Underdogs : Beauty Is More Than Fur Deep

by Jim Dratfield

The charming Chihuahua and the pugnacious pug. The graceful greyhound, the shaggy sheepdog and the brazen bulldog. The miraculously mesmerizing mongrel. These are not dogs that are typically celebrated in dog books - those focus on the most popular Labrador retrievers, Jack Russells, German shephards, Dalmatians. But where are the other breeds? And where are the non-breeds that make up more than half of the dog population, the mongrels? Where is their book? If the British love anything, it's the underdog - every kind of underdog, whether it's a dog or not. We recognise that beauty is more than skin deep - or fur deep. We appreciate dogs of indeterminate lineage, with mottled fur, too-large ears, or strange little bodies; we love dogs who look like impish little children or grumpy old men. "Underdogs" is their book - the character displayed in the funny faces and singular shapes, uncommon breeds and unrecognised mixed-breeds is a reflection of the true companionship we really love about dogs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Photography

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Jim Dratfield is a world renown, celebrated fine art photographer. Jims work celebrates the fine art of photography specializing in canines & felines employing his unique beautiful sepia-toned film style. Jim is the author-photographer of eleven fine art photography books including Under Dogs, Pug Shots, Day of the Dachshund, & The Quotable Equine which collectively sold over 150,000 copies. Jim, a trained actor (including a small role in Tootsie), has also been the spokesperson for Claritin (Wag Allergies) & MSN.com. His images have been produced into beautiful Deluxe Notecards. Jim has done personal photo shoots for celebrities & their pets such as Jennifer Anniston, Barbara Walters, Elton John, Charlize Theron, Henry Kissinger, Len Riggio, etc. His books have been featured on 20/20, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, Primetime Live, CBS's Early Show, & in print features & reviews in USA Today, People, Town & Country, & other publications. He lives in New York. www.petography.com

Dogphoria celebrates the joy of dogs & their innate ability to experience euphoria in everyday moments of life. Embracing his signature sepia style, renowned fine art photographer Jim Dratfield takes us on an inspiring pictorial journey of happy dogs & reflective quotes reminding us that joyful dogs can elevate our own heights to happiness. Foreward by Dr. Turner-Bell, CBS News Correspondent. In association with PETCO's Think Adoption First Campaign & Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Book concept, brand strategy & campaign partnerships are provided by Lynn Isenberg on behalf of author-fine art photographer Jim Dratfield.

Dogphoria is produced by Lynn Isenberg of Focus Media, Inc. www.FocusMediaMarketing.com

A docu-series is in development with Focus Media, Inc. & Revera Entertainment about Jim & his work. "

Reviews

[Christyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underdogs is a combination quote and b&w dog picture book. The quotes were okay (though not all really fit or made sense - for a theme of "Underdogs"). The pictures were charming (though again, I'm not sure the Underdogs theme was really sold to me - I just saw another book full of cute dog pictures). Still, it was a nice book to page through - some of the quotes actually matched up with the picture (a select few that were perfect - especially the "…if you've got it, flaunt it" one. Overall - not a bad picture book - just don't be expecting a very strong "underdog" theme (as the title/summary implies).

[Kelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute photographs of dogs with inspiring quotes along side of them.
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[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the pictures were nice, the description is a bit misleading. Most of these dogs are beautiful purebreds, and fairly common ones: pugs, dachshunds, chihuahuas, etc. Very few were funny looking, few were mutts. The quotes were nice enough but often had little or nothing to do with the picture. Only a handful of the quotes were even about dogs. The best picture in the book is of a the back of a dog as she's facing a lake, with a bucket on her head, a home-made Elizabethan collar (or conehead as we call them). The hunch of her shoulder's is so wistful, you can't help but laugh.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darling picture book of dogs - some so ugly they're cute - accompanied by sayings like "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free."

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit haphazard in the quote department but some cute pics.