Vida de Perros / Dog Dogs

A colleague once described Elliott Erwitt as being "half-photographer, half-dog," owing to his almost supernatural affinity with the canine species. "It's quite extraordinary," the associate expanded, "He barks at them. They understand." Erwitt, whose career has centered chiefly on advertising and documentary photography, tends to shoot in black and white, creating works tinged with irony and absurdity, yet presented in an everday context. It is this candid quirkiness, coupled with Erwitt's obvious love and understanding of dogs, that makes his dog portraiture - a genre to which he has returned throughout his working life - so skillful, funny and endearing. With over 50 years experience photographing dogs, Elliot Erwitt captures the essence of man's best friend and the emotions behind why we love them.