JPG Magazine: Photos: "Laura Bathing with Dogs" by Laura Hartley

Laura Bathing with Dogs

By Laura Hartley

On 11 May 2008

Favorited 55 Times

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My hangout is home, and my favorite hang out of the hang out is this whirlpool tub. I am an ex-ballerina and runner who still cycles, and so my feet are so often tired. Those jets on my feet are great. Our Boston Terriers follow me everywhere, even to the tub, hoping for a handful of clear water, or a lap up of the bubbles. Here, I was trying to get the timer and the pose just right, trying for a poetically romantic, slightly nude shot, leaping into the tub, without spilling too much bubblage, and had just settled down, covered my breasts just enough for modesty, when the Southies (a generic name for our Boston Terrier herd taken from Boston's south side where many fellow Irish Americans live) ran in. As I am sitting still, trying to keep my chest covered, they posed like this to see "Mommy" bathing, and I am urging them, with as little motion as possible, "Peggy! Patty! GO!" when the shutter clicked.

Alas, this is not my best romantic or sexy look, puffy eyed in the morning sun and scolding my sweet, hyperactive gargoyles, but I thought the overall effect pretty well summed up my life, here at "my favorite hangout." Summed it so well, in fact, it was worth looking less than sizzling and sexy, for the abject truth in it. Plus, I AM "hanging out" here, a little, at least my chest is! And those Southies are so darned, ultra-photogenic.

This photo is dedicated to, and inspired by, the incomparable and very beautiful and kind, Peggy Sue Harrington.

36 Responses

On 11 May 2008 William Moore gave props:
that's a superb shot...your expression is priceless as are the dogs body language
On 11 May 2008 Laurie Search gave props:
This is just toooo cute!
On 11 May 2008 Thad Zajdowicz gave props:
Superb and gets my vote!
On 11 May 2008 John Elias said:
Beautiful what you wrote, Laura, also what you wrote for Peggy. You have two beautiful, round, fresh piercing eyes, balerina! You should do a repeat, beautiful eyes closed shut, enjoying it all...
On 11 May 2008 "Peggy.Sue" Harrington gave props:
Laura .. this is wonderful and I'm so thankful and I'm smiling big and love the photo and the story and moreso the thought behind it all and dedicating it to me. You are a love! And to imagine .. a doggie named Peggy :)~ Love that too!! Thanks my dear one.
On 11 May 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
Absolutely divine! And a fav for me and the dogs too. A familiar scene!
On 11 May 2008 Warren Mangione gave props:
Fantastic! I am speechless....That self timer is difficult in a situation like this. Great daring photo!
On 11 May 2008 Isuru Wakkumbura gave props:
Laura, you look very attractive!!! Gets my vote!
On 13 May 2008 Georges Maroun geomar said:
I like the animals watching...verrrryyy funnnny !!!!!!
On 13 May 2008 T.G. Gauthier gave props:
Girrrrrrrrrrrrl,this is a beautiful shot.I'd like to call it,Bathsheba,lol.This is just gorgeous in black n' white,really looks victorian style,especially your hair in an updo.I just love the dogs and how loving and loyal they are.And lucky for you in a whirpool tub,that's hot!!!
On 14 May 2008 Tony Edwards gave props:
Really, a very nice photo, both form and content brought together in a very intimate and superb way.
On 14 May 2008 Christian Rodriguez said:
Yes, I think the photo gods smiled on you here. Nice work.
I like how the water is coming out of the faucet, great little touch.
On 16 May 2008 Claudia Martin gave props:
this is so classic and even more so with the black and white, well done
On 16 May 2008 Kevin Leger gave props:
Awesome!
On 16 May 2008 ! Slimeface said:
Great story and a fine shot!!
www.slimeface.com
On 17 May 2008 Ronnie Ginnever gave props:
nicely done!
On 17 May 2008 Portia Söderberg gave props:
beautiful in many many ways! I love the happiness and relaxation evoked here most of all!
On 18 May 2008 Gary Fudge gave props:
OH it's so good to see a proper womanly woman enjoying a soak. Nice puppies! Pink noses?
On 19 May 2008 William Moore gave props:
didn't know this was in the theme...great place to relax and soothe vted
On 19 May 2008 penny nannini said:
Well done...I love this!
On 20 May 2008 Bahadir Kargili said:
so relaxing and natural
On 21 May 2008 Ashley Parsons gave props:
haha the dogs are cute :)
On 22 May 2008 Louise Slatter said:
this is beauty in a nutshell. Can't get a better capture than something like this. Looks like you have a great place to kick back and chillax!
On 22 May 2008 !!glenn!! !!capers!! said:
What nut shell? Chillx'n and floatn' in the bubbly . This is a great shot. but just what signal are you giving your dogs?
On 26 May 2008 Jan Hoffman gave props:
Beautiful and amusing; it is so natural and honest!
On 27 May 2008 John Linton gave props:
Oh yeah! It rocks!
On 28 May 2008 Dave Waddell said:
Ain't good, Ain't Better ....it's best ......this gets my vote!
On 28 May 2008 peggy gardner gave props:
ahahahahahhahahaha I love this....happens to me too. .they are so funny. you have such a fabulously rich life !!
On 30 May 2008 Catherine Kurvink gave props:
I can't believe I never commented on this photo before - how did I manage that?? It's beautiful!
On 31 May 2008 Courtney Brown gave props:
Lovely photograph and description Laura. You've got my vote. :)
On 1 June 2008 G.J Burk gave props:
this rocks fantastic love your story
On 4 June 2008 Rose Gordon gave props:
This is a wonderful shot and story! I love it!
On 4 June 2008 daniel pace said:
oh myyy goddd
On 7 June 2008 Rogério Freitas said:
Great capture. Voted1
On 17 June 2008 Simon Le gave props:
Superb! Great composition & lighting. Great capture Laura!
On 22 June 2008 Robin Smith gave props:
great photo....wonderful back story....and a great hangout!!