“Pit Bull Flower Power”: 10 Photos Encouraging Adoption Of Misunderstood Breed By This Artist
More and more people are trying to flip society's perception of pit bulls from something to be feared and therefore abused, to the lovable, cute companions they truly are. This unjust reputation has settled an unfortunate fate for millions of pit bulls, leaving them in overcrowded shelters only later to be put to sleep.
A French photographer, Sophie Gamand, is on a mission to change that by creating a photography project called "Pit Bull Flower Power." Since 2014, we have seen a change in society, and her photos have helped many dogs to get adopted. In these portraits, Sophie showcases the gentle and adorable personalities of these dogs, posing with a flower crown that was later added in post-production.
Every little action adds up, and sooner or later, these misunderstood dogs will be vindicated.
More info: Instagram | sophiegamand.com | patreon.com
10 PHOTOS
#1
To learn more about Sophie and her journey with this project, Pictolic got in touch with the artist.
First of all, Sophie shared what motivated her to start photographing pit bulls and focus on changing their public perception.
“As a volunteer photographer in a shelter, I would tense up when the staff would bring a pit bull-type dog on set. These dogs made me nervous, because of the stories I had heard in the media, and their bad reputation. But during these shoots, I could see how gentle and loving the dogs were. I decided to create a project that would force me to meet a lot of them and interact with them more intimately. I wanted to see if art could challenge the way we talk about pit bull-type dogs. If the only image we knew of them was a soft photograph of a gentle dog wearing flowers, could we still be afraid? And if we were not afraid anymore, would we still treat them as poorly as we’ve treated them? I never thought the project would grow so much and transform the way we talk about pit bulls.”
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Sophie also shared a memorable story of a dog she photographed.
“I have photographed over 450 pit bull-type dogs for this project over the years. The stories of the dogs themselves are touching - and I shared many of those in my 2018 book (Pit Bull Flower Power). In the book, I also included information about dogs who were still waiting for homes. And some of those got adopted thanks to my book. I remember Sula, for example. She had waited about 8 years for a rescue. A family got my book was reading her story, and connected with her. It turns out, they lived 15min away from the rescue! They got in touch with them, met Sula, and adopted her. She’s had the best life with them since. I love how the project has highlighted so many great dogs, and built so many bridges. From people telling me the project inspired them to start volunteering, foster a pit bull, or adopt one, to families thanking me for showing their dogs in a more dignified and precious way. This project has touched many lives.
I try to follow my models to their adoption and beyond. I love getting updates from their families. And because I started this project in 2014, a lot of my models are now reaching old age, sometimes passing away, and I love seeing the life they had after we met, the white fur grow on their faces, the joy they brought their families until their last day.”
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We were wondering how Sophie goes about selecting the shelters and rescues she works with.
“When I started volunteering with animal rescues 14 years ago, it wasn’t easy to get my foot through the door. But once I had one rescue and one shelter that let me in, I was able to grow my skills and explore with my work, and show what I could offer. Pit Bull Flower Power was born out of that space, where I was given access and people trusted me to make their dogs shine. Once the first portraits came out on social media in the summer of 2014, they spread like wildfire! Suddenly, my inbox was full of requests from shelters from all over the U.S. and the world, to come visit them and help them shine a light on their dogs. I had a long waitlist. I did my best to travel as much as possible, but this entire project was self-funded so that limited a little bit - plus, I am just one person!
Still, I worked with tens and tens of organizations. From small private rescues to big municipal shelters, I’ve worked with all kinds. I am thinking of offering some mentorship or helping people navigate that space. Because it can be daunting to know where and how to start, and it can be challenging to find a rescue organization that will follow through and let you in. I have learned a lot over the years. One of the big lessons is to work with organizations that are excited to partner with you. So if someone says no, just move on to another organization until you find the right fit. Because there are plenty of them out there, in various stages of desperation to shine a light on their animals. Shelters are full and in crisis right now. It’s the worst it’s been in over a decade. Now is the time we all need to come together to support our local shelters,” wrote the artist.
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Regarding challenges, Sophia shared her fair share of struggles when it came to the project.
“The most challenging aspect of this project has probably been the constant battle between pit bull advocates and people who think these dogs should disappear. Years and years of being caught in the middle of that. I was just an artist trying to explore a cool idea, and I got propelled into the role of an advocate for pit bull types. What I have learned, and tried to show through my work, is that every dog is an individual. We cannot judge them as a whole. Breeds don’t equate behavior. Every single dog, regardless of the way they were bred, or their past, is a unique individual. That’s why I always tried to include the story with my portraits, and each dog got a unique flower crown which was never re-used. Beyond the 'mythology' of pit bulls, the idea that collectively they are monsters and dangerous is the simple truth that every single one of them is a unique individual.”
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Sophie shared more about the flower crown idea: “My initial idea was to showcase pit bull-type dogs in a softer light. I wanted to give them a gentler image. I was inspired by baroque portraits, which not only evoke beauty and softness but also remind us of the ephemeral quality of life. Working on this project, I couldn’t help but think about how humans destroy everything they touch. And pit bulls are a great example of this. They were created by humans. Humans have a heavy hand in every aspect of their lives, from breeding to how they are trained or kept. They are our victims. Still, we find a reason to punish them. Because we were in control every step of the way, I believe this should give us a huge responsibility towards these dogs. I love this St Exupery quote from the Little Prince (we share a hometown!): “You are responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” I think that is exceptionally true when it comes to dogs.
The crowns were a fun way to express my creativity while conveying my ideas in a very efficient way. You see one of the portraits, and instantly you think how cute and beautiful, and how peaceful the dog looks. Then you read their story: abused, abandoned, broken by humans. It gives you pause. I also think that pit bull-type dogs have very human-like faces. Their eyes are so emotive, their faces so expressive. For that reason, the crowns worked extremely well.”
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Keywords: Pit Bull | Flower Power | Photos | Dog photos | Encouraging adoption | Artists