Roger Tooth, former head of photography for The Guardian, achieved what he describes as "Muybridge-like joy" when he accidentally captured a remarkable photograph of a small white dog in mid-flight at Liverpool's renowned Crosby Beach. The image was taken during a weekend visit to Antony Gormley's famous "Another Place" installation, where 100 cast-iron, life-size sculptures have stood facing the sea for the past twenty years.
Tooth had long wanted to visit the iconic installation created by sculptor Antony Gormley, who is also known for creating Gateshead's Angel of the North. The sculptures, which were originally created several years before their installation at Crosby Beach, have become one of Liverpool's most distinctive artistic landmarks. "I was in Liverpool with my wife and friends for a weekend away, and Sunday was an arty day," Tooth explains. The group began their cultural tour at the Walker Art Gallery and concluded with drinks at the historic Philharmonic Dining Rooms.
The visit to the sculptures required a two-mile journey outside Liverpool city center to reach Crosby Beach. Upon arrival, Tooth was struck by the powerful visual impact of the installation. "Seeing the rusting figures, all facing the sea amid the moving sands, was stunning," he recalls. The sculptures, weathered by two decades of exposure to the elements, create a haunting and contemplative scene as they stand sentinel along the coastline.
The photograph was taken in October 2025 during Storm Amy, which created dramatic conditions at the beach location. The storm was "blowing the sand around, and possibly also this dog," Tooth notes with humor. He was concentrating on taking a close-up photograph of one of Gormley's sculptures when an unexpected subject entered his frame. "I was taking a closeup of one of the sculptures when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a small white dog bounding towards me," he describes.
Using only his iPhone, Tooth managed to capture what became an extraordinary action shot. "I was amazed that an iPhone (and I) could freeze the dog in mid-air," he says, expressing surprise at both the technology's capabilities and his own quick reflexes. The image perfectly froze a moment that would have been impossible to see with the naked eye, showing all four of the dog's paws off the ground simultaneously.
Despite not usually titling his photographs, Tooth made an exception for this special capture. He captioned the image "Snowy," explaining that "the dog reminded me of Tintin's" famous companion. The reference to the beloved comic book character adds a whimsical element to what is already a charming and technically impressive photograph.
The retired Guardian photographer draws a connection between his achievement and the groundbreaking work of Eadweard Muybridge, the pioneering photographer famous for his motion studies in the late 19th century. "When I saw what I'd captured I felt a Muybridge-like joy – I had proved that all four of a dog's legs leave the ground when running!" Tooth enthuses. This comparison highlights how even in the digital age, capturing the perfect moment of motion continues to bring photographers the same satisfaction that it did over a century ago.
