All in New Story

Nancy Levine's new book senior dogs across america

 11-24-06 My dog, my muse, died today... on my birthday. She died only 5 months after her sister, my other muse. She licked my face – my tears – in the last moments of her life. My nine months of caring for two failing bodies is over now. The vet visits, acupuncturist, swim therapist, cardiologist, medications, supplements, diapers, stroller, my vigilance to their silent needs…hoping not to miss any. I loved them passionately. To the quiet, exquisite presence of each aged dog, I honor them with this work. To the tight cord of love between them and their person(s), so profoundly palpable, I dedicate this work.

Steven Rowley loves Dachshunds and his gal Tilda Swinton

I have a new friend.  My friend, Steven Rowley, has given me a gift: permission to laugh and cry and talk about the death of a loved one.  Lily and the Octopus (Simon & Shuster, June 2016) is a love story by Steven.  A love story you might ask…about an Octopus?  Well no, it’s a love story about a man and his dog who is succumbing to a cancerous tumor he has named The Octopus.  Is it sad?  Yes.  But it is so much more!  Steven makes it fun (at times laugh-out-loud funny) and a true celebration of life and the lengths we go to for our beloved dogs.

jesse freidin likes to look into dog's eyes

Jesse Friedin, photographer, animal lover and creator of meaningful projects is how I like to refer to him.  I met this ambitious man in San Francisco a few years ago while doing a job andsince that time I have watched his work blossom and wanted to share that you too could have a Jesse Friedin portrait of your dog should you so desire.  He shares with me his passion for pets and how he got into this business.

Mrs sizzle visits FAYE and stella Mcleod with photographer landon nordeman

I originally met Faye McLeod poolside at a friend’s house a few summers ago, fabulous but dog-less.  It wasn’t until recently that I discovered she had a dog, but not any dog, surely the best accessorized dog on the planet.  And it’s no small wonder that Stella, the mini Havapoo, is as such for her Mom is the visual image director of Louis Vuitton and travels the globe for her job.  During Faye’s inspired travels, she hits up the chicest dog spots around the world, so Mrs. Sizzle had to get the scoop on where the best products are found.  I spent a rainy afternoon with Faye and Landon Nordeman, fashion photographer, with Stella chasing avocados and other fuzzy wonders.

Mark Cohen's arresting work at Danziger Gallery with a few animals that Sizzle spotted

Working in the environs of his small town of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mark Cohen shows that you don't have to travel far to unleash a distinctive photographic vision.  Cohen got closer to his subjects and looked more closely at the texture of the world around him than anyone shooting on the street had before and went on to influence countless photographers and the way we see the world. Come join us at Danziger Gallery to see this wonderful work on May 10th.

Chloe the mini frenchie is having the time of her life

As it seems with all my new friends these days, I met this incredible woman and her dog on INSTAGRAM.  Seeing that it has now become an Olympic sport for me, it’s no surprise that the cute feed of @CHLOETHEMINIFRENCHIE became a regular in mine.  We met for the first time during an April Fool's shoot for Barneys and later followed up at various dog centric functions.  NO WONDER this dog has so many followers - she is cute as a button, and, as I have shared with her Mom, if the dog is missing, please come looking at my house! Amy Lombard came along for my playdate with Chloe!

BILL MULLEN AND TODD NOAKER'S MENAGERIE PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARCUS MAM.

We begin a series of stylist's portraits with their animals that is a collaboration between the photographer Marcus Mam and Mrs. Sizzle. Bill Mullen and his partner, Todd Noaker, love animals. I do not need to talk about the fact that Bill is a force of nature in fashion as we are here to talk about his animals.  Tinkerbell LeStrange is a Siamese cat, a Seal Point to be exact.  Vampiro LaVey, although a rescue, is descended from Transylvanian royalty and he says his breed is Black Cat.  Morticia is a Greater Vasa Parrot and Carmen is a Mexican Spiny Tailed Iguana. Lastly, Black Bart and Vesuvio are Siamese Fighting Fish. Follow their adventures here @Tarpie11 and @BillMullenInc.

IBARIONEX PERELLO AND HIS AFFINITY FOR DOGS

As a Feature Shoot fan, I am always surprised by the fabulous talent I come across, one discovery being Ibarionex Perello, a famed photographer, lecturer and professor. I asked him his relationship to taking photos of dogs and this is what he shared, "I have always loved dogs. After I left for college, I was without a dog for years and it wasn't until my wife and I moved into our first house that I was able to have a dog in my life again. I think having dogs has made me that much more sensitive to them as subjects as I walk the street making my images. They are real unique characters and it’s that personality that often draws me to photograph them.

Robert Stoetzel photographed some beauties from Animal Haven #takemehome

Last week Robert Stoetzel and I went to Animal Haven mobile until located at 200 Centre Street to photograph some of the dogs that were visiting and up for adoption while the new space is being renovated.  On hand was my intern, Anna Capel, and Tiffany Lacey stopped by to say hello and give me a tour.  A great day was had by all. Consider adopting one of these gems.