As a photography student at Daytona State College, I'm constantly seeking out photographers to inspire and teach me. Today a fellow student introduced me to photographer Seth Casteel via a link to his web gallery of underwater dogs. I became instantly enamored by his beautifully unique images and scoured his website for more information. I was pleasantly surprised to find a sub-website called Second Chance Photos.
"When a dog or cat arrives at an animal shelter, it often is scared, dirty and disoriented. As part of the intake process, the animal has their photo taken, and this untimely photo is the face that people see when looking to potentially adopt a pet. An inaccurate headshot can hurt its chances of adoption, but an uplifting, hopeful portrait can save its life.
Second Chance Photos believes every homeless pet should be represented with a positive, professional photograph, offering a glimpse into their unique personality in hopes to make a connection with potential adopters. Our mission is to provide shelter staff and volunteers with the resources to successfully photograph shelter pets, aiding in giving them the second chance they deserve."
This website plucked some heartstrings for me. I've always been an avid animal lover and wanted to fight back against animal abuse. A fan of Animal Planet, conservation and education, and my own pets, I've always wanted to lend a hand in some way. In February 2011 I officially adopted my first rescue dog. He is an amazing member of my family and now this feels like a wonderful, fun, and rewarding way to give back.
