“Modern Family” is still one of my all-time personal favourite images.
Two Labs, a rooster, a cat, and four sugar gliders walk into an art gallery in China...
My image “Modern Family” was accepted into the 20th China International Photographic Art Exhibition, organized by the China Photographers Association. Over 310,000 images were entered by more than 20,000 photographers from around the world, and only 243 made it into the exhibition. That’s less than 0.1%. I’m still processing that one 🤯.
The pets in this portrait belong to Dr. Adele Doucet of Vet Champlain in Dieppe, who happens to be a good friend AND my wonderful vet. She had always dreamed of a portrait of all her animals together, but never imagined it was possible.
Spoiler: this menagerie did NOT all sit politely on a sofa together. I’m good, but I’m not a magician! They were photographed separately or in pairs, and composited in Photoshop, right down to the family portrait hanging behind them. Believe it or not, the rooster was the easy part!
I found it in a YouTube video of the exhibition and paused it more times than I’ll admit. You can spot it on the wall at [0:52].
Since we made this portrait, the rooster, one of the Labs, and all of the sugar gliders have passed away. Seeing them together again, hanging on a gallery wall on the other side of the world, feels a little bit surreal.
Adele, thank you for trusting me with your whole family. 💛
Thanks are also due to Brian K. Smith, who encouraged members of Professional Photographers of Canada to submit to this exhibition. I sent in a few favourite photos and literally never thought of it again, until he emailed to tell me one of mine was selected!
