Capturing the Dream- The Heart of Westminster
The dream of being part of the most important dog show in the country started decades ago when sitting in front of the television screen. Watching as men and women ran across the screen into the ring with their dogs on taut leashes, only to then come to a spot, their spot, before they stood their dogs at attention, which years later I learned was called stacking. All while waiting for the judge to come before them and place his or her hands on the dogs to feel the dogs. It was really important then, and still is now.
A week ago, we received news of getting five passes for photographers to come in and cover the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Tarrytown, New York. Up until the day we received the email we were prepared for not going as part of the press but as paying spectators, and had decided we would go as spectators and take pictures. Would it have been limiting? Yes, but we knew that the public was allowed in, and as every New Yorker and person in the world knows every walking person always has some form of a camera on them.
Up until the receipt of passes we all spoke about how we would photograph this magnificent show which has found a temporary new home at the Lyndhurst Mansion. What was the vision? How did we want to show this glorious event in a way that the public would get a real feel for the show.
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The majority of the public hear and read about dog shows, but have never seen them from the ground up. It may appear to end in the show ring, but the show is everything that happens before it. From the planning of a breeding, whelping pups, finding the right dog and then starting the training and grooming — which starts pretty much from the beginning. It is the loving hands that groom and work these dogs from day one that we wanted to capture.
With five photographers at this event, and with a few words as a guide, they were told were to go and seek out the love that fills these shows. To aim with love and capture all the love and joy that was before them. GO! Photograph the seasoned participants who have come back year after year, but also remember to pay attention to those who were standing under the tents – thrilled beyond belief to be at the Greatest American Dog Show for the first time — and to absolutely take your time and talk with them.
It was simple…
Aim with love and capture joy. There were love, joy, laughter, anticipation, competition and dreams that filled the gorgeous grounds of the estate. Dreams of their dogs winning, the happiness of having their dogs competing. Laughter — lots of laughter and more reunions of friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time. Photograph what made your heart race and sing as you walked amongst breeders, owners, handlers and the most beautiful purebred dogs in the world. Steep your mind in a place of wonder, joy, commitment and love and be the eyes of a child seeing something so new and special, you could feel the heartbeat of this incredible show. 
The majority of the public hear and read about dog shows, but have never seen them from the ground up. It may appear to end in the show ring, but the show is everything that happens before it. From the planning of a breeding, whelping pups, finding the right dog and then starting the training and grooming — which starts pretty much from the beginning. It is the loving hands that groom and work these dogs from day one that we wanted to capture.
We are so pleased to be able to share images from five different photographers who, when combined, tell the story of the dream by showing the heart of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Photographs by
Virginia Rodriguez
Dianne Ferrer
Bryan Sirotkin
Marc Richardson
M Foxmoore
