Carry-on car·ry-on (‘kar-e-on) n. a bag, suitcase or other small item. adj. small or compact enough to be taken aboard and stowed on an airplane, train, or bus by a passenger. carry on v. to hold or support while moving, bear; to take from one place to another, transport.
When I hear the word “carry-on,” images of size-restricted suitcases, long lines at airports and baggage checkpoints come to mind. But, to commercial photographer and author Sharon Montrose, these images are replaced with a small four-legged canine breed, the Chihuahua. In Carry-Ons, Montrose makes a tribute to this breed that is always on the go with a delightful collection of photographs.
Montrose, a native Los Angeles resident, was inspired to photograph the Chihuahua after observing this breed often accompanies its owner as a travel companion. “I started to notice that Chihuahua owners tend to take their Chihuahuas with them where ever they go, like the LA Auto Show for example. I liked the idea that these dogs get to see the world,” explained Montrose.
Gaining a greater appreciation for the Chihuahua through her work, Montrose shared her experience in the pursuit of the perfect photographs.
“Some of the chi’s featured in Carry-Ons were well trained and could hold a pose for quite a while. Others needed to be tempted with a biscuit or encouragement from their owners. I always like the mix of photos, posed and candid, that I get from my shoots. I think you need a healthy mix of both to get really great shots, and, in turn, great spreads.”
Montrose, who picked up her first camera at the age of sixteen, features these small dogs with “great big personalities” at their favorite destinations or in their carry-on of choice. While the pooches posed pretty, Montrose admits, “we did get our fair share of funny looks from passerby on a handful of the shots.”
Carry-Ons will be available in local bookstores and online at amazon.com and bn.com.
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