When a Dog Shows You How to Live

There are animals who carry something extra — a vitality so unguarded it stops you. Fiona is one of them.

This series of large-format portraits was made at the beach, where Fiona did what she always does: ran, leaped, flew. What the camera caught wasn't just motion — it was a soul completely unbothered by self-consciousness, completely alive to the moment.

Fiona: Joy Unleashed was exhibited at RAYGUN in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood from September 11 to October 7, 2024. But the work was never really about the exhibition. It was about what happens when you pay close enough attention to an animal to see who they actually are.

That's what animal communication is, too — a different kind of attention. A willingness to receive what's already being offered.

Lesley Ames is a psychic medium and certified animal communicator based in Seattle. She works with pets and the people who love them — helping you understand what your animal is experiencing, feeling, and trying to tell you. Learn more at lesleyames.com.