B.B.

[B.B.]

Well here is my first post I guess we have to start some where. This my friend as in title. A couple of picks. I hope you like them. One is with the trainer ouch..... Gary B.....

[KimC]

Hi Gary. Welcome to a wonderful forum. Is this a police K-9? Just wondering as I shoot a lot of Police K-9s.

I'm not sure if you are looking for C&C, but just a couple of thoughts - I like that you got down to eye level of the dog; however, I would watch your backgrounds as they detract from the beauty/fierceness of the dog.

[Shadowman]

Very mean looking, the black dog effect at its best.

[rpcrowe]

Beautiful dog!

I agree with Kim regarding the background and lowering the camera position. If there is a slope with vegetation anywhere near your location, that could make an excellent background. However, often just vegetation will be a good BG.

Another thing that might help with the background is to shoot with a longer focal length and a wider aperture (f/stop) which will provide a more narrow depth of field and might isolate your subject. Another advantage using a longer focal length and shooting from a distance is that it mitigates the shooting down angle of the camera when you are shooting from a standing position.

Here is an example. I shot this image using 85mm on a 1.6x camera (136mm equivalent) at f/5 (my lens is the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS).



The f/5 aperture allows the entire dog to be in focus (especially when shooting a broadside image) but the background (in this case, plain grass) is OOF enough to provide separation between the dog and the BG. I also shot this from a standing position but, since it was shot from a distance, the camera doesn't seem to be "looking down" to any great degree.

However, just squatting or kneeling will place you at the dogs level but, often that angle will include more background. Ensure that it is not busy.

Here is an example of using a slope with vegetation as a BG. I did not need to capture the BG OOF to achieve separation. The vegetation itself does that. Having the dog on the slope elevates her position so that I was shooting directly into her eyes.



The slope prevents the background from appearing too busy (no houses, trees, etc.)

Finally, I will admit that a tan dog is easier to shoot than one with a black coat. When I shoot black dogs, I like to use fill flash. Pumping a bit of light into the coat provides definition. You need to choose the BG carefully when shooting any dog but, especially when shooting a black dog.

[kdoc856]

Just tagging on with Kim and Richard. It seems obvious once we consider it, but maybe not until then: our eyes are drawn like
like magnets to the lightest, brightest, and whitest object in the visual field.

In both your shots, there is either a white house, or very light fencing in the background, contrasting with your beautiful (but black) dog. Our eyes only reach your dog secondarily, not initially. We roam a little at first before settling where you want us.

Note in Richard's shots how there is no doubt where we are to reside, though his backgrounds are quite attractive.

And keep coming back to the old saw: whatever doesn't add, detracts.

Welcome to Cambridge- it's a great place.

[B.B.]

Kim Thanks. I did the first with a small hand held. But the second was done buy the trainer. He is a specialist trainer in Hanover Mass with over 30 years experience. Educated in Europe. As you know it is raining so no new picks today. I just wanted to get on board with this web site. Gary B...

[B.B.]

Thanks Richard. Those shots where just to get use to this web site. I have more but the format is to large to down load. Will post more later.

[B.B.]

Thanks Kevin Like I said to Richard I will post more later and keep all this info close at hand.