This gallery is more about my dogs than my photography, and the technical and aesthetic standards for inclusion have been relaxed a bit.

Lady is part Samoyed - part Golden Retriever. Max is part Doberman Pinscher - part Rottweiler. Ebby is a Lab mix. Lincoln is a Lab-Weimaraner mix. Lucky is a Lab mix.

We found Lady at the Humane Society. I thought she looked like a fine dog, and I expected to have fun with her, but I was surprised to find that we'd managed to adopt as perfect a dog as I've ever known. She's very friendly, but reserved. She never causes trouble, and we never have to raise our voices at her. Living with Lady is an effortless joy.

Max walked up our driveway a couple years later. He was absolutely gorgeous and very interested in Lady. I thought he was an uncontrollable nuisance. He surprised me by turning into the sweetest, friendliest, most loyal dog imaginable. He's way too excitable for his own good, but his exuberance for life is infectious, and he's the most fun dog around. We raise our voices frequently at Max, but I thank him daily for choosing me as his friend.

Lady and Max eagerly greet new dogs and humans as potential friends. They're best friends, and they enrich our lives enormously.

I underestimated both Lady and Max, and they overestimated me. My dogs have mistaken me for the kindest, fairest man around. I'm not there yet, but with their inspiration and encouragement, I'm getting a little closer every day.

After ten years with us, Max lost his short battle with cancer and congestive heart failure. He will be the standard against which we'll compare all other great dogs.

We adopted Ebby from the Humane Society after she'd been abandoned by two previous owners. She's shy around strangers, but she warmed up to us quickly, and she adores Lady. She's sweet, frisky and a joy to live with.

Lady passed away early in her fifteenth year. We couldn't have asked for a better friend.

Lincoln is a three-year-old Lab-Weimaraner mix. We adopted him from the Humane Society.

Ebby passed away a bit short of her twelfth birthday. She was a perfect companion.

Lucky was six months old when we adopted him.