Photographer Laura Merikay, based in Idaho, dressed her rescue dog Ranger as Immortan Joe for a shoot she calls “Mad Max: Furry Road.” She combined painstaking home-made work with deadpan posing that actually makes the dog’s appearance more amusing.
A pet photographer based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, named Merikay got the idea for Ranger’s menacing appearance while working on the film. She spent months developing the concept, constructing the costume, props, and a small post-apocalyptic vehicle before traveling to nearby sand dunes for the actual photoshoot.
The Idea Behind the Shoot
Ranger’s infamous villain inspired Merikay’s imagination. She pictured how fierce he would look. That idea led to a photoshoot, which she says came from simply imagining how Ranger might appear as the villain in the 2015 film “Mad Max: Fury Road.”.
“Ranger would make a pretty fierce Immortan Joe.”
Months went into shaping her own version of the wasteland from scratch, with clay, tinfoil, paint, boxes, and string all serving as the materials for her homemade props. Merikay did this work entirely by hand, and she kept the idea of the shoot in mind as she worked through each stage of preparation.
Ranger’s Journey From Rescue to Model
Ranger entered Merikay’s life via Grand Rivers Humane Society in Colorado. She saw his adoption photo online and decided he could be the right dog for her. She drove the eight-hour distance from Idaho to meet him. His gentle nature and apparently excellent high fives won her over, and Ranger came home with her.
Ranger has grown far beyond being merely a subject for photographs since then. He is now a Canine Good Citizen who has earned multiple AKC trick dog titles, and he regularly joins his family on their adventures. His skills make him especially well suited to serve as a model whenever Merikay has an ambitious concept in mind.
Building the War Rig
A broken kids’ car gave rise to the “war rig”, which Merikay adapted to match the post-apocalyptic mood of the shoot. After all the pieces were prepared, she loaded the setup and made the journey to the nearby sand dunes.
The Desert Shoot
Ranger had ample space at the desert shoot to slip into his role. His take on post-apocalyptic living included far more tail-wagging than what the original film called for. Merikay said she put the project together simply for enjoyment.
The photographs turned out so well that two large prints from the series now grace the walls of the couple’s bedroom.
The Finished Photographs
Scroll down to see Ranger rule the wasteland, and you’ll find a blend of elaborate DIY craftsmanship paired with wonderfully serious posing that only makes the canine star even funnier. Let us know which shot would deserve to be a movie poster, “Mad Max: Furry Road,”.
More Info
Those interested in seeing more of Merikay’s work can visit her website at lauramerikayphotography.com, where she also posts on Instagram and Facebook.
What Makes This Funny
What draws viewers in is the clash between the painstaking work put into the shoot and the silly result it produces. Merikay constructed an entire outfit, assembled props, and altered a vehicle — yet the dog’s tail-wagging transforms everything into a laughing matter. It is that friction that gives the pictures their punch.
This serves as a reminder that pet photography can go beyond being merely cute. Professional photographer Merikay centers her work on the bond between people and their animals, which includes her Peaceful Heart Sessions for pets facing terminal illness. She offers these sessions at a reduced price so families can make a meaningful, lasting record of time spent with their companions.
A photographer has treated a dog as a serious subject while letting the dog be a dog, and the result is on display here. Ranger’s tail-wagging is the star of the show, and the photos are the proof.
- Merikay saw Ranger’s adoption photo online and decided he might be the dog for her.
- She drove eight hours from Idaho to meet him at Grand Rivers Humane Society in Colorado.
- She spent months building the costume, props, and modified kids’ car.
- She took Ranger to nearby sand dunes for the final shoot.
- Two oversized prints from the series now hang in the couple’s bedroom.
A photographer has created a whimsical project centered on a dog named Ranger, and the images demonstrate just how skilled they are at constructing an entire world around their subject. Ranger’s tail-wagging is the clear centerpiece of the collection, with the photographs serving as the evidence of the fun, silly undertaking.
Source material: “This Photographer Turned Her Dog Into Immortan Joe For A “Mad Max: Furry Road” Photoshoot,” Bored Panda.
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