In an attempt to better understand humans, photographer Sophie Gamand has turned to dogs, photographing charismatic canines for the last four years; “dogs mirror us

and say a lot about our own solitude and the challenges we face in human society. To think dogs were the first example of artificial selection is fascinating. That means they stopped being animals a long time ago, in my opinion. Now they are somewhat between animals and humans. They are pets. Companions,” she says.

Photographed at a groomer’s shop with the help of Ruben Santana, a groomer in the Bronx, her series Wet Dogs is quite a charming collection of pup portraits mid-bath. No shortage of personality here, Gamand says “the wide range of expressions they are able to display is another example of how close they are to us. I have always photographed dogs as if they were human beings.” Gamand donates much of her time to rescue groups and shelters, photographing dogs who are waiting for adoption and has also documented the life of stray dogs in Puerto Rico. Her rescue work can be found on Striking Paws. 

Wet Dogs will be published in a book in the Fall of 2015 by Grand Central Publishing.

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