In several of our discussions, we've talked about show formals. But I'm not sure how many folks who have not shown dogs really understand what an "official winning photo" is.

Here are a couple of recent show formals: the Best In Show formals from the December Greater Miami shows. The BIS shot is considered the "money shot". It's the one most likely to get published and photos that get published in magazines like Dog News, The Canine Chronicle, ShowSite and the Breed publications are great advertisements of a photographer's skills. Plus, there is only one chance to get these shots so there's a lot of pressure.






Technical stuff: Canon XT, 17-40mm F4.0L, 200ISO, Alien Bees 400 monos with silver umbrellas set up at 45 degrees and high, shot handheld, on the floor.

FYI and discussion,

Jim

Wonderful Jim!! Thank you for sharing these. (Looks like that may be James Moses with the GSD?) Beautiful set up, is this an example of you overlaying the show info on the card in photoshop later or was that sign actually there? The lighting is great. I keep hearing about alien bees, I haven't seriously gotten into researching lighting yet as I am still figuring out the outdoor stuff but definitely want to get into that at some point. (umbrellas vs soft boxes, etc yikes). Equipment info is very much appreciated as well. I'm impressed that a photographer of your level is so willing to come help and share on a forum like this. Thanks!!!

Dee,
we started using studio lighting when we first got into the show business in 2001 because the regular show photogrphers would simply set up a background and shoot with their on-camera flash. What you got was hard shadows.

I've been shooting people portraits for a long time so setting up the Bees to soften the light and wrap around the dog was easy and effective. In an ideal world, I'd do a slave to illuminate the backdrop and eliminate the shadows but most venues don't have that much AC conveniently available.

In my humble opinion, the ability to use or create lighting is what makes a good photographer from the run-of-the-mill technicians. Sometimes you use strobes; sometimes on-camera flash; sometimes no flash. You have to know what every situation gives you.

I appreciate the compliments but keep in mind that all of us have started at the same point and learned how to shape our vision photographically. I happen to love animals in general and dogs in particular. So I've molded my technical skills around the need to create good pictures of the dogs I love (which happens to be every dog I meet). I have a skill in seeing how dogs look their best. And so that's the vision I use to create my portraits.

As an artist, you know what I'm saying. You have unique skills and the camera is just one way for you to express your skill. The ability to see the final image and then create it through the camera is the talent. Managing light, equipment and conditions is just part of the mix.

Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you like the images.

Jim

Dee,
a PS, yes that's Jimmy Moses and yes, that's a PhotoShoped sign. I love the way it blends in with the backdrop. My wife, Linda, designs our signs and I'm in awe of her PhotoShop skills.

Jim

Jim, would you mind taking pics of alien bees and umbrellas in a set up? So us amatures can see what we may want to buy in te future?

Ahleha,
go to the alien bees site and look over their products. These are Paul C Buff's inexpensive alternative to While Lightning products and they are well-made, bullet-proof and inexpensive.

To use studio monolights, you need to understand basic lighting and where you do (and do not) want shadows. The Alien Bees (www.alienbees.com) are very affordable and provide the necessary light shapers to get very professional results.

Keep in mind that you shoot manually (you set both aperture and shutter speed) but once you've figured that out for each setup, it's focus and shoot.

Jim

The afghan hound is gorgeous. I wouldn't want to deal with all that grooming, but very pretty to look at. I am sure you can tell I am partial to sighthounds

I am not going to even put in my two year plan doing any show formals. The candids and ringside shots I feel capable of doing a good job on. The last thing I want to do is screw up something like this. I will watch and learn!

By day I am a mortgage broker and my office has a good sized storage area in the back. it has a fence inside of it and about 16ft ceilings. Cement floor and cement block walls

I am going to see if I can set up a studio in the back for occasional use. Lord knows there is no room in my house! How I wish for a basement!

Julie,
my "studio" is in my office which just happens to be my old living room. It's 20 feet long with a 12 foot ceiling and gives me just enough room for my backdrop, lights and a teeny bit of room for me to maneuver.

The storage area sounds ideal. Keep in mind that most of what you'll be shooting will be outside or on location so having a travelling studio setup is better than having a setup you bring clients to. My entire show setup fits in a single case and can be set up in less than 15 minutes.

Jim

Jim I hope I won't wear you out with questions before I get to where I am ready to have a light/studio set up! I would love a portable one like you have in the end, I too have no room in my home for a studio. Yes that photoshopped sign looks great! I have a lot of win shots of my dogs and myself from the shows and in looking over them now that I am more aware of photography details, many of them are really not very good...bad posing, grainy, etc. If I can post this photo right (my first attempt) here is one of me and the love my life, my little Hallie. I am 5'9", Hallie is 8" on her tippy toes and the judge as you can see is somewhere in between. I wish the photographer would have suggested I kneel down so Hallie would have been larger in the overall shot, and had touched up the sign that can't be read in the glare. Good learning tools for me!




Julie I'm with you, it's a lot less stressful at this stage to take candids rather than win shots that could be messed up! I think you'd need a lot of experience under your belt to feel confident with that. lol.

I think it is funny, my friends(and myself) are all 5ft tall and each of them show giant breeds. One shows Danes and the other shows St Bernards. Definitely makes the dogs look more imposing and larger!

I do not have a background showing dogs, so, the formals are not something I would be comfortable doing. I have no problem with the movement shots as they are the same as the horse movement shots.

I am much more comfortable with the horses as that is what my background is in. I know the horses and what people are looking for. Though I am most comfortable doing conformation shots and portraits. I am not artistic by nature!