Brutal Reality Drowned in Deepa Mehta's Most Talked About Film <em>Water</em>

This is no novel news that at the 30th International Film Festival held in Toronto, Canada, David Hamilton productions came up with the screening of “Water”, Deepa Mehta's brave exploration of India's grim, sordid past in a finely judged tale of a young Hindu girl whose life is suddenly changed by the traditions of her religion. The film is supposed to be the opening feature film of the film festival, starting on September 7. 

What is remarkable to my mind about the theme of the film is that it attempts to delve deep into the Indian society of the thirties, thereby telling an inspirational tale about a girl who refuses to accept her fate and struggles against all powerful religious customs those are at odds with her and those render her a prisoner without a future. Overall, there is a mixed reaction about the film from all quarters of the world, where rejection is reported much more than acceptance. 

To my mind, this is owing to the fact that Mehta tells the story with a stoic sense of outrage that turns into a growing spirit of possibility and potential. It is a pity that the film has to focus mainly on the Foreign market and International Film Festivals all around the globe, as the Indian market that thrives on feel-good commercial flicks is reportedly “appalled” and “shocked to death” by the film depicting the horrendous past of India where baseless beliefs were blindly followed and umpteen lives were painfully wasted by the Indian caste system.

Having watched the two earlier films of Deepa Mehta’s much-hyped trilogy, “Fire” and “Earth-1947” years ago, it was time for me to watch the last one, “Water”, to make my viewing full-circle. No doubt, the whole trilogy, comprising of taboo topics like lesbianism and polygamy, even in this era, is bound to rake up fire as they have challenged established moral concerns through the detailed examination of sexual and familial relationships. 

This time, there was scope of unlimited challenges and controversies for the film-maker, what with the project being shelved in February 2000 due to the ruthless attack of Hindu fundamentalists angered by the sensitive subject matter. The set of the film was burned in the “holy” city of Varanas, causing over $600,000 worth of damage.

In every era, when the veil of darkness is lifted and age-old conventions and superstitions casting an evil spell in human minds are challenged, so-called aficionados of religion, by imposing nonsensical restrictions and by creating treacherously outrageous conditions in the name of power play, still make it a point to prove that they are there for humanity and they will make their presence felt, “taming the shrew” in the process. 

By delaying the project for six long years, by succumbing to the hostility of the fundamentalists with the resulting tensions, and eventually being forced to shoot the film outside India (in Sri Lanka) with an entirely new casting crew, and with a somewhat altered script, even the bold director Deepa Mehta proved that the devils of the yesteryears who suppressed the voices of humanity in the name of religion, are here to stay for long. 

As a result, the film has not only been shrouded in controversies, but has also quite ironically been a by-product of compromises. I pretty much remember Shabana Azmi being in news in 2000 for shaving off her hair after signing this project with Deepa Mehta. Nandita Das, the dusky, unconventional beauty was to do the bit which was later done by Lisa Ray. While both these women are pretty known in the socialite circle for their activist avatars, it is a wonder that they later backed out of the project, giving way to a totally different star-cast.

The story, set on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, depicts the desperate plight of widows forced to live a renounced, abandoned life, which the priest (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) portrays as “the prayashchit” of the ill the widows have committed in their previous karmic lives and also as the door to attain “liberation” after being possessed by God in the realm of death. The enigmatic, resilient widow Shakuntala (played to utmost perfection by Seema Biswas) seems to have been used to the pathetic plight she is forced into after her widowhood, but still she cannot resist the temptation of questioning the basis of all these, only to hear to obscure answers from the priest, in the name of the Hindu scriptures. 

As a corollary to her silent suffering, there are widows of various ages and sizes, all living under the same roof. Though a maximum number of them are widowed in childhood, never remembering the bliss of a conjugal life, all are forced to live impoverished lives devoid of sensual pleasures. Bearing suppression for ages, the amount of pain, frustration, anger, and even a bit of lunacy are elements that make them all the more human. 

It is a psychologically proven fact that suppression of human desires bring about perversion, lunacy and distorted pleasures, all of which, ironically, are shown by the existence of Madhumati (played by vamp of yesteryears, Manorama) and her accomplice, the eunuch Gulabi (played by Raghuvir Yadav). While the widows assort themselves by the ganges to listen to the religious scriptures and sanctify their souls by thinking of renunciation, a vicious game of prostitution continues from behind, as Kalyani (Lisa Ray), the gorgeous “asset” of the widow asram is set free to have her large tresses, dress up and sleep around with the “seth” secretly, prompted by the old hag Madhumati, all these in order to keep the asram “survive”.

The role of the child “Chuiya” in the film: 

In the first scene of the film, the death of the so-called “husband” of Chuiya, an eight year-old kid, brings her idyllic innocence to a jolting halt. Being forced to shave off her hair, wrap her body in a piece of white cloth and left in the widow asram along with its inmates, all of whom are four to five double her age in average, the plot of the film revolves around how her life changes its course during her stay in the asram and how she is able to touch the chords of her heart with her inmates. While with her childish innocence and pranks, she befriends Kalyani, the stunning young widow (some scenes and the rain song being filmed on the two have a lyrical intensity to it), in spite of raking up fire and letting all hell break loose at times in the Asram, she affects the lives of some older widows that have been there for years.

Her role to the film is crucial from at least three perspectives: (i) reviewing the emotional conflicts of the adult widows with her pristine innocence, (ii) providing the characteristic childish innocence to the romantic aspect of the film depicted by the love between Kalyani and the idealist youth Narayan. (iii) The third perspective of the child’s presence is somewhat grim and ironical, that of child sexual abuse being secretly administered beneath the so-called sanctified framework of the existence of the widows. The child, overall, acts as the eye-opener to the hypocritical, perverse social practices being maintained under the so-called banner of religion.

The love aspect of the film:

In spite of the lyrical intensity of the songs (written by Sukhwinder, composed by A.R.Rehman) that depict forbidden love between Narayan and Kalyani, the cinematography (by Giles Nuttgens) capturing the ghats of the ganges, the outstanding background score by Mychael Danna,, the mysterious nights of Vanaras where the lovers meet secretly and profess their affections for each other, the sadistic theme of doomed star-crossed lovers prove at the end, with Kalyani’s suicide, that in a society where hypocrisy and skin-trade in the name of religion and Brahmin existence prevails, Narayan the idealist is living in a fool’s paradise, nurturing dreams of marrying a widow who had all lust for life. While the vices being offered to Kalyani secretly, at the expense of her beauty portrays a brutal truth, her tragic death highlights the fact that patriarchal social norms will have their cunning way in spite of the silent sufferings of thousands of Kalyanis. 

One may question at the end, isn’t there any positive aspect at the end of the brutal truth? Remember the last scene, where the desperate Shakuntala (Seema Biswas) literally begs the fanatics swept over by the idealism and “passive resistance” of Gandhiji to handover the mentally and physically tormented child to Gandhiji? Not one of them is honest enough to listen to her pleas, and to consider the child’s identity as something other than a “doomed widow”, until the broken hearted Narayan takes her into his shelter. This proves that the big talks of shattering customs and prejudices preached by the reformers of society, uttered time and again by so-called intellectuals fall flat when the actual time arises. The writer had to ultimately take recourse to the so-called hero Narayan and rather accidental circumstances to show that there is at least a ray of hope for the shattered child.

In India, where there are around 34,000 widows (according to the 2001 census) still living impoverished, shattered lives, such a film is worth a watch, at least to acknowledge that there is a vicious reality around. However, numerous controversies, the media-hype, the news of lawsuits of plagiarism being filed by a Bengali writer (Sunil Ganguly) against the director will only create enough "masala" to deviate the audiences’ minds from the actual intention of the film and render it yet another hyped product in the film-market!

It is all the more shocking to know that even in Toronto and in some of the US cities, there exists a group of fundamentalists who have dared to offer “friendly advice” to Deepa Mehta, the film maker, suggesting to quit screening the film here because Americans and Canadians do not understand the complexities of Indian traditions! Coupled to it are the “valuable” suggestions coming up from nooks and corners of India as well as the so-called “Worldwide Indian Diaspora” who are alleging the lady about highlighting the dark side of the Indian society. They question her inability to perceive good things in India and show them on big screen. 

However, these pseudo-intellectuals ought to know that mushy, goody goody love tales, sentimental family dramas and Ramgopal Verma horror flicks are not the absolute truths of the country. Having said that, one has to acknowledge that venal corruption, casteism, communal riots, female infanticide as well as exploitation of the female in all forms have become sort of ground realities in the country. It is not all about clinging to a vision of the land that might have existed hundreds of years ago. The truth on the other hand is, even today, if one visits Vanaras or for that matter, any other religious small town of India, such things do exist, though in less severity than before. In the end, all I think is that a society can move forward only when reality of plights and atrocities are accepted and a solution is sought for it. And now, it is really high time that fundamentalists of all hues and faiths, whether in India, or in the US and Canada, realize that!

Stephanie Harrison Photography - Where You'll Find the Best Photographer in Town

Whether you're looking for that perfect photographer for senior pictures, wedding photos, new baby celebration or special family moments, Stephanie Harrison Photography is the place to go! You'll not only find a professional studio that is conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Depot District in Richmond, Indiana, but you'll meet one of the friendliest, easy going photographers around; not to mention at a great value!

The photographer at Stephanie Harrison Photographer, none other than Stephanie Harrison herself, offers an artistic style that can't be found elsewhere. The results of her work give an eclectic, non-staged, and real feeling. She captures expressions and movements perfectly in her photographs. She's got the perfect personality for children and adults alike. She can accommodate any situation from serious, quiet moments to doing whatever is needed to get an unsure baby to smile, make nervous folks feel comfortable or even catch that wondering gaze of a beloved pet.

Photos aren't always taken inside the studio at Stephanie Harrison Photography. The opportunity is also there to go outdoors and use the resources of the Historic Depot for a more urban look, combining the exposed brick of old buildings with the sweet, fresh face of a new baby, for example. Stephanie is also often available for on-site shoots for weddings, special celebrations and other purposes!

Stephanie Harrison has the experience to make your photo shoot the best it can be! She's been featured in a number of magazines across the world and has won various photography awards. With such skill and recognition one might think her prices would reflect it, but at Stephanie Harrison Photography, the value is unreal!

The session fee is a very reasonable $40.00 for up to four people. Prices for prints obviously vary by size but range anywhere from $8.00 for eight wallets up to $90.00 for a huge 20x30 print! She offers packages for senior pictures starting at a low $99.00 and Wedding Packages that can be had from $550.00. Also available are Gallery Canvas Wraps in various sizes which are, simply put, awesome!

Stephanie Harrison Photography can be found at 195 Fort Wayne Avenue in Richmond, Indiana and reached at (765)962-3133. The website, www.stephanieharrisonphotography.com offers numerous examples of Stephanie's work, a price sheet, bio, and contact information for setting up your first session.

Stephanie Harrison Photography; you simply won't find a better photographer around!

Laguna Art Festivals

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How can you improve on an artist colony near the beach in Southern California? Throw in a few art festivals during the summer and you’ve got my perfect birthday outing. I used to hate having a July birthday when I was a kid because I never got to celebrate with my classmates in school but the Laguna Art Festivals give me a reason to look forward to birthdays now that I’m at that age where I’d rather ignore them. Since birthdays mean I get to shamelessly torture my husband for 24 hours, I get him up early so we’ll be assured a parking spot. We exit the 5 freeway onto the 133/Laguna Canyon Road (be careful not to veer onto the Toll Road!) that winds through endangered pastoral land developers salivate over, but that’s another article altogether… A few miles down, we hang a right into the Act V dirt and gravel parking lot. Depending on the year, it’s been free and you pay for the trolley that takes you into town or, like this year (2005), we paid $5 to park and the trolley was free. I sure don’t want to think about the politics that go into those pricing decisions each year… Anyway, the trolleys run every 10 minutes or so to the festival grounds and also into downtown Laguna, which makes getting around this typically parking-challenged beach town pleasantly convenient. There are three major art festivals in the summer: The Sawdust Festival, Art-A-Fair and Festival of Arts-all along Laguna Canyon Road within walking distance of each other. The first two celebrate their 39th anniversaries this year and the Grande Dame, Festival of Arts, observes it’s 73rd summer. I advise logging onto the websites of the Festivals to see what kinds of discounts are being offered for admissions. This year, we got a two for one deal with my Bowers Museum membership card for the Sawdust and a half off coupon for Art-A-Fair. If you live close by and plan to visit more than once, most have seasonal passes. And every discount helps--and leaves you more to spend on art! We usually start at The Sawdust, not out of any particular design, just habit. After a visit to their well-maintained ladies room, I’m ready to stroll and gaze and sigh. All of these shows are well juried so there’s no junk here. I want one of everything! Of the three festivals, I think The Sawdust aims to give a total experience to their patrons. Not only do they have good art, you’ll find glass blowers, constant entertainment on a lushly shaded deck, lots of different food choices and art classes for the kids. Their atmosphere is casual (there really is sawdust on the ground), all artists are in individual booths and the art ranges from $2 cards to artwork in the hundreds, with lots of potters, jewelers and even my favorite toe ring booth (this year’s theme-The Toe-night Show with Johnny Carson). And the layout allows for gentle breezes even on the warmest days. We get our hands stamped and move on. Next, on the same side of the street, sits Art-A-Fair. More wonderful art of every description, a tad more serious than The Sawdust, more of a gallery setting as opposed to booths, though most of the artists sell greeting card versions of their work. Some of my favorite painters exhibit here and it’s like visiting old friends. It seems to me that more photography and sculpture find their way to Art-A-Fair and the layout is wide open and inviting. There’s a lovely sit-down restaurant at the far end of the gallery and children’s classes are held in the center of the complex. My husband’s one complaint the whole day (yes, he’s a saint…) was that the tarps stretched above the gallery kept out the sun but they also kept out the breezes. We didn’t have as much time in Laguna this year as usual because we had other Birthday Commitments so we went back to The Sawdust to pick up birthday loot. Something I learned this year is that, if possible, buy your art from the artist if they’re around. When the artists aren’t at their booths, you can pay for your purchases at the Sales Counter run by The Sawdust itself. I had picked up a print, some cards and a gorgeous, colorfully swirly, sparkly paperweight at booths without artists on our first pass and left them with our friend Kathy at the toe ring booth. When we came back, the artists happened to be present at their spaces so I paid them directly. One girl thanked me for paying her because, she whispered, The Sawdust takes a commission when they take payments. From a business point of view that makes sense… But as a creative person myself, I know I like to keep as much of my profits as I can. Since we didn’t get to the Festival of Arts this year, let me tell you about our experience when we took the community tour from our hometown to see the Pageant of the Masters, which everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Most cities in Orange County offer the tour bus excursion to experience the art show and Pageant, which again makes it very convenient if you don’t have to deal with the raised blood pressure of finding a parking space in Laguna… in the summer… The Festival of Arts show itself rates to me as the most upscale of the Big Three. The pieces are expensive, sometimes bigger than life size and of utmost quality. For John Lennon’s jewelry rattlin’ patrons it’s a buying opportunity, but for the likes of me, it’s a museum where I walk with my hands behind my back and admire the precious items from a safe, non-breakable distance. The karat gold, handmade jewelry is found here and the elaborately framed pieces that belong in teak lined libraries. If I sound like a reverse snob, well, I’m just jealous. A walk through the Festival of Arts makes me long for fine things that I can’t afford. But it’s a rich experience humbled by a section of the work of talented school children. Throughout the summer, many classes and theme days attract families and art lovers. On our tour, we strolled around the Festival, ate dinner at a Ruby’s dinette outside the theatre, then found our seats for the Pageant of the Masters. Basically, the Pageant is artwork brought to life. All year, the hundreds of participants practice their crafts--costuming, lighting, standing very, very, very still… Paintings and sculptures recreated by actors fill the stage and spaces around the amphitheatre, narrated with stories of the art and artists. And you sit, fidgeting, wondering how they can stand with their arms outstretched or squatting like that for sooooo long. Several times during the evening, they put together an artwork piece by piece, bringing in the frame, setting the props, spotting the actors, so you can see how the effect is created. It’s not until the lighting clicks in, though, that the oohh’s and aahh’s echo in the bowl of the theatre. My husband, the actor, explains it this way: “In theatre, you light to create dimension. Here, you’re lighting to eliminate dimension.” You leave the theatre with an appreciation for all the time and effort this purely Californian art form requires. Just a little trivia and some resources before I must go and frame my art treasures from this year’s birthday spree. The Sawdust Festival accepts artists only from Laguna Beach, Art-A-Fair is a Co-op and run by the artists themselves and Festival of Arts admits artists from a limited number of cities in the area. Here are some website must-clicks: www.sawdustartfestival.org www.foapom.com www.art-a-fair.com www.lagunabeachinfo.org Wear good walking shoes, apply your sunscreen and bring your checkbook!

Make Your Own Baby Food With a Grinder

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Baby food is a necessity for infants and small children but you can save money on purchasing jars and jars of baby food by making the foods yourself. Of course, in order to make all-natural baby food you'll have to start with all-natural foods. You can check the local grocery store aisles for foods that have no added sugar or salt.

Baby food is easy to prepare while fixing your own meals or to store for the baby's daily meals. Using a blender is a lot of trouble for small portions of food. Another idea is a baby food grinder. They are available in styles where you use a hand crank or electric ones. They work like a blender but hold small portions and are easy to clean.

Babies can eat many of the foods we eat if they've been pureed. Try cooked carrots, peas, green beans and other vegetables in the grinder. Mix them together or make them separate. Simply put them in the food container and attach the grinding mechanism. Hand-grinders are simple because you give the machine a couple of cranks and the mashed food appears before you, ready to eat. If the food, after going through the grinder, appears too thick simply add a few drops of formula or milk, or even broth, depending upon the age of the child.

Vegetables are the easiest foods to prepare in the baby food grinder. Fruits like apples or pineapples are difficult to grind completely. The grinder will often leave "threads" of the pineapple that could cause baby to choke. Other fruits like pears and peaches do fine after the peeling is removed.

Use the grinder to mix foods together, such as oatmeal and peaches. Try mixing milk and mashed potatoes in the grinder when the baby is old enough for starches, to make the mashed potatoes a more appropriate consistency for the baby. The grinder can also make some cereals perfect for the baby. Cereal that is made like flakes can be put in the grinder with some fruit and milk and prepared for baby.

Some meats, like hot dogs or ground hamburger, can be placed in the baby food grinder but most meats are not suitable for baby grinders. Hamburger that has been made in spaghetti or other pastas will usually do okay in the grinder, though. Canned pasta meals are perfect for the baby food grinders. After grinding the food store the large portion in the fridge for later usage and serve a small portion now. Or, grind just a little for baby and serve the rest to older kids.

When you make your normal family dinner try to add side dishes, like macaroni and cheese, that can easily be put into the grinder, as you sit at the table. Most of the grinders have a "dish" that holds the food after it is ground, making it easy to feed baby at the table. Go online to find the grinders or check your local department store.

Amazing Secrets of Underwater Photography

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Do you like underwater photography? Do you want to know how it is done and what are the different things you should look out for when taking underwater pictures? Then you have come to the right place to learn what really underwater photography is. We all know that underwater photography can be a great fun and enjoyment activity and it can be more enjoyable experience for you if you really know all the nitty-gritty about underwater photography.

If you want to take beautiful underwater pictures then most importantly you should have a powerful digital camera which can work underwater without any hassles. Because it is not like that you go underwater and immediately start taking pictures. Rather you have to take care of many things when taking pictures in the deep water. If you do not take enough care then your pictures can become blurred and quality can be compromised. You should always look out for the direction of the sunlight underwater as sunlight travels differently in the deep water which affects the picture quality. You have to adjust your camera angle properly with the direction of the sunlight when you are underwater.

Then there is the impurity in the ocean water like mud and dirt which can really affect the picture quality underwater. This dirt can make the water so impure that you can not see properly in the deep water. But this happens most of the times only in the lakes and rivers. But many of the oceans are so clear and pure that you can see longer distance without any problems and your pictures most of the times comes as a quality product.

Many people who try underwater photography; takes their own friend's and families pictures and this can be more entertaining and really memorable experience for the family members to cheer for long time. But one of the most important factor every underwater photographer should remember is that the underwater currents and their effects. It is the most unpredictable factor which really affects our picture quality when you are underwater. When you are underwater it is extremely difficult for everybody to stand still in the same pose. And with the dynamic nature of underwater currents it becomes more difficult to give the still pose for the photo. So you should always keep in mind the direction of the underwater currents while taking pictures.

With the advancement of different types of digital cameras it will become easier in the future for us to take underwater pictures and really enjoy the experience of underwater photography.

Whoever Said a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Probably Didn't Use Positive Images Photography

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Well I've come to terms with the fact I'm no Denzel Washington... and I'm okay with that. All I really wanted to do was to take some good quality pictures I could use as profile headshots for my internet businesses and for my business cards, brochures, etc. This was important since I had a deadline coming up that I needed pictures for.

Based on my photography needs, I had wondered was there a photographer where the average looking person can go to get reasonably priced, almost "Star Quality" pictures taken. Also, I preferred that they were local too because I wanted a photographer that I could do business with again on future projects. Just imagine my delight when I found out that there was such a photographer located in Oakland at Positive Images Photography.

The owner is Gisele Bonds (no relation to Barry) and she not only consulted with me on the objectives of my project, she also happened to be a pleasure to talk to. She is very knowledgable. She definitely won points when she suggested that I go home to retrieve a few darker outfits to round out my photoshoot after I mistakenly arrived with all lighter colored outfits. She then explained why and how the darker colored outfits could be used to my advantage in the photoshoot.

As we took pictures she instructed me to pose at various angles and again she told me why those angles were important based on the numerous ways we discussed I could to utilize those pictures in my marketing mix. For instance, some of my pictures were taken with my business' branding in mind so that my company's logo or other images could be easily incorporated into those pictures. Nice!

For someone who's camera shy, I can honestly say I did enjoy Gisele's professionalism and creativity. After what felt to me like a thousand pictures and almost an eternity, we finally finished! At that point my mind started thinking, I hope these pictures look okay. I have to admit, I felt a little self-concious about the prospect of seeing the finished product because I have like many people, facial blemishes. When I mentioned this concern to Gisele she said not to worrry the pictures are going to look good.

Gisele invited me to come in and take a look at all the pictures we took and choose the ones I wanted. She gave me some positive feedback that was helpful and then I selected my favorites.

Later, when I received my Picture Disc I was happy to see that she was so right, my pictures did look good and my facial blemishes were gone... at least in my pictures! Interestingly, I'm told her specialty is working with high school aged students. Her studio is filled with with a plethora of graduation and prom pictures, etc.

She mentors students by providing intern opportunities at her studio and one of her past interns who is in college currently, still works at the studio which to me says alot about the kind of person Gisele is. I think that Positive Images Photography is aptly named and if you're looking for high quality photos, Gisele is the person you need to see. You may soon find that your pictures will be worth much more than a thousand words if you do!

Boppy Pillow Photography Prop

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Photography props are expensive and many times are not even worth the investment. A Boppy Pillow however, even if bought at full price, is well worth the investment. You will get years of use from your Boppy Pillow and as a photography prop the Boppy Pillow can be used for babies and pets. The Boppy Pillow is also washable so it can be cleaned inbetween uses. You can purchase Boppy Pillows new at stores such as Target or used at resale shops and rummage sales.

Boppy Pillow Photography Prop Pose #1: Baby On Back
Place the Boppy Pillow on the floor of coffee table or other raised surface, not to high since you will be photographing from above. Cover the Boppy Pillow with a backdrop, blanket, material, etc. Gently rest the upper body of the baby on the Boppy Pillow, the baby's bottom should be near the open end. This position is perfect for newborns that can not support themselves.

Boppy Pillow Photography Pose #2: Baby on Tummy
Prepare the Boppy Pillow as above on a raised surface. For this pose the table can be high or low since you will be photographing from in front of the baby. For this photography pose you will be facing the open end of the Boppy Pillow away from the camera. This pose does require some upper body strength so it works best for babies 2 months and up. Place the baby stomach down with the upper body resting slightly forward of the Boppy Pillow. You now have a perfect head and shoulders position.

Boppy Pillow Photography Pose #3: Baby Sitting
Prepare the Boppy Pillow as described in pose 1. As in pose 2 the raised surface can be high or low since you will be photographing from in front of the baby. The Boppy Pillow opening should be facing the camera. Sit the baby inside the hole with the baby's legs coming out the opening. The Boppy Pillow will help support babies that can sit unassisted. In this pose the Boppy Pillow is mainly used to keep the baby sitting tall. Photograph the baby from the front. This pose will help you capture a nice head and shoulders photo of babies six months and up.

Boppy Pillow Photgraphy Pose #4: Pet Laying
Again prepare the Boppy Pillow as stated above. You will be photographing from in front of the subject so a high or low table will work. The Boppy Pillow opening should face to the left or right of the camera. Lay the pet with the front paws on the Boppy Pillow. The body should be laid into the center and if large enough out the opening. Stand behind the camera in front of the subject and get the pet to turn their head towards the camera. I use a rubber chicken, not a squeaker toy. A squeaker toy will scare most animals and usually makes a dog jump up and want to play. You only want to get the animal to look in your direction with their head.

I have included a couple of photos that show the Boppy Pillow in use.