Goodbye Mr Moo

Marshall Murray 2015-2025

I often joked that our dog Marshall was my photographic ‘crash test dummy’.

Our beloved Marshall. Blackbird, fly / Kodak Gold 200.

Whenever I had a new camera, new film, or new flash to try out, he was always the most willing participant in the family - often bribed by treats of course.

Trying out the Godox Lux flash on the Contax G1 with Kodak Gold 200.

We picked up Marshall (also known as Moo and Mooseph) as a 6 week old puppy in 2015. He lived with us for 10 years and 3 days.

Moo in Polaroid Blue.

His presence in our life came at at time when I rediscovered my love of film photography. As a result, he’s been featured and talked about regularly in my podcast, my YouTube and on social media.

A boy and his dog, Canon AFML35 / Lomography Purple.

In late September, different images of Marshall adorned the thumbnail of my second Kodak Charmera video, but then shortly after that, he suffered multiple health issues. He passed peacefully this weekend, surrounded by his family.

I knew I’d be upset at his passing, but I didn’t expect to be this upset. I feel like a piece of me has died. It feels like we eased his suffering, only to exacerbate our own.

Run! Lomography Super Sampler / Kodak Ultramax 400.

Last night I found some photos I took of him a few years ago in the park with my Fujifilm Rensha Cardia. When you press the shutter, it takes 16 photos across 2 frames of 35mm film. You can load the scans into Photoshop and make animated GIFs from your images.

Ani-moo-tion, Fujifilm Rensha Cardia / Kodak Portra 800.

I decided to make Moo run one last time.

As I watched it back, I could almost remember what it was like to be in the park in the hot sun with that big goofy bundle of spotty energy running towards me.

One of my favourite photos of Moo and the kids. Pentax 645Nii / Ektar 100.

Then I sat in the darkness alone, sipping a small whiskey, wondering where he was now. Puppy heaven? Reborn into another life? Or just gone, into nothingness? I didn’t come up with any answers.

Moo and his Mum. Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim / Lomo Turquoise.

All I know is that we loved you - still love you - and you loved us.

Selfie on the Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim / Kodak Gold 200

This morning as I went about my altered morning routine without my little helper around, I realised something which brought me joy and sadness all at once.

Marshall Murray. Contax T3 / Lomography 400.

I have some rolls of undeveloped film I’m sending to the lab this week. As I often did, I finished off a couple of them with shots of Moo. I’m looking forward to seeing the scans, even though I know I’ll be an absolute mess when they pop up on my computer screen.

Here’s to you mate, the best friend a family could’ve wished for xxxx