Draft 5 — Photo Essay


Luna, this isn’t actually Luna’s owner. This is one of Luna’s owners’ coworkers. Could explore ideas about community through this picture.
Nya, at first Nya was a little nervous but as we chatted, she became visibly more relaxed
Rusty, we had a conversation about ginger dogs; could do something about funny connections
Phil & Bodie, the way Phil talked about Bodie was extremely sweet and might not fit with people’s assumptions about Phil
Phoebe & Menanie, there was a lovely mother-daughter dynamic, and it made me think about my mom.
Gonna choose this one, Bernie and Lincoln
Puddle and me napping during elementary school
“Super Dog Friendly”
Turf Tavern

Potential Approaches

I saw Lincoln and Bernie out the Chipotle window. I had my eyes peeled for a wiener dog to include in my collection of photos, and they were just perfect. I snatched my camera and dashed out, abandoning my bowl.

“Excuse me, excuse me. I’m working on a piece featuring dogs and their owners. Can I take your picture”

I adore Dachshunds. I have t-shirts and posters of them on my walls. I have my future dachshund’s names picked out: Swamp and Bog. My first dog’s name is Puddle, and I want to keep with the uncommon water theme.  


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Dear Santa. Between November and December of third grade, I opened countless letters just like that. I was writing multiple letters a week at my peak. I asked Santa if he would like to be my pen pal. In each correspondence, I begged and pleaded for a dog. When I walked down the staircase Christmas morning to no puppy, I was heartbroken. How could Santa have failed me. It turned out he hadn’t. In an unassuming envelope, I opened a note promising to get a dog in the next year. Next September, my family drove two hours to pick up Puddle.


I expected to miss more than I have since leaving home. I love my family, friends, Pittsburgh, and my own blankets. I cherish calls with my parents and friends, but they don’t elicit feelings of homesickness like I expected. I am excited to hear about the wonderful happenings in their lives. One element of home I miss is Puddle. Puddle is my first dog, a ten-year-old Vizsla. We can’t call or text, so I’m just left to remember her silky ginger fur.


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