I was asked to do a "portrait" of the family heifer by the wife in the family. When I got there her husband, who had grown up showing dairy cattle had a totally different idea of what type of pose the heifer should be in. She had want casual shots in front of the cornfield.

He wanted posed shots, show cow style, by the farm name. Unfortunately there was distracting hardscaping near the sign so I could not center it perfectly under the poor heifer. Although I could have PP'ed his arms out of the shot, he wanted them in as that was how most of the catalogs showed posed dairy cattle.

I sent them a total of 20 finished images. In some the "posing arms" were PP'ed out, in others they stayed. I preferred the more casual shots by the cornfield that had the background blurred but she liked the ones with the stalks in focus. Here are the two favorites, one of his and one of hers.

[Des]

They are completely different, and for different purposes.

First shot is artistic, second is functional.

First shot is about the heifer, the second is about the farmer.

First shot shows the heifer as an individual, the second treats her as a product/commodity.

You can guess where my sympathy lies. Poor heifer indeed. And I say that as someone who lives in a farming area.

[chibae]

They are completely different, and for different purposes.

First shot is artistic, second is functional.

First shot is about the heifer, the second is about the farmer.

First shot shows the heifer as an individual, the second treats her as a product/commodity.

You can guess where my sympathy lies. Poor heifer indeed. And I say that as someone who lives in a farming area.

Well what turned out to be an interesting fact was that the small acreage they live on had been part of the original family farm he had grown up on. The farm was sold to fund his parents retirement, except for the section where this couple live. The heifer is actually the great granddaughter of a cow that had been his 4h project. They were looking through a auction catalog, noticed her, and he traced her pedigree. She is a gold and white Holstein, not nearly as well known as the black and white ones, and that was what his family had raised.

On the other hand, she hadn't had first hand livestock experience until they married. This is the first cow she has ever had and considers her more of a pet, albeit one very special to her husband, rather than livestock.

[slowpez]

Pretty cow. I like the first one also.

[chibae]

Pretty cow. I like the first one also.

me too.

[Kerrowdown]

Two People With One Heifer Equals Two Different Style Poses

I often come across this type a style differences, I always go with the one who's paying my bill.

[chibae]

I often come across this type a style differences, I always go with the one who's paying my bill.

It was the wife who booked me but the husband who took over. Since I had blocked out the afternoon for them I saw no harm in accommodating both. That way there was no friction between them. Although the wife emailed me privately to apologize.

[Not a Number]

As Groucho said:

"I know, heifer cow is better than none, but this is no time for puns."

Well done.

[Kerrowdown]

blocked out the afternoon for them I saw no harm in accommodating both

You could get a job with UN Diplomatic Corps, you smooth talker you.

[chibae]

You could get a job with UN Diplomatic Corps, you smooth talker you.

Why thank you. I do have a diplomatic facade. You don't want to hear the words that come into my head that I won't let my mouth speak.

[Kerrowdown]

You don't want to hear the words that come into my head that I won't let my mouth speak.

Go on whisper them...