I stumbled across a few photographs on the Sony that I completely forgot about. Some shots taken back in Kutaisi, Georgia while I was out doing a bit of urbex. Usually the stray dogs are a big concern in these more isolated areas. Kutaisi is considered a city but it's a small little thing and it's quite spread out. Streets are mostly empty in terms of people once you reach the more residential spaces. There isn't much to see or do and these areas are riddled with old and abandoned buildings from the Soviet Union. All overgrown with bits of old concrete and rebar laying around. Places that strays love to hang around. I have had some bad interactions with them in the past, and it most certainly reduced some of the exploration I had in mind given the dangers. Though this post isn't about one of those dangerous situations, it's actually quite the opposite. The day before I had flown my drone above the city and caught a glimpse of an area in the distance that caught my interest. A large square that had one building standing in the middle. It was in such an odd area that I had to check it out.
I walked to the area which was already a bit uncomfortable. On one street I find a rogue bullet shell just sitting around on the main road. And the odd shaggy stray did roam by and run down another street nearby. I tried to avoid them by just getting as much distance between us the moment I noticed them as to not draw in their attention. Usually they're quite vocal if you're a bother, and that's your immediate sign to turn around and get back to the busier areas where you aren't quite alone. I walked around the decaying walls in this residential space, looking at the older architectural design of it all. Though I got a bit nervous when I saw a few dog homes. Usually for larger dogs and always for the strays. But out came the tiniest little things. I was still incredibly nervous at this point given puppies likely meant a parent lurking around. I had a quick look and didn't see anything around. The whole time I would continue to have quick looks over my shoulder in case something did appear from the overgrowth or around the street corner. Fortunately just the odd car or elderly person roaming through.
These puppies didn't seem like they came from the same parents. Different colours and breeds. Though bundled together in and around the little home. Running around and tackling each other and playing. One was relatively cautious of me being there, it would keep its distance a little more and would fear the faster movements I made. I made sure to kneel down and be as still as I could. The others would happily run up to me and around. Fighting the temptation to pet them due to anything they may have, I just used the camera to capture them instead. This was with the Sony A6000 on a Sony 35mm F1.8 lens. I'm glad I had that on though, the usual 85mm focal length I usually use would've been too tight to capture these tiny things, and they'd keep running up to me curious of me and the camera. Once they settled a bit more they almost forgot I was there, instead playing with each other. One of which thought it'd be a genius idea to grab the food bowl locals had given them, full with biscuits and just throw it around, spilling everything across the floor. Puppies! It was nice observing them though, they seemed so fragile and generally well taken care of by the homes on the other side of the street. So that spilling of everything didn't mean a lack of food anytime soon.
I do have a trip planned back to Kutaisi starting tomorrow, so perhaps I'll find the time to revisit these little friends and give them another photoshoot.