Capturing a black dog...

[OldClicker]

Any tips or tricks on photographing a jet black Labrador Retriever. I can't seem to get good definition - he's just a black space. Thanks. - TF

[SmartWombat]

Your camera is probably averaging the scene, and under exposing as a result.
If he was an 18% grey dog the exposure might be better

Try shooting in +1/3 increments up to +1, or use a flash off camera (or a reflector) to put a few highlights in his fur.
Play with the settings - it's digital !

Remember shooting in RAW means you can do much more adjustment on the computer.

[Dylan8i]

spot meter off the dog.

my camera, i keep spot metering on 90% of the time.

[Canuck935]

If you spot meter off the dog the camera will overexpose. The trick is to get the dog to look black yet retain some detail. I would start with an overall exposure for the given lighting, then check your histogram. If the dog is too dark then add a little exposure. As mentioned earlier some fill light and also RAW capture will help out.

[another view]

If you spot meter off the dog the camera will overexpose.

Actually, the best way to use a spot meter is to take a reading off the most important area of the shot (the black dog) and then "put" it in whatever tonality you want it to be. It's kind of an advanced concept, but basically since it's black you'd use the spot meter reading off the dog at around - 1-2/3 or 2. If it reads 1/125 at f8 (just as an example), you'd use somewhere around 1/400 or 1/500 at f8 so that area was properly exposed (check the histogram to find out if black should be - 1-2/3 stops, 3 stops or anything else). This is a more simple version of Ansel Adams' Zone System.

OldClicker, I'm not sure of your experience level or if your camera has an exposure compensation (+ or -) feature. Can you tell us a little more? If the camera is completely automatic, it might be a little more difficult to get the results you're looking for. I'd guess the results are at their worst in bright sun, but you could try an overcast day to see if it helps.

[Lori11]

Also the best place to shoot is outside. I have 2 black dogs and a black cat. Cant wait to see some photo's!

[OldClicker]

Thanks all. My experience= nil. My total equipment is as in my signature plus a tripod. No light meter or remote flash. (I'm in the hunt for better lenses.)

Photos are straight RAW converted to jpg and re-sized.

Here is my original black space. Hand held. Program Mode ISO 1600. Evaluative metering. F/5.6 1/50sec Overcast (sprinkling, actually)



With your help, we now have a recognizable dog! (Meet Duke, our latest foster dog.) Focus locked on his eyes. XTi in Program mode, ISO 200, Center-weighted average metering. Mottled shade with bright late afternoon sun. Used the tripod with up-down and side-side knobs loose so that I could move it. What post processing would give still more definition to the Duke? All I have Canon Digital Photo Professional that came with the XTi for RAW.





btw - I did talk to a breeder about that 18% grey Lab thing. She didn't sound real enthused.

TF

[another view]

btw - I did talk to a breeder about that 18% grey Lab thing. She didn't sound real enthused.

Would have made it a lot easier!

Looks good. High ISO speeds seem a little more "contrasty" to me than lower speeds like 100-400, much like film in this regard. I haven't tried to measure anything, just a feeling I get from shooting that way. There's an excellent article on this site about the Histogram. The only other thing you could do would be to maybe intentionally overexpose just a little bit (1/3 or 1/2 stop) to be sure you had detail, but you'd be at risk of having "blown" highlights. Depends on the situation, the shot, the background...

[Sushigaijin]

Looks good. High ISO speeds seem a little more "contrasty" to me than lower speeds like 100-400, much like film in this regard.

Dog looks well exposed to me!

AV, this is an interesting comment - I've always found that high ISO shots need a considerably higher adjustment of contrast to get to the acceptable ballpark, and they usually look washed-out with little dynamic range out of camera. What is it that makes you feel higher ISO shots are MORE contrasty?

[freygr]

I thing you did a good job with the exposure. A nice looking dog.