On a sunny November day, a German Shepherd named Max was busy exploring the full bloom of Table Cape Tulip Farm, when the quick click of a camera captured the moment forever.
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For photographer Rebecca Kostka, taking photos of German Shepherds in some of Tasmania's most iconic destinations was always a dream job.
Now, that dream has become a reality with Max's photo the first of 48 to be featured in a new fundraising book German Shepherds of Tasmania.
In a sneak peek of the book shared with The Examiner, Ms Kostka tells the story of her "Mollydog" and the friendship that sparked a lifelong passion for German Shepherds.
"I have created German Shepherds of Tasmania in memory of a shepherd that changed my life, Molly," the book reads.
"My parents rescued her at three years of age. I had always been dog crazy, but we never had one of our own until Molly came along and boy did she change our world.
"From that day she had our hearts, she was our conversation, she was our shoulder to cry on, she was our fun, she was everything and I guess in turn, we were her world.
"She helped me through my teenage years and we just had the best friendship, she would hop into the back of my tiny car and we would always be adventuring together."
Growing up in Devon in the United Kingdom, Ms Kostka explained how living close to Dartmoor - an open moorland with grazing hoses and stunning scenery - made the perfect setting for walking, running and playing with her "best mate".
It is also where here love of pet photography started.
"Molly made it to 13 years of age and she certainly took pieces of our hearts with her when she left this life," she said.
"I have a big canvas of her in my lounge room, photos are so important to me.
"This coffee table book means the world to me, not only does it feature some of the states most beautiful German Shepherds and gorgeous Tassie scenery.
"It also raises much needed funds and awareness for German Shepherd Rescue Tasmania."
Established in 2014, German Shepherd Rescue Tasmania is a not-for-profit shelter based in Frankford.
Manager Trudi Petersen said she was inspired to form the rescue after her losing her own dog and the struggles she faced in adopting a German Shepherd from interstate.
"After losing Jasper, I knew if I was going to get another German Shepherd it had to be a rescue," she explained.
"I fell in love with a dog in Queensland called Max.
"At that time, I didn't even know there were breed-specific rescues out there.
"But I quickly learned they wouldn't send a dog interstate, because there wasn't a German Shepherd here rescue in Tasmania.
"I think I knew immediately what I needed to do, but it took some time."
With about 11 German Shepherds in its care, the rescue takes dogs in all conditions and will also train them and get them checked for any medical problems, if required.
As Ms Petersen explained, German Shepherds are a dog breed that often struggled to cope in shelters and pounds.
"Like many working dogs, they can become overwhelmed in that sort of busy environment. Not all, but some," she said.
"They are an incredibly in-tune breed. They pick up on everything.
"If you are mad, they will stay away. If you are sad, they will have their head on your lap."
German Shepherds of Tasmania aims to share the stories of dogs from across the state and what they mean to their owners.
While Ms Kostka's love of pet photography started in her teen years, she has been taking photos professionally for the past two years through her business Shy Wolf Photography.
She is also a regular contributor to The Examiner's Pets of the Week.
As she explained, it was through her work with RSCPA Tasmania that she learned the true value of a pet photo.
"I started taking photos for the RSPCA, to help with the adoption profiles," she said.
"I took a photo of a border collie called Chuck, who was at the Devonport centre.
"We used it for his profile, but then I went home and told my husband I knew I had to have this dog.
"It was meant to be and then I think I realised how important a photo is for a rescue dog.
"A good photo can really mean the difference between a dog finding a new home, or not."
Since putting the call-out late last year, Ms Kostka said she had been inundated by "proud" German Shepherd owners who wanted to be part of the picture book.
Starting with Max in November, she has since photographed close to 50 dogs in some of Tasmania's most picturesque settings including Seven Mile Beach, Hollybank, Bridestowe Lavender Estate and even Lune River in the state's South.
"It has been such a heart-warming experience. Meeting all these people, their dogs, and finding out why they are so important to them," she said.
So far more close to $1700 has been raised for German Shepherd Rescue Tasmania.
With the book due out later this month, Ms Petersen said everyone involved in the project deserved a "pat on the back".
"I keep joking that I'm going to need a waterproof copy, because all the photos I have seen so far are just so beautiful," she said.
"This is such an incredible thing to have and a real testament to the wonderful German Shepherd.
"Every dollar counts with a dog rescue and this is going to go a long way for us."
German Shepherds of Tasmania will be available online from Shy Wolf Photography and German Shepherd Rescue Tasmania.