs? German photographer Julia Christe has recognised the power of the pooch; after initially being inspired by her Frisbee-lovin’ pup, Flinn, she set out to photograph the athleticism and freedom of dogs leaping in mid-air. The end result? Flying Dogs, a compilation of 120 different canine breeds floating in front of pastel backdrops.
From the fluffiest of Poodles and Pomeranians to hulking Dobermans and German Shepherds, Christe has captured puppers from all walks of life in a unique and light-hearted manner. Naturally, airborne pooches pose quite the conundrum: short of a Dumbo-like anomaly in which a Beagle’s ears are so incredibly oversized it can take off into the night like a Boeing 747, dogs can’t fly. And Christe needed to find a solution.
“First, my method had to be safe for a healthy dog, one that required minimal – if any – strain on the dog, and would work on the first try in order to capture the surprise effect,” the photographer explains. “Second, I needed to tailor the approach for different breeds and constitutions. Finally, it had to be doable for all dogs without previous training, requiring a low height while still seeming dynamic. I finally came up with the method that I would use throughout the shootings: rather than having the dogs jump after a ball or a Frisbee, I would have their owners or an assistant hold them at a certain height, depending on the dog’s size, and release them onto a well-padded mattress, allowing me to closely monitor the area where I would shoot.”
It’s settled: in our next life, we’re coming back as a professional dog-holder. Now, before you go jumping to conclusions of the “animal cruelty” variety, Christe is quick to point out that no dogs were harmed in the making of her series – in fact, it’s a red stamp emblazoned on the book’s front cover. Once you realise that the cuddly pups haven’t been hurled into the air with brute force, you’re able to soak up the humour and general warmth Christe’s images exude like a guilt-free dessert.
“Some people didn’t understand that a wind machine and post-production created the real illusion of flying,” Christe says. “As usual, only my own dogs Flinn and Turre know the greatest pleasure of this project: a wonderful weekend, spent in the company of many lovely dogs and their owners, with a lot of encouraging words and treats, balls or Frisbees and some exquisitely beautiful female dogs.”
It’s been a trying year, so take a load off with Christe’s flying dogs below.
Flying Dogs by Julia Christe is out now through Simon & Schuster.
flyingdogs.info / @christejulia
