“Many people have lost a pet they loved at some point.
It has been a blessing to be able to channel that loss into something positive.”
There’s something sorrowful about seeing a dog wearing a cone… right?
All 139 photos in the collection showcasedogswearing custom, handmade (and very fashionable) cone-like collars.
Cone of Shamestarted as an artistic outlet after Au and her husband lost their corgi, Tartine.
“Many people have lost a pet they loved at some point.
It has been a blessing to be able to channel that loss into something positive.
So many creative things stem from people losing something important to them.”
“Dogs have always been ongoing in my work,” she says.
“They’ve appeared in my advertising photoshoots and have always been a topic I love.
I enjoy exploring how a dog’s place in our lives has shifted as a society.
Dogs have become important family members, rather than just household pets.
They are our baby.”
As for selecting theCone of Shamecanines, Au worked with dogs ranging from pug to doberman.
“It was a giant puzzle piecing together what looked best,” says Au.
“We had an ongoing document of different cone ideas.
Then, we would envision a couple of types of dogs that might look interesting with it.
We didn’t always aim for a specific breed.
It was more about capturing a look.”
“Some dogs had never been behind a camera before,” she says.
“Others were very seasoned in being on set.
Understanding where each dog comes from allowed us to work with them in the right way.”
Komondors are such a unique breed that require lots of grooming and care.
It was so much fun."
“My other favorite memory is working with my own dog, Clementine.
Including her in the series was a bit of a wild card,” admits Au.
Being involved withCone of Shamewas a big achievement for Clementine and a wonderful memory for me.
To have my own dog included in this book is really special.
I couldn’t do it without her."
