I Need to Learn to Pace Myself
MarkTodd
Registered Users Posts: 143 Major grins
I'll bet everyone is out there looking for their texture to shoot right now. Here's my pup and her crinkly nose. I have a couple other ideas I'm going to try this week.
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Yeah, I was hand-holding the camera (and her treat) and trying to manual focus. So I'm going to try it again with the tripod. Getting her to sit still is the toughest part...treat time is really exciting!
IMHO, last thing you need is the tripod. What you need is a center spot AF, very fast shutter speed (crank up ISO to 400..800 depending on what camera you're using), high FPS rate and a very loose in-camera crop, so you can center focus, but re-crop in post.
HTH
Nik's right that there is a lot you can get away with when your final target is web resolution and his solution is a good one. That said, if you are as obsessive about resolution as I am, there is another way. Visualize the shot you want in advance and prefocus for it; I'll often use a similar sized surrogate to help set up the framing and focus distance. I usually also have the camera in manual and the set up in advance so all I have to do is hit the shutter when I see my shot in the viewfinder.
Another try this morning as suggested above. I think it's better, but I'm going to keep trying for a sharper image.
"Your decisions on whether to buy, when to buy and what to buy should depend on careful consideration of your needs primarily, with a little of your wants thrown in for enjoyment, After all photography is a hobby, even for pros."
~Herbert Keppler
Much better!
Now that you got the technique down you need to work on more dramatic lighting and more interesting pose!
Yeah, I like the textures in that one. Liberal use of unsharp mask.
Do you think I should have used fill flash to get more light to her eyes and nose?
Fair enough question. I just thought her eye's looked too dark. I took these without flash because I noticed she was starting to look away when she'd see the flash attached to the camera.
But overall, I was happy with the way the texture of her hair came out in that last shot. I may just go with that one until I can shoot some of my other ideas and see how they come out.
I have gotten some nice up close nose shots--I don't know if that was what you were going for, but kinda looked like it. Any way I lay on the floor when taking their pictures. Sometimes right under them while they are laying on the couch looking down to the floor. Works with the one who doesn't care about the flash.
I have started taking their pictures all in manual mode inside on sunny days. At least for the shy one who runs from the flash.
www.Dogdotsphotography.com
Yes, I was trying to get the texture of the nose (yeah, odd I know). I liked the texture in the very first shot I posted, but overall it was too grainy and out of focus. The shots from last night were using an extension tube and up really close, but it was hard getting a good focus with her moving around. For her, someone lying on the floor is an invitation to get pounced on so that didn't work for me. Maybe I'll have to sneak up on her when she's napping like in this older shot (pre-haircut as you can see):
I was lucky to get my dogs picture after a long play out in the snow. She was pooped and just laid there wishing I would just finish what I was doing and let her sleep.
I also took the neighbors dog picture of its nose thru a fence.
Try putting a barrier between you and the dog. It worked for me. I have also put her ball on my head to get pictures. What a dog owner will do for a picture of the dog--ha.
I'd post the photo, but being new here I just don't know how. And I'm the type of person who needs a step by step tutorial
I did enjoy your photos!
www.Dogdotsphotography.com