South County Schutzhund ClubOn my recent trip to San Jose, I hoped by arriving at 8:30pm on Friday night might make it possible to drive to my first training club, South County Schutzhund Club (SCSC), in time to maybe catch the last handful of dogs doing protection. Dave Deleissegues is the Training Director at SCSC and an all-round awesome individual. Dave was instrumental in titling all three of my dogs and any chance to visit is is a treat.
To an outsider, SCSC is little more than a fenced dirt lot along side HW101 with a tiny storage shed and six floodlights. In fact, I remember as a youth I rode past on a bicycle and wondered what the heck it was for! However to members of the club it holds mystical qualities. This is where our second family meets twice a week. It is hallowed ground where magical transformations happen. It is where we stay late into the night practicing and working the tiniest training details, in hope of bringing out the best in our dogs. It is where Dave Deleissegues works his mad skills and where so many legendary IPO trainers and competitors have worked their dogs. Respected names like the Igon Vollrath & his sons Martin and Thomas, Dean Calderon & Ivan Balabanov worked their dogs here. This my friends, is the place!
On this night the club members were preparing for the Northwestern Regional IPO Championship which will be held near Sacramento in two weeks. The raw energy and nerves of being at pre-trial in the training cycle came rushing back to me. The weather was a seasonal Northern California summer evening clear and comfortable 70F. One of the members brought home made egg rolls. There is something about eating at training fields that makes the food taste better than anything you find at a restaurant.
And so begins another evening of training. More than a decade later. Photographing fast moving dark objects in extreme low light does not make for a happy photographer. The low light reduces contrast and makes focus difficult. Slow shutter speeds are needed to get reasonable exposures which means inevitable blur. These conditions are opposite of whats needed for sharp images. But I was happy to just be part of the energy of this evening and would I would make do as best as I could. Although I could freeze the action with flash, I opted for minimal flash so I could bring in some of the environment for context. I have the new Nikon D5 which is the best low light sport camera available as of this writing and earned its keep in these conditions.
Mario Fernandez working the back line. Mario Fernandez has been Dave's primary assistant helper for years. While an outstanding and safe training helper in his own right, Mario is exceptional in his obsession with pedigrees and IPO history. The obscure dog sport facts, trainer achievements, trial scores and pedigree details he can recite from memory is nothing short of amazing.
Like a high school reunion, coming home to my first club was full of seemingly conflicting emotions, a cocktail of happiness and melincoly. I stayed until the last flood light was turned off. Something inside me wished the night would never end. I love this field and the people that gather here with a their deep love of dogs. As I drove away from the field, not knowing when I will be back again, I found myself smiling and so grateful that this place is part of who I am. Jamie Ryan and Dante setting up to begin their protection session
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About the author Brian Aghajani is a freelance photographer based in Houston. He began his fascination with dog sport in 2000, has titled three dogs to IPO3 and competed in a handful of national IPO championship. He is an official photographer for most National IGP/Mondioring competition including the USCA, GSDCA, AWDF, AWMA and USMRA as well as the WUSV World Championship. Follow him on facebook
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