We wanted to know what inspired Elke to move from taking personal photos to becoming a professional photographer.
She wrote: “Dramatic events make you think about life and what you would like to make of it. My job as a freelance translator was secure and ran smoothly, but I was missing creativity. I felt stuck in routines. That’s why I dared to take the step and turn my hobby into a profession. Years later on now, I work successfully and full-time as a professional photographer. A dream come true, but something I never would have expected. I guess it’s my 'silver linings' story.”
Elke started by focusing on photographing shelter dogs. We asked how they have impacted her life.
“My dogs are my joy, recreation, constant source of laughter. They are muses, friends, and family members. All three are rescue dogs. They not only saved my husband’s life but also changed our whole lives for the better. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. They are Galgo Español mixes rescued from kill shelters in Spain. Galgos are used for hunting in Spain and after the hunting season or when they are too old or sick they get abandoned. Lots of them get killed, the lucky ones find a home elsewhere. I would love to give back a bit by supporting rescues with my photography as much as I can. When I started out with my photography career I took images of dogs looking for homes in my local shelter. I still do that. It's a win-win situation. I have a lovely model and the organization might find a home for the dog. It is also a very good way to gather experience. I traveled to Spain several times as well as Morocco to photograph the work of dog rescue organizations.”
We also asked how she manages to capture the unique personalities of each dog.
Elke responded: “First of all, I have met hundreds if not thousands of dogs along the years. Every dog is unique. Every dog has their very own personality. With every dog I learn a new trick. I make sure the dogs have fun and are always enthusiastically waiting for the next reward, whether it’s a play, friendly words or treats. The secret lies in lots of patience, lots of fun and lots of bribes.”
Elke’s photos often have a mix of humor and heartwarming moments. We were wondering how she achieves this balance.
“I play a bit with humanization. Some dogs can look very skeptical in some image. But that’s just our interpretation of what’s going on. Maybe I threw a treat and the treat landed somewhere else and the dog is just eagerly looking back at me to see if there’s another treat already flying? I love to show all kind of emotions. These expressions appear in fractions of seconds and might not even be visible with our eyes. The camera can freeze the moment for us,” explained Elke.
The photographer also gave advice to someone facing a tough time and wanting to start a creative hobby like photography.
“Photography is such an endless playground for being creative. There are endless ways to photograph a subject. Explore as many as possible. Shoot as often as possible. Have fun. Make sure your model has fun. I’m not a major talent in any creative field, but I kept on taking pictures, every day. And even during a busy day with other challenges and occupations, I still made sure I take these few minutes for myself and shoot an image,” wrote Elke.
And lastly, the artist added: “There are still a few stereotypes and misconceptions about shelter dogs. Mention shelter dogs and lots of people assume something must be wrong with a dog for it to land in a shelter. But animals are abandoned for a variety of reasons, for example the owner has died; they descend from an unwanted litter; the animal has had to be removed from a harmful environment because of a neglectful or abusive owner; the owners had no idea about the responsibility that comes with it; they had to move flats and were not allowed to take pets with them; the dogs were used as useful animals and due to injury or age were not able anymore to perform as expected, etc.
Even massively abused dogs usually have a remarkable ability to recover. With patience and love they are often able to trust human beings again. Well-led shelters will give interested people the chance to get to know the potential new family member and discuss whether the pet is suitable for the proposed environment and situation. There are lovable dogs of many breeds and their mixes in shelters looking for homes, even puppies and purebreds. I’m sure you can find your next canine friend and family member in your local shelter or via a rescue organization. I surely did.”
