GSP's in Wistmans wood

[andrewaxford]

I quite like this photograph but I think it could be better but I'm not sure how? I have several thoughts about cropping or not and what else could/should I do please? The photograph was taken of Tillie and Rosie our two German shorthaired Pointers in the ancient oak woodland of Wistmans wood high up on Dartmoor Devon. The trees are hundreds of years old but are less than 20 ft tall. The ground is covered with moss and granite clitter.

[KimC]

Andrew, I like the height that you shot this at. I also like that the dogs were not in the dappled part of the sun. The dogs are beautiful and the countryside is amazing; the only thing missing for me is that neither dog is looking at you. I usually whistle to get my dogs attention if only for a moment.

[Ziggy]

I like it as is. Makes you wonder what the dogs are looking at.

BTW, love the light.

[JohnRostron]

Fascinating place, Wistman's wood, and very photogenic. I went there on my very first field course as a student.

John

[Shadowman]

The pups blend in so well I wouldn't touch them, perhaps emphasize the area where they are gazing somehow.

[bnnrcn]

I like the image as is

[Geoff F]

Because the dogs are looking to the left I wonder about a slight crop from the right side? Which I suppose would mean having a different size ratio; although possibly you might get away with taking the same amount from the height. Equal amounts from both top and bottom?

[John 2]

Beautiful Light, beautiful surroundings, beautiful animals. Got no problems with the direction they are looking in but it might be worth cropping a slice from the bottom and RHS to put them more towards the bottom RH corner. That way they are positioned more to look into the frame. Very nice image.

[Wandjina]

Because the dogs are looking to the left I wonder about a slight crop from the right side? Which I suppose would mean having a different size ratio; although possibly you might get away with taking the same amount from the height. Equal amounts from both top and bottom?

It is a lovely photo and I am with Geoff F. I would like the two dogs to stand out from the landscape a little more. To do this, I would crop and apply the "Rule of Thirds" so that the vertical right hand "third line" passes between the two dogs and the top horizontal "third line" passes through the mouth of the brown dog. That way the two dogs are offset to the right of the photo and are looking into the shadowy rocks and ferns at ?? ... That is the mystery of the photo and it asks a question of the viewer. What has caught their attention? I love a mystery!

[andrewaxford]

Fascinating place, Wistman's wood, and very photogenic. I went there on my very first field course as a student.

John

Its a great spot John isn't it so remote on the moors. I have tried to capture it several times but I don't feel I have done it justice yet!

[Kris V]

Love it like i is - reminds me of an old drawing of a hunting dog that I got from my grandmother.....
Just beautiful!

[andrewaxford]

Ok Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have had another go and made a few changes and here is Mk 2 so to speak.

[Geoff F]

That's it, Andrew.

You could get away with a crop from the bottom and go 5 x 4 ratio but the foreground is sharp and fairly dark so it doesn't cause a problem. In fact it is almost like a bit of a border which emphasises the brighter area where the dogs are positioned.

[John 2]

Does these beautiful animals justice.

[chauncey]

You caught my attention with this one Andrew...there is no end to what I like...
exposure/focus is spot on, as well as the lighting in general.

Were I to nitpick...would suggest flipping the image horizontally to have the dogs looking
right ( I once read where the eye travels left to right and those folks in the west seem
to prefer that viewpoint) and giving them a square crop for drama and have a golden spiral
target on the sternum of the spotted dog.

How about a lesson concerning your PP technique as I really like it.

[andrewaxford]

Were I to nitpick...would suggest flipping the image horizontally to have the dogs looking
right ( I once read where the eye travels left to right and those folks in the west seem
to prefer that viewpoint) and giving them a square crop for drama and have a golden spiral
target on the sternum of the spotted dog.

How about a lesson concerning your PP technique as I really like it.

Thank you I flipped it horizontally and I think it worked. It is like reading a book I guess.