a couple from today

big baldo · 03-21-2007, 03:38 PM

Heres a couple from today that I took. Ive been trying to get a nice one of my dog but hes not been too cooperative!!!Anyone have any tips on shooting a jet black subject?
Thanks for looking

payn817 · 03-21-2007, 04:54 PM

Nice sandhill. Try to spot meter off the dog and that should do it, but you'll lose the background. You can try Loupey's suggestions for exposure in the "4 basics" thread, and that should also do the trick.

Copy_Kot · 03-21-2007, 05:36 PM

It already looks like you are getting some good detail from your dog.

I like the sandhill

karen m. · 03-21-2007, 07:13 PM

Nice pictures Baldo, is your dog a standard or a giant schnauzer?
I have 2 standards P&S

julsoph · 03-21-2007, 07:45 PM

That's a great shot of the crane.

**Loupey** · 03-21-2007, 08:58 PM

Wow, that's a gorgeous shot of the sandhill!

As for your dog, try it on a overcast day when the sun still casts a faint shadow. Position yourself to get side or back lighting from the sun to pick up detail in the hairs. You'll want to open up a bit from the normal exposure so, as Payn mentioned, you'll overexpose the surroundings if they are lighter than midtone. Better to shoot against a dark deck or against shadows so that the overexposure doesn't look unnatural.

big baldo · 03-22-2007, 06:44 AM

Thanks all for the comments. I'll try to overexpose next time and see how it turns out.

Karen, he is all giant.(giant pain!!) We also have a havanese who weighs 10 lbs. The havanese is the one who really rules the house!!

I'd like to see pics of your dogs....maybe we could start a "pet" thread. Im sure I'm not the only one who uses their pet for a daily test subject.

I know bevb has some outstanding shots of her dogs and I think someone else is in to the herps.

Loupey also has a pet kestrel

lol

karen m. · 03-22-2007, 10:13 AM

They have to have a "spa day" first, they are too shaggy

Bevb · 03-22-2007, 01:56 PM

I think you have made a good job of your dog picture,a little tip is try not to include any fences or distracting surrounds.
I usually work on the basis that Loupey has already stated, especially the light source, an overcast day is quite helpful, but there are ways round it on a bright day, i usually make my customer place the dog against an uncluttered background, normally a hedge as backdrop, or alternatively get the dog to lay down facing you with the light source ie sun! at the side or behind, lay down in front of your dog, framing so you get a full face or complete dog portrait, its quite affective to get the dog to slightly look to the side (someone else behind you helps here attracting your dog) get it to look alert by squeeking a toy or similar ( it helps i know if the dog stays down!!) but hey they say never work with animals or children!
I hope you dont mind me adding this picture but its one i have taken for a customer of their black labrador and a German Shepherd, they just show that you dont always have to get full eye contact and it was taken as per the details iv added.
You could also try and get some action shots of your Snauzer!

big baldo · 03-22-2007, 02:43 PM

Bevb, Thanks for the tips!

Your dog photos are very nice. They give me something to shoot for!! The lab pic is just awesome!!

terryger · 03-22-2007, 03:21 PM

man thats a giant schnauzer. who'd you get him from.

i was really big in those dogs in this country back in the old days ;)

still know lots of folks.

big baldo · 03-22-2007, 04:46 PM

We got him from a breeder in Lady Lake Florida. RMK kennels. very good dogs! There are many still in Germany.

terryger · 03-23-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big baldo

We got him from a breeder in Lady Lake Florida. RMK kennels. very good dogs! There are many still in Germany.

i was one of the 1st to import from germany back in the early 80's.

i have pictures from the old days but they don't scan well.

here are a few of the ones i have known.

one of my first boys

one of the youngsters

what we did

sire of 2 of my dogs winning the 1983 bundeslietstungseiger championship.

big baldo · 03-23-2007, 02:37 PM

Thats pretty cool!!

I cant imagine my dog being an attack dog!! One of his brothers went into the police academy. Mines just a big baby!! There is a HUGE kennel out of California. Skansen I think is the name. They account for alot of the giants in the big shows.

karen m. · 03-23-2007, 09:16 PM

terryger,

Thanks for sharing pictures of your schnauzers

Copy_Kot · 03-27-2007, 02:47 PM

Congratulations on the featured photo Big Baldo! That's a great image

big baldo · 03-27-2007, 04:01 PM

Thanks Copy, I appreciate your kind words.

I was very surprised to see it up there!!

Knight · 03-27-2007, 04:42 PM

Congrats on the Featured Photo well deserved indeed

payn817 · 03-27-2007, 05:11 PM

Another congrats, it is a very nice image.

Bevb · 03-28-2007, 12:46 AM

Yes Big Congrats on featured photo, as Payn817 says, reat Photo.

big baldo · 03-28-2007, 06:21 AM

Knight, Payne, Bevb, Thank you!!

I really appreciate your comments.

AmberC · 03-28-2007, 01:06 PM

Definitely Congrats on the featured photo! Thats a beautiful shot!

This is my pooch Tasha

as for a jet black subject.. I was having trouble with this guy the other day at the park. Not really this one, but ones where he was in the water after his tennis ball. I am really disappointed I caught the other dog in this shot, but I really like his stance here.

photo-mom · 04-02-2007, 02:34 PM

Photo-Mom liked the dog photos - of course Photo-Mom is biased . . . dogs are a favorite (you already know about the sunset-sunrise proclivity, i guess) - the red-headed bird is quite nice, of course (congrats are in order . . . ) . . . just bird-like instead of dog-like! - i loved the red-winged blackbirds when i was growing up in Colo. - they have a pretty song -(Tasha is beautiful, Amber) - P-M

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