David Darcy Exhibition Helps Street Dogs

David Darcy at the World Dog Games 2009 - Acer Arena Sydney

Photographer David Darcy was one of the more popular exhibitors at the recent World Dog Games at Sydney’s Acer Arena – and as result, voluntary veterinary aid organisation Vets Beyond Borders had its coffers swelled.

Thanks to Bayer Advantage – the fastest flea-relief remedy – generously donating $1 for every copy of David’s latest book, A Little Help For Our Friends, sold during the World Dog Games, Vets Beyond Borders received hundreds of much-needed dollars to go towards its crucial work.

Vets Beyond Borders is an Australian-based not-for-profit organisation established in 2003 by veterinary volunteers. It co-ordinates and runs veterinary based animal welfare and public health programs in developing communities of the Asia and Pacific region. David headed to India in 2007 to witness its work first-hand, an experience that he says ‘broke my heart and opened my eyes to a world that I knew very little about.’

Inspired by his visit, David produced A Little Help For Our Friends, a collection of his finest pictures from around the world, and dedicated it to Vets Beyond Borders. Visitors to the World Dog Games were touched not only by the beautiful photographs on display, but also by David’s refreshingly down-to-earth attitude and approachable manner as he happily spent hours signing copies of his book.

David Darcy Photo Exhibition - World Dog Games

David Darcy at the World Dog Games 2009 - Acer Arena Sydney

If you weren’t able to make it to the World Dog Games, you can still buy a copy of A Little Help For Our Friends from good book sellers and veterinary clinics nationally. The winning combination of gorgeous images and clever, humorous text that makes the dogs themselves ‘speak’ make this the perfect Christmas present for someone – or for yourself!

TAKING THE PERFECT PHOTO: HOW DAVID DARCY DOES IT

David rarely has a set plan or specific stop-over places in mind when setting out on a project. Instead, he favours a random approach – which, given the quality of his pictures, clearly works wonders. And unlike the majority of photographers these days, David still uses film in his work. He says he’s tried digital cameras, but believes the beauty of dogs and the spontaneity inherent in any given moment is best served by film, without the need to resort to artificial methods such as airbrushing to achieve the perfect shot.

‘My inspiration for photographing dogs is born from the bond I share with our four-legged friends, my passion for photography and a desire to portray dogs in a respectful manner (the way most of us know and remember our mates) without silly props and gimmicks,’ David says on his website. It’s clearly a successful combination. In the nine years that David has been photographing dogs, many of his books – including Mongrel Country, Outback Mongrel and Little Mongrels have become international bestsellers.

David thoroughly enjoyed being part of the World Dog Games experience and was extremely impressed with the whole event and the organisational effort behind it.
And it’s fair to say that everyone who met David on the weekend, or simply enjoyed the opportunity to view his work, was impressed, too!

Download the wallpaper photos from the David Darcy’s book: A Little Help For Our Friends. Just click on the images below.

Affectionate Beanie and Nudge ‘Hey Beanie, even though you beat me at rumbles today, you’re still my favourite sister’.	Charismatic Jack ‘Trust me baby, you’re the only one for me.’
Playful Holly ‘Sixteen … 17 … 18 … 19 … 20 … coming ready or not.’	Conscientious Max ‘It’s just a power nap.’
Cheeky Laughing larrikins ‘Did you hear the one about the Irish Sheepdog?’	Romantic Lenny ‘She’s my world. I’d follow her to the end of the street.’
Tolerant Lucy, Oscar and Tess ‘This box is supposed to be for girls only.’	Working Dog
Sincere Buddy ‘Please don’t ask me if your bum looks big in those jeans.’	Intuitive Boof ‘This can’t be good. Mum’s reaching for the dog shampoo.’