About Dewerstone

Dewerstone Photography is the working title for Louise Tope.

With CANINE PHOTOGRAPHY, my aim is to produce the perfect image for the client. I always try to interpret their requirements, resulting in a photograph which represents how they perceive their dogs. Photography is an art and is always open to interpretation, not a science with rules and formulas.

I have been showing dogs since 1984, and although I have owned very few dogs, I have handled many different breeds across the various groups. Over the years, I have built up a good relationship with fellow exhibitors and club secretaries and committees. I believe this has provided an excellent foundation on which to base my photographic business and show coverage. Currently, I own whippets that have enjoyed some success in the ring. In September 2009, I retired from a 21 years career as a professional canine beautician, turning to photography full-time. The need to achieve balance and harmony in a perfectly groomed dog, along with my many years of experience in the show ring, has given me a natural ‘eye’ for a good photograph.

I have always had an interest in photography and art, and studied both at GCSE and A-Level. For a time, we had a darkroom at home where my sister and I produced black and white prints. I started out taking a few pictures for friends to feature in breed year-books and advertisements, and it’s been a natural progression from there.

After submitting a portfolio to Our Dogs, I started working for them in November 2007. Since then, I have been covering shows in my area (the South West), plus several breed club championship shows all over the country. The Hound Association 2009 was my first general championship show appointment for Our Dogs. Digital photography has been a great help to the canine world. It is possible to take many more shots without waste, capturing all the very subtle differences in a dog’s expression, ear carriage and the like, that can turn a good picture into a great picture. My artistic flair allows me to create multi-layered, eye-catching advertisements and photo montages which are becoming increasingly popular for magazines and yearbooks. Personally, I still love to see dogs captured in black and white and often work in this medium. I am more than happy to photograph dogs in a formal show pose or perhaps, a less formal portrait. Either indoors in the studio, or outside on a fine day - wherever the dog is happiest.

Apart from Our Dogs, my work is regularly featured in the international Sighthound Magazine. My pictures have also appeared in various breed club magazines and yearbooks (including WhippetBladet, the Swedish Whippet Club’s publication), the Crufts catalogue, Dog News Australia and the Mercedes-Benz magazine. One of my images was judged Runner-Up in the KC Dog Photographer of the Year 2008. I have also been lucky enough to be an official photographer at many equine events, including the prestigious Powderham Castle Horse Trials. I am also an obsessive car fan - I see them as fine works of art which can be translated into beautiful photographic images.

My photography ‘heroes’ are Diane Pearce (canine) and Tim Wallace (automotive). My ultimate photography experience would be in the main ring at Crufts for BIS, closely followed by Spa-Francorchamps race circuit in Belgium at the top of the notorious Eau Rouge, during a F1 race.

I use Nikon digital SLR equipment and Elinchrom studio lighting. Adobe Photoshop CS2 is my choice for editing, with Huey colour calibration software fine-tuning each and every picture. I use both the latest, high-tech Epson inkjet print technology and a local professional photographic laboratory for my pictures.

All equipment and public liability is covered by Aaduki multimedia insurance.