You know what I think is bugging me? The pupils are unnaturally large for the amount of light that has been put on the dogs face. I couldn't put my finger on it, but, that is why I wasn't liking the overly lightened ones

I think we're all getting tied up in our underwear: if that were my dog, I'd love this portrait. It shows intensity, expression and beauty. What more can you ask for?

Jim

we are all nitpicking at it because that's what we do I am sure the people LOVE It. No one notices the minutae the way we do!

I do so love critiques. It really is not about loving the dog or image but reviewing the choices made at the time of capture and the processing. Those choices can make a huge difference in the photographers mind and should we not want to please ourselves as well as the client?

I think this image, above all, has shown the slight differences that can be made and it is always a choice of the artist who did it. We don't go back to any Rembrandt paintings and say I think he should have done this brush stroke instead of that.

But we are lucky, we can ask other pros out there what they would do and then make our own final choice. What could be better than that?

I like to see the color of a dogs eyes too, BUT, I want to see it done with light,not processing. Only because the pupils look wrong with it done later.

This dog really probably has darker eyes than it shows, due to the light. See the differnce in the pupils? And the catchlights.

I just don't want to see something that looks just, well, almost HDR-ish on animals. Not unless you are going for a funky look

I appreciate all the comments, and thanks to Peggysue and Glamson for your treatments of the image. This was one of those times I missed having a built-in flash on the 5D...I would have popped it up for a little fill and catchlights.

The real problem was that I was shooting at the wrong time of the day, around 2pm...I either had shade or direct sunlight, and fences were in the background in nearly every shot.

George,
I agree with you in terms of seeing the eye color. With Rotties, which I photograph a lot, you want back eyes or at least very dark brown. But Basenjis have lighter eyes where you can see the iris and the pupil. And that's appropriate.

Jim

Great portrait! Personally, I prefer the first one because the dog has a very intense stare and the background remaining black helps intensify it.. I don't see it as a very "light" photograph. But, it's my personal opinion of course!

Cool dog.

Wow Julie, nice portrait! Nice mix of colors!