Featured Photo Gallery
New West Presents Pam Voth’s “Dog Face”
By Chris Lombardi, 5-31-06
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There are dog people, and then there are people like photographer Pam Voth.
The difference is difficult to put one's paw on, exactly, but I knew it when I saw it. Pam came into the New West offices last month to hang her show, Dog Face, for New West's monthly Missoula Art Walk show, greeted all of us warmly and headed straight for Rontu, Jonathan Weber's new pup. She knelt down beside Rontu calmly and looked him in the eyes. She didn't presumptively pet him as most of us irresistably do with a pup. She didn't baby-talk him. She simply addressed him as one creature to another with a courtesy and respect that hinted at an uncommon rapport with dogs.
And then she hung her photographs.
New West is very happy to present Pam's show for you in our brand spanking new Photo Gallery. As you'll see, this rapport with her subjects results in some very special images. These are not your typical pet pictures, cloying portraits born of the common projection of humanness onto dog nature. They are simple, direct, intimate and technically excellent images of dogs as dogs in all their dogness.
In Pam's words:
"When I look at dogs, I'm completely drawn to their faces. I experience a direct connection from their eyes to my heart. I'm touched by their joy and abandon. Dogs can't help but express how they honestly feel. It's just part of being a dog.
"The images I chose for this collection provide an intimate look at each individual dog, but more than that, they reveal a pure, universal dog-ness I see in every best friend out there.
"For as long as I can remember, I've been looking at the world through a viewfinder. Thanks for taking a look at what I see."
--Pam Voth
Enjoy. And look for more featured artist galleries, photo essays, and archives of our Featured Photo of the Day coming soon to New West's Photo Gallery.
In addition to dog portraiture, Pam Voth does commercial, travel, wedding, wildlife and people portraiture out of Missoula, Montana. More of her work and contact information can be found at www.pamvoth.net.
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Comments
You are so talented! Growing up with a photographer (my Father), I really can appreciate all of the time and effort you put into capturing these shots! Love to see photos of pets!