Hans Rosingh’s life is ruled by passion. Everything he undertakes he does with conviction. And in a rather unconventional way, to say the least. His house is hidden behind a forest of trees and undergrowth, situated in the calm north-eastern countryside of the Netherlands. Lazybones Mastiffs live there with Hans Rosingh.



Mastiffs in the plural, dogs and bitches, veterans, adults, youngsters and puppies, all living together, the house and its surroundings being their domain. For the past thirty years, they have provided a living proof of what is generally accepted as being an impossibility: Mastiffs living in a pack.


From the very first moment that Hans owned a Mastiff, he has taken photographs. Where ever he is, his camera is, no, his cameras are. The result after three decades is thousands of photographs. And an amazing proportion of really outstanding ones. Every Mastiff enthusiast cannot be helped be touched by them, by the really strong emotional message, the almost unreal composition or the breath-taking type of the dog in question. His photographs are of such quality that even someone haunted by nightmares about terrifying big drooling dogs, but having an eye for beauty will say: this is special, this is art.


Hans Rosingh has proven to be more than an extraordinary photographer. He is equally as remarkable as a writer. Look at his numerous diary entries. In a style which is direct and not at all obsessive, he makes observations which are doubtless influenced by his scientific training as a biologist, but which instantly strike a cord with every dog lover. Why? Because his texts are a rare mixture of down to earth comments on day to day life dictated by dogs and touching testimonies of the breed he adores. It is no surprise therefore to learn of his dislike of many modern trends such as the newest teaching methods, socialisation etc.

The editor / publisher had the almost impossible, and certainly unenviable, task of making a selection. Fortunately the readers will not suffer for this. They will be overwhelmed and touched by the scores of breath-taking pictures, following in swift succession, and totalling more than hundred.



The photographs are divided into sections as parenthood, movement, play etc, supported by diary entries which will serve to underscore the same emotional response.



So many images of that most noble breed, the Mastiff, with its extremely rich history. As one has to come to expect from BBPress, every care is taken to complement the fabulous content of this book : a true piece of art in print.