The more I experiment with dogs + powder, the more I learn. There are all sorts of small things that I never thought much about before I began experimenting with this series that I spend odd amounts of time thinking about now. Today I'm thinking about pigment.
Short story: some pigment lingers longer than others
Photo for dramatic illustrative effect.
Longer story
I've used powder on my dog, Cohen, twice now. The first time, I used magenta for some jumping photos. The second time, I used green for some footage for a video we're developing.
After the first session, Cohen's whites were white again after 3 days. No bathing was required - it simply fell right off her.
It's now been three weeks since the second session and Cohen. Is. Still. Green. ACK! (I don’t even LIKE green!)
Nothing has changed, care-wise, between these two sessions. She had not been recently bathed beforehand (which I felt might strip the coat of protective oils) and hasn't been bathed afterward (which I felt might make the pigment hold more fast). And yet, Cohen's beautiful white collar still has a distinctive green tinge...
It’s time for a bath.
I routinely ask clients to report back to me about how long it takes for the colour to fade from their dogs' coats. Things like coat texture certainly do affect how the colour lingers. But now I can confirm that the pigment behaves differently from one colour to another. And information from clients seems to confirm it.
Reds and pinks seem to fall off pretty quickly. Green seems to stick around. I don't yet have sufficient information to speak about the other colours.
I thought it was interesting! Perhaps you will as well, and it will inform your decision on the colour you wish to use for your own coloured powder action session.
Do you have an experience of your own to share? Please do so!
Interested in a shoot of your very own? Contact me to discuss it further.