This year I've joined up with some of my colleagues from the Beautiful Beasties Network (an international group of professional pet photographers) for Project 52, to collectively challenge ourselves and our creativity with a weekly assignment. Every week a different photographer chooses a theme, which each person interprets in their own way. The photograph must be taken during that week, and on Friday evening (8pm Aussie time) everyone's blog posts go live. Click the link below to see the next photographer's image and continue around the blog circle until you end up back here - enjoy!

.......................................................................................................

This week's theme was "Opposites Attract", and you couldn't possibly get more opposite than my girl Lyra and her sister Pantalaimon (Pan for short). A little background story about where our kids got their names: one of my all time favourite novels as a child was His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman.  The trilogy explores themes in theology, physics, philosophy, intelligence, tolerance and environmentalism all within an epic fantasy, coming-of-age storyline. If you haven't read it I strongly suggest you do, as although it is a young adults trilogy it is certainly enjoyed by adults worldwide ("There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book." ~ Philip Pullman). When Johnny and I first met each other, we bonded over a shared adoration of His Dark Materials, so there really wasn't much of a question as to how we would name our girls. As it happened, their personalities ended up suiting their monikers perfectly.

The main character of His Dark Materials is Lyra. A wild, spirited, rebellious tomboy who grew up as an orphan jumping over rooftops and starting mudfights. She is very intelligent but also very mischievous, constantly irritating the adults who care for her by getting into trouble, remaining perpetually scruffy and basically refusing to be a proper little girl. She makes plenty of enemies throughout the adventure, but those who she does love, she loves fiercely with steadfast loyalty and she would do anything to protect them. Sound like anyone you know?

Pantalaimon (nicknamed Pan) is Lyra's daemon, basically an external, physical equivalent of a soul.  Despite being her soul, Pan is the polar opposite of Lyra. He is the voice of her conscience. His wariness and lack of confidence counteracts Lyra's lack of restraint. He takes most of life slow and steady, but is quick to act in moments of danger. He is hugely affectionate, despite being a self-acknowledged coward. Definitely my kitten in a nutshell!

So that's why I decided contrast Pan and Lyra for Opposites Attract. Now head over to the blog of pet photographer Blue Amrich, from Boston, MA to see her take on this week's theme. Don't forget to keep clicking through the links until you get back to Ragamuffin Pet Photography.

"I stopped believing there was a power of good and a power of evil that were outside us. And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are." ~ Philip Pullman.