Tristan

[OldClicker]

How is this overall and what should I have done to get the eyes lighter/brighter? - TF

[gahspidy]

I think I like the eyes as they are. You might be able to bring out a bit more color/brown and illumination within them by didging using the midrange and shadow level, but I don't think its important. You have beautiful lighting here overall, and the catchlights in the eyes are enough. If you would have used a reflector or slight fill flash towrds the front of the face you would have more illumination but possible at the expense of this wonderful soft and moody light we feel here.
Lovely photo. My only issue is the edge of the sofa in the right side but I would not suggest a crop . We don't want to lose the dogs paw there.
you can extend the sof to the edge of the frame easily by cloning more in, but this is really a nitpik and not too important.
I think you have a fine photo of Tristan here.

[draymorton]

I like it as is.

[Grandpaw]

I think you have a great picture here. My one nit pick would be to crop out about 1/2 of the empty space above his head. This would get him out of the center by raising him up some and make it a more interesting photo The only other thing I think it needs is a nice frame and hung on the wall, Jeff

[Anbesol]

Great photo! I had a whack at it myself, I added a new layer, painted solid white over his eyes then set the blending type to 'soft light'. I usually adjust opacity with that trick too, but his eyes at soft light 100% looked good.

*Edit - actually, I tried again, I think her eyes may look more natural with a 70% opacity. The included pic is the 100% soft light.

[OldClicker]

Thanks everyone for your time and comments. I used a flash off camera high left and you can see the distinct shadow of his ear. Was it too high to get the eyes? - TF

[Anbesol]

Getting a dog's eyes in the light usually makes them look demonic. Almost every shot I have of a dog in a studio involves heavy processing on their eyes. I dont know how practical or possible it is to get reliably good lighting on a dog's eyes, particularly as much as they move their heads, can't exactly tell them to hold still! (none of mine anyway).

In any event, the lighting aside from the eyes was very well done, and the eyes are an easy fix, I'd say you hit it right here, the shadow being off of face doesn't bother me at all either.

[BlueRob]

Nice pic OC!
The right paw looks kind of strange but is what it is so no mayor problem there.
Regarding the eyes they look fine in the original, if you want them more colorful I would suggest a blend between the original and the ones you retouched.
That tone of eyes are very tricky to deal with, if its over done the look kind of "devilish" which is no good considering the rest of the pic.

[alik]

Nice Dog. Nice Photo. Nice Contrast.

[chrisnesss]

I like the first image, even the eyes. The image has a more natural feel to it than the second.