Passage I

Weimaraner Whimsy

While the story of Cinderella has been depicted countless times, few of its lead actresses are as fetching as the young heroine of Fay's Fairy Tales. A cascade of blonde curls covers her shoulders, thick lashes frame soulful dark eyes, and her moist nose glisten appealingly at the end of a long snout.

Moist nose? Snout? Of course, for this Cinderella was photographed by William Wegman, an artist who has raised dog photography for the level of art. His photographs of Weimaraners have gained him international acclaim and made his pets, the best-known dogs, since Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. (5)

Wegman came to the attention of the art world in 1970 with his portraits of his dog Man Ray, the first of Wegman's Weimaraners to pose for photos. The photographer was fascinated by the neutral gray of the dog's coat and his willingness to pose while wearing different costumes. Wegman's photos of Man Ray grew in popularity. In 1982 the dog was named "Man of the Year" by the New York newspaper The Village Voice. (6)

Later, other Weimaraners became part of the Wegman family, giving him additional subjects for his photos. Each has a unique personality that Wegman considers carefully before deciding what sorts of pictures to take. [A] Chundo is eager to work, but he doesn't sit still very long. [B] Batty, who often falls asleep while posing, has a sweet and dreamy quality. [C] And Fay looked great in wigs, which makes her a natural choice to portray female characters. [D] While Wegman's reputation was made with art photography, in recent years is children's books have generated a new but equally devoted following. His whimsical style appeals to children, having chosen to reenact familiar fairy tales with canine characters. (11)

With a keen eye for art, Wegman's Weimaraners lead an ordinary dog's life in most ways. The breed is sociable and intelligent, and Wegman reports that the dogs often compete to pose. In William Wegman's home, a dog's life is lived within the frame of a photograph.