This wasn't a happy visit to my booth, but I was honored that the owner wanted me to do the pictures bad enough to come find me at an event.

I have a real thing for the darker faces in GSD, Belgian Malinois and a few other breeds. This one is just beautiful in person.

The arrangement wasn't the best with being outside in a rickety booth provided by the event. I didn't have the best control over the light, but I did my best.



The contact might lead to my getting to photograph shutzhund training and testing too.

Edit: noted wrong breed initially

I hear crickets . . .

LOL, Jim, I am sorry. Honestly, I did not see this. First things first, the pose and lighting are very nicely done. I personally would crop out a little bit of the negative space on the right hand side of the photo - but it is a quibble, and just a personal taste. Some folks might gripe about the mouth being open, but I am fine with it.

The light is very even and smooth. It appears to have been done in natural light, yes? I have no gripe at all with it. It looks great.

I even like the back-drop - and I tend to be a 'plain Jane' kind of guy on these sorts of things. I like black and white. :P The Autumny feel against the shepherd's coat looks really nice. The only thing I find vaguely distracting is the hay (or whatever that is) at the bottom of the photo.

Honestly, Jim, these are all just slight nitpicks. It is a great photo. There. I said it. :P

James

Thanks James.

I actually prefer this in a 4:5 crop, but the client wanted this particular shot in 4x6, and I didn't have time to reprocess for the web when I posted it. In the 8x10 version, there is more space on the left and, in my opinion, the dog looks more knightly and regal in that one.

I didn't think about removing the hay. . . hmmmm something to think about for sure.

This was made at an event where I had the fall / halloween set up. I usually try to get a few more isolated head shots that may get a few more prints sold that aren't "souvenir" type shots like you would expect at an event like this.

The light was a combination of natural and an SB-800 with a shoot-through umbrella clamped to one of the cross members in the booth.

Here is an un-edited (save for the vignette preset) shot I grabbed when the Oriole Bird dropped by while we were setting up. It shows the booth and the setup.



By the time the picture I posted was made, I had a couple of the sides from my tent (glad I brought them) clipped to the booth to help control the harsh light. It was almost like having a couple giant soft boxes (which is why I really love my tent).

Jim,

You did a wonderful job with this dog. I like the expression, color and everything you did. My monitor would like to see it a bit darker but that is just me.

I photographed a six year old Wire haired Terrier earlier this year that they suddenly discovered massive cancer and she is now gone. We are never prepared for these situations and we can only help in knowing that we do help the people left behind.

Funny booth shot!

Thanks Peggysue,

I go back and forth on darker / lighter.

I guess it is a good thing I didn't ever become a vet. I don't think I can handle the downside.