Relatively few lucky pups get to romp on the beach, so photographer Kim Roderiques has shared the unleashed joy of canines captured in mid-frolic in Dogs on Cape Cod.
A celebration both of dogs and the natural beauty of the Cape--its beaches, gardens, dunes, grasses and glowing ambience--Roderiques's settings are perfect frames for the more than 200 dogs pictured, some captured in joyful play, others posing for portraits.
Elegant purebreds (a trio of British cream golden retrievers, a pair of pulis, a quintet of West Highland white terriers and more) dominate the images, but numerous mixed-breeds share the pages, underscoring a mission of the full-color oversized volume: a portion of the proceeds from sales goes to the Animal Rescue League of Boston's Brewster shelter.
Occasional literary quotes celebrate man's best friend. "Dogs are a link to paradise," reminds Milan Kundera. A line from poet Mary Oliver captions a photo of Irish setters in golden grasses: "of all the sights I love in this world--and there are plenty--very near the top of the list is this one: dogs without leashes."
A useful reference to dog breeds, a vicarious vacation to coastal Massachusetts and a stunning collection of portraiture and nature photography, Dogs on Cape Cod is a warm, enjoyable coffee-table book, and would be especially at home in a cottage by a bay. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, manager, Book Passage, San Francisco