MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

by William Wegman

Photographs of a weimaraner in unusual poses and flamboyant costumes illustrate the patience and indulgence of pets

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Photography

44 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photographer and artist William Wegman succumbed to his wife’s demands to get a dog in 1970. He decided to take home a male Weimaraner puppy but only if the coin toss landed on tails, otherwise, no dog. Seven times tails won. Man Ray became his model and accompanied him everywhere. Man Ray metamorphosed into a cat, an elephant, and a bat, he modeled from jeans to a bag lady, portrayed his emotions from pain to the blues, he blended into the background, and changed his coat from white to silver. “A human model would not have the dog’s stamina, patience, verve, or seriousness.” Most dogs would not have endured such a role. Whimsical, charming, and imaginative.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man’s Best Friend by William Wegman (Harry N. Abrams 1999) (779.32) (3806).

This is another in the series of collections of wonderful canine parodic portraits by author-photographer William Wegman of his amazing Weimaraners. These big dogs had the uncanny ability to remain motionless while the author posed these critters into amazing photographic compositions - such as the volume’s cover portrait, which featured a big dog doing a dead-on impersonation of an elephant - while the dog sat placidly while wearing a false trunk and tusks.

These portraits are fantastic and hilarious.

I suspect that these photos have to be seen to be appreciated. There is no way that an explanation can possibly do them justice.

My rating: 7/10, finished 6/5/23 (3806).

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this growing up with my dad. tall dog is burned into my brain. everyone should read this book. it made me cry a little

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun photos. Had a friend into Wegman's photo books of his dogs.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful dog, pity he had an owner with too much time on his hands. In fairness, the dog looks like he's having fun in some of the photos.