A beach, a dog, and a ball

[NorthernFocus]

Since we're spending nearly two months here at the beach, we brought Grace along with us. Because wide, sandy beaches are in short supply where we live, she hasn't had many opportunities to enjoy the experience. So far she's having fun. Yesterday evening conditions were terrible for photography but I fired away anyhow.

Just sharing a few shots of the pooch. I'm on a poor laptop with an uncalibrated monitor. So I have no idea what these images are going to look like to you guys.

1) OK, Dad, let's get it going. (420mm)



2) Eye on the ball (200mm)



3) Grab it! (200mm)



4) Full extention (200mm)



5) And again (200mm)



6) Job well done. (500mm)

[madcrow]

Someone enjoying the holidays. Fabulous action shots, well executed.

[Dave A]

Really nice series Dan. Funny but even with those nice action shots my favorite is the first image.

Dave

[Rita]

Grace is sure having a lot of fun here. They are great but the timing on 3 & 5 is perfect.

[rpcrowe]

Great captures of Beautiful Grace!

[LePetomane]

Fun!!!

[Shadowman]

Nice concentration and captures to both of you.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you guys enjoyed the shots of Grace. She's getting to play ball on the beach every day at low tide. Then we get to enjoy her sleeping for a couple hours afterward. A tired dog is a good dog...

[Jim A]

I have fairly recently viewed your website, Dan, and therefore had high hopes of what I would see now. I was not disappointed at all!!

[pnodrog]

Good shots. Did Grace greet you both with suitable enthusiasm on your return from NZ?

[Astramael]

I enjoyed this series. I thought the background was well selected (non-distracting, but clearly the beach). The Chuckit ball and collar have nice contrast to the drab colors of the rest of the scene. It seems aperture was well chosen for both background separation and the pup in focus.

I must ask what camera was used to take these photos and what focus method you used? Was it a continuous-AF mode with a DSLR or mirrorless? Did you manually adjust focus, or did you pre-focus on the ball action point and shoot with a wider DoF to keep things in bounds?

[GBO25]

Great series. Don't dogs just love the beach.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Graham, I've yet to see a dog that doesn't love the beach. Grace loves any open spaces where she can run free while keeping us in view. When hiking trails in the bush she loops back every couple of minutes to check on our whereabouts.

Paul, as a matter of fact it was a rather difficult 60 mile drive home with all of her enthusiasm being displayed inside the car with us. It took her quite a while to calm down.

...I must ask what camera was used to take these photos and what focus method you used? Was it a continuous-AF mode with a DSLR or mirrorless? Did you manually adjust focus, or did you pre-focus on the ball action point and shoot with a wider DoF to keep things in bounds?

These were shot with a Nikon D500 and Nikkor 200-500mm lens. I've added the focal length for each shot in the original post. All were shot wide open at f5.6 in continuous focus mode and I was experimenting with "group-area" AF as opposed to my normal preference for single focus point. I was shooting handheld and tracked the dog's movements. My technique for shooting moving objects when timing a shot is involved is to keep both eyes open, one looking through the viewfinder and the other eye looking over top of the camera. By doing this I can keep the animal in focus and also see the flight of the ball and therefore be ready for the dog to jump. The same technique works for shooting birds in flight.

[Mike Buckley]

Job well done.

You were referring to Grace. I'm referring to the photographer. The reflection in the last photo adds so much depth. Very appealing!

[lovelife65]

Gorgeous Dog and pics. Ours would be right there with her!

[KimC]

Nothing better than the beach with a dog. Great shots Dan! My standard poodle for some reason likes to drink salt water which can be dangerous for dogs due to the salt content.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Kim, in the past we also had a dog that was enamored with drinking salt water. She usually just puked it up and was none the worse for wear. It was rather annoying not knowing exactly when she would reject it. Once it happened after we were in the car headed home and she did it in my lap while I was driving. That was a good time

[KimC]

Looking forward to seeing you snowy beach shots this weekend Dan -- hear you are getting a winter storm.

Ahh, life with dogs ;-) I wish mine puked -- it shot out from the other end (and that's no exaggeration) - which I guess is common according to what I read about it.

Thanks for the comments, folks.

Kim, in the past we also had a dog that was enamored with drinking salt water. She usually just puked it up and was none the worse for wear. It was rather annoying not knowing exactly when she would reject it. Once it happened after we were in the car headed home and she did it in my lap while I was driving. That was a good time

[bnnrcn]

Great images Dan, the last one is special Grace ? Well, she is always lovely

[Nat]

Really enjoyed the shots, all of them, great action shots!! My boxer is the only one of my three dogs that will drink the salt water....so far, she has not wretched it up....we try to stop her in time, before she gets too much in her.