Dog portraits

[pschlute]

I have been experimenting with flash techniques this year (never really used flash creatively before), to photograph our own dogs and and some friends'. The first two are our furry ones.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[bje07]

Very good lights, nice poses.

[rpcrowe]

Lovely images of some very beautiful dogs...

[NorthernFocus]

The first two are really nice.

[Cantab]

The first photo is exceptional. There's a combination of factors but it's partly because the dog is looking straight at the camera/the viewer yet his or her body is at a slight angle so it's not like a police mug shot. The lighting works very well.

[pschlute]

Thank you all for your kind comments. I am lucky that my two, Ripley and Rio (1 and 2) both seem to be photogenic boys but are very temperamental models !

Here is a very different one of Ripley I took outside without flash on 35mm film with a Pentax Super A and Pentax 85mm f2.2 Soft-focus lens. I have had mixed responses to it so i know it is not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it has a 1930's Hollywood starlet appeal to it !

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Peter,

They are good and I'm sure I don't need to say that separation from the background (bg) is the tricky part on the dark bg ones - and you have, on the whole, managed it 'just'.

I can't help thinking a rim light from opposite the key; i.e. rear of subject, camera right in #1 and #2 would improve this aspect.

If you have another flash you can aim at the (back of the) subject (facing toward the camera), ideally gridded or snooted to prevent your lens picking up direct light and flaring, I think it would help.

Look at it this way; it's an excuse to buy more kit
(e.g. another RF/opto triggered flash, grid, bracket and light stand - or DIY equivalents)

A silver reflector might help, but I fear it may cause flare problems and would be tricky to aim accurately and keep there, if, for example, you moved the key light.


#1 and #4 are good because we see both eyes and their attention is not 'elsewhere'.

My wife has a Ripley type dog, I can't imagine it sitting still long enough to take a picture of it - I mean I don't even like it but it still insists on coming in to my face, tongue at the ready for a good 'kiss' every time I get down to its level!

Cheers,
Dave

[pschlute]

Dave

Really apprciate you taking time to comment.

I know what you mean about "just" managing to get the separation right. I resorted to darkening the background in Photoshop on some of these.

Since I took these I have experimented with a snoot to provide rim lighting. I had limited success with it as the narrow throw of the light and the propensity of the model to go walkabout mid shoot made it somewhat unreliable. An assistant is really needed to keep the dogs in one place. I have honed my technique now so that I place the camera on a tripod and pre-focus and trigger by remote. This enables me to control the dog and also introduce a bit more animation in their expression.

When I get a moment I will have another session and try out your suggestion.

Thanks again

ps. Yes one of the hazards of dog portraiture is getting the front lens element nicely smeared with a nose print.

[Cantab]

Peter, a case can be made for increasing the separation between subject and dark background; however, the first portrait in particular struck me as being Rembrandtesque -- not an entirely bad thing!

[Digital]

Peter, nice set of photos.


Bruce