Dog Thoughts - Please C&C

redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
edited January 2, 2011 in Other Cool Shots
Here is a shot of one of my dogs. This is Josie, just enjoying the fresh air on the patio on Christmas Day. She loves to be outside, and I think it shows in her face. There was a stiff breeze and I caught a couple of shots with her hair blowing, but this one in a moment of quiet stillness is my favorite.

I shot this with my new D300S. I used a 50mm at 1.8 for a shallow DOF, focusing on her nose. Is it too shallow? Does her face need more detail?

C&C appreciated. Thanks, Lauren

"Thoughtful"
1141882920_ycMxt-L.jpg
"But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

Lauren Blackwell
www.redleashphoto.com

Comments

  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,325 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Hi Lauren,

    The most critical aspect of shooting animals is to get their eyes in sharp focus. That's how you can see the " soul ". You certainly have a photogenic subject there.

    Take care,

    Tom
    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Very good advice from Tom. Take heed, Lauren. It will give you lots of satisfaction next time those eyes are perfectly in focus. thumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Thanks, you two. Yes, I do know to get the eyes in focus but I wanted to try the nose instead. Now, I realize that usually isn't going to give the best look.

    Like these two better?

    1. Indoors, Christmas 2009
    1142071594_t8w5W-L.jpg

    2. Same shooting session as the original above, but sharper focus as well as a profile view.
    1141944173_yBLvo-L.jpg
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • PantherPanther Registered Users Posts: 3,658 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Howdy Lauren,

    Really love that last one, it has it all.

    Great composition, and details, what a good looking

    Pup.

    Happy New Year!!!
    Take care,

    Craig

    Burleson, Texas
  • jirojiro Registered Users Posts: 1,865 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2010
    Ooohh-la-la. Love the Bokeh on the last image. It's bokehlicious! thumb.gifAs for the 2 new shots... awesome! thumb.gifthumbthumb.gif
    Sitting quietly, doing nothing. Spring comes and the grass grows by itself.

    http://imagesbyjirobau.blogspot.com/
    http://500px.com/williebau
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Wow, thanks a lot! I'm glad ya'll like the second batch. I think that's my first bokehlicious vote! :D

    Craig, Josie is a good-looking dog indeed--and so much fun to photograph. I'll keep practicing on her. She was a stray we brought home to foster and decided to keep and is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever known. I think she is so happy to have a home and not be living on the street or in the pound that she is just content to just go for walks, lie on the patio, and let me scratch her back . . . and who needs more than that from a pup, eh? (Of course, our Darby is a pretty good dog too . . . )
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,325 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Now that's what I'm talking about!!! Great shots, Lauren. The eye detail brings the animal to life.

    I love it when I hear about folks like you and Randy ( and all the many, many others ) that give distressed animals a loving home. Good on you.

    Tom
    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Thanks for the kind remarks, Tom. All 5 of our pets are adopted from shelters or were dropped off as strays at the vet. The two kittens (now close to 2 yrs old) came from the Humane Society at the same time, different litters. The other 3 came from different places at different times. Amazingly, all 5 get along very, very well. The dogs are nearly inseparable, the kittens love to bathe the dogs faces, and our 16-year-old cat brings toys to the kittens. I am constantly entertained by the lot of them!

    I know there are many DGrinners like Randy who save pets and give them homes. It is a heart-warming experience indeed.

    Cheers,
    Lauren

    Lauren
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    Looks like a great dog, but couldn't you at least dry his poor face off?

    Sam
    www.samlinvillephotography.com
  • rookieshooterrookieshooter Registered Users Posts: 540 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2010
    The last one is the best. My rule of thumb is always try to be eye-level and have the eyes tack sharp.
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited January 1, 2011
    I could try to dry her off, Sam, but her beard is always wet.

    Thanks, rookie.
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • BradfordBennBradfordBenn Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    I agree the last of the second batch is the best, but as a dog person I am hard pressed to find a bad dog picture.
    -=Bradford

    Pictures | Website | Blog | Twitter | Contact
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,956 moderator
    edited January 2, 2011
    I like the first and third pictures. The only thing I'd like is if they had a but of PP on the eyes to bring them out just a bit.

    Beautiful doggy!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Art
    The funny thing is in my studio I have a life size photograph on canvas of my own Cairn Terrier shot with the 50 1.2 at 1.2 and her nose is all that's in focus. It's one of the more popular requests I get for pet photography. I even had a mom come in and ask me to do that with her 2 year old.
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Thanks, ya'll. I appreciate your comments.

    Kathy, I'm glad to hear about your terrier shot. Maybe sometimes a different DOF can work after all.
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
  • rwellsrwells Registered Users Posts: 6,084 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Nice shots of a cute pup Lauren thumb.gif
    Randy
  • redleashredleash Registered Users Posts: 3,840 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2011
    Thank you, Randy.
    "But ask the animals, and they will teach you." (Job 12:7)

    Lauren Blackwell
    www.redleashphoto.com
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