A white dog in the snow. Why not?

[Maritimer1]

If you have lemons; make lemonade. Well, we have no lemons, but we have lots of snow this week, so after getting the barn chores done I decided to see what kind of white dog in the snow photo I could get. I started by taking some of the slower moving horses in aperture priority, but I was still getting drab snow, so I decided to just go for broke, went manual and overexposed.

These were both shot at f/2 and 1/500 with the iso set at 100. The lens used was a 50mm. Unfortunately, I was not super close so had to crop in PP. Also in PP, I loosely selected the dog and used a brightness/contrast layer to even out the background and cloned out a few bit of long, dried up grass that was poking through the snow. Fortunately, she had a colourful ball to chase and my husband was happy to throw it for her. They both got some exercise

The dog's name is Juno. She's a 3/4 Great Pyrenees (1/4 Emera (sp?)). Not my pup, but a great dog.

Thanks for viewing. C&C always welcome.



Juno in the Snow sm 3 by M.J. Hencher, on Flickr


Juno in the Snow sm 2 by M.J. Hencher, on Flickr

[Ricco]

Cracking shots!

[ScoutR]

Exceptional shots Myra!!! I love the first one. Would it be possible to give Juno a bit more space in the second one.

Wendy

[kezmal]

Great photos! Love #1 it shows those brilliant eyes standing out against the white.

[Dizzy]

Superb work Myra..I love them both, with #2 my top pick of the two.
The 2nd one is well balanced, and his body fits right into the middle 1/3
of the shot.

Mike

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Fantastic shots! Love both of them but I agree with Wendy with giving the second a bit more space - a bit of negative space on the left to give the sensation of where she's running to.

[Nicola]

wow

[Sahil]

Outstanding shots, Myra.

[Donald]

Ditto with all of the above.

Although it's a public holiday here to day, I'm in working. Currently in a building normally occupied by about 600 people and I'm all alone. The peace and quiet is wonderful. Anyway, this monitor is pretty accurate so I can see them okay. And I'm having a lunch break

Again it comes back, in my view, to having the vision to 'see' the opportunity. You could have kept plugging away with drab snow. But you had white snow and a white dog to hand. So, you let your creative imagination create a goal. For me, that's the genuis. Then, having the skill to execute is the next clever bit.

Well done, Myra.

[JPS]

Hi Myra,
well done great idea, wished I had thought of it. lol

[Maritimer1]

Thanks for the kind comments. Yes, I see that more space for Juno to run into would have been a good option. Those eyes, I agree, are wonderful. I'm lucky to have friends with pets Seriously, this was one of the quickest and easiest things to do in post with the exposure already overdone

[Tringa]

White dog in the snow!

You don't give yourself the easy ones Myra, but you have done a great job. Both are very good, but the first is brilliant.

Dave

[kdoc856]

Myra,

Both great shots, but the first is truly outstanding. I have a black lab, now 14 yo, and I have YET to get a photo of him in the snow that doesnt completely blow the highlights or block the blacks. I'd have more luck shooting him (photographically)
in the dark. Congrats on your images

Kevin

[Maritimer1]

Thanks, Tringa. I think her eyes really make the picture in the first one. Kevin, I have a 14 year old black lab, too. She'll be 15 in April. I totally understand what you're saying. I did read somewhere that the best way to photograph a black dog is against a dark background. It's been in the back of my mind to try that. If you get to it first, post and share

[Dave Humphries]

Great shots Myra,

Next time someone asks "what's High Key?", we can just link to this thread, perfect examples

[speedneeder]

LOL, high key for sure!
I love the first one. It's awesome. I'll have to try this with my white dog, assuming we ever get some snow this winter!
Well done!

[speedneeder]

Myra, inspired by your post, I was at the park with my dog today and when I watched him running through the puddles and splashing water everywhere, I had to go get my camera (conveniently left in the car).
(also playing with some borders in GIMP)

[Maritimer1]

Oh, wow! That's great! Look at the pup's smile and all those bits of mud and water that you caught. You didn't need the snow afterall

Also thinking that your name (Speedneeder) would be terrific for a race horse... Hmm, who do I know with a crop of foals on the way...

[speedneeder]

Thank you Myra. When we get some snow I will definitely go 'high key'!
I just wanted to share my Pyrenees mix with yours
Mine is only about 90 lbs though, he's got some lab and some husky in him I think.

[Maritimer1]

I thought your dog's eyes looked familiar Juno is not mine; she belongs to the person who owns the farm where I co-op board my horse. We're good friends so she never minds that I roam around taking photos of her dogs, cats, horses and alpacas... and her!

Not sure of Juno's weight. She was clipped this past summer, so looks half the size she did last winter.

We had all that snow. The rain took it away yesterday and the day before so everything was green again... until this morning. It's snowing again! (I'm not a fan.)