For professional dog sports photographer Rick Anson, the journey with his golden retriever, Tucker, began in 2018 with an urgent phone call. Surrendered to the Golden Retriever Rescue of Mid Florida at 15 months old, the energetic pup—then named "Bubba Keith"—had spent far too many cooped-up days locked in a crate while his previous owners worked long hours.
When Rick and his wife arrived to pick him up alongside their resident golden, Tayla, the two dogs bonded instantly. Renamed Tucker, the high-octane pup clearly needed a constructive outlet to channel his boundless energy. They decided to introduce him to dock diving—and immediately realized they had a natural-born athlete on their hands. On his very first dock jump, Tucker fearlessly launched nearly 20 feet, splashing into the pool and proudly paddling back with the bumper clamped tightly in his jaw.
That single initial splash kicked off a decorated multi-sport career. Over the years, Tucker amassed titles across Dock Diving, UpDog Frisbee, Nose Work, Barn Hunt, AKC Fetch, and Rally Obedience. After losing Tayla in 2024, the family welcomed another rescue golden named Dakota, who quickly kept the veteran athlete young at heart. Now approaching ten years old with a distinguished gray muzzle, Tucker shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to compete while road-tripping across the country in the family RV.
Crafting the "Fake Drone" Perspective
As a professional photographer, Rick has spent years capturing world-class canine athletes with high-end mirrorless cameras and cinematic drones. But documenting his own dog's high-speed explosive runs presented a unique set of challenges.
At official dock diving competitions, strict safety regulations prohibit the use of real drones anywhere near the pool or spectators. Standard action cameras mounted to static tripods often miss the dramatic vertical elevation of the leap, while traditional handheld cameras are impossible for Rick to operate while actively participating on the dock.
To solve the dilemma, Rick turned to Insta360 X4 paired with an extended Invisible Selfie Stick as his secret weapon for high-action dog sports.
From Bumper Throw to Dynamic Framing
By deploying X4 directly on the competition dock, Rick generates sweeping, aerial "fake drone" perspectives that completely bypass venue drone bans. Because the camera records in full 360, Rick doesn't have to stress about pointing a lens while managing the logistics of the run.
The setup seamlessly records the entire choreographed sequence: Rick's wife holding and releasing a laser-focused Tucker, Rick executing a precise bumper throw down the center of the pool, and Tucker’s explosive, water-shattering launch off the edge of the dock.
Once back in the studio, X4’s resolution gives Rick total creative freedom during post-production. Using keyframing, he tracks Tucker mid-flight, dynamically zooming in on the sheer determination in the dog's eyes and panning down to capture the massive wall of water as he hits the pool. The result is an immersive, high-speed POV that places viewers right in the splash zone alongside a soaring, gray-muzzled champion.
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