Photography allows us to see things that we normally wouldn’t. Sometimes, this is a look into the fascinating “hermit kingdom” of North Korea, but other times, it’s more lighthearted. Photographer Andrius Burba uses his camera and a cunning setup to take a peek at what dogs have under them… literally. Aptly called Under-Dogs, Burba’s series showcases the belly of various canines—from Pomeranians to Poodles—in all shapes and sizes. As they sit on a glass surface, we get a crystal-clear view of their fuzzy undersides as well as glimpses into their temperament.
Last year, Burba delighted us with his similarly playful project Under-cats, and it’s clearly informed this series. “Pets photographed from the underneath on a black background somehow have become my signature artwork,” he explains. But, despite the familiar format, Under-Dogs is distinctly different than Under-cats. It’s all in personality. In general, canines are more playful, and this has translated into their portraits. (Some even licked the glass!) “Dogs are more obedient which helps us to create more interesting shots,” Burba explains. Continuing, “Others weren’t afraid of standing above [on the glass] which was easy and fun to work with.” In these images, Burba remarkably captures the essence of each dog.
Under-Dogs was photographed a year ago, but Burba kept it quiet for a long time. “We were patiently waiting until now,” he tells us in an email, “as we wanted to present the results along with the publication of Under-Dogs book.” In addition to a book, Burba has opened an Underlook shop with prints from the series.
Update: Under-Dogs has a new book to be published on May 8, 2018.
Photographer Andrius Burba reveals what’s under dogs with his charming series of portraits.
Aptly called Under-Dogs, it showcases the adorable bellies of canine breeds from Poodles to Pomeranians.
Through a single shot, Burba captures the essence of the dogs’ personalities.
This one licked the glass! (It wasn’t the only one.)
