I did this shot the other day while out doing my wildlife shots, this golden came running along the beach. Equipment: Nikon D300 with Sigma 300-800 lens on Gitzo support with wimberley head

Hey John,

Congrats on your first shot. It is very nice. Great light, and the action seems to be caught well (though the image is a bit small to determine sharpness, etc). Was this for a shoot, or was this just practice with a willing Goldie?

James

just practice

John,
nice lighting and nice capture. Being in the right place at the right time makes for some great shots.

However, to really practice your pet photography, you need to do the following exercise:
1. get a dog. It can be your own or a friend's.
2. bring the dog to a particular location.
3. attach the dog to the location with superglue.
4. while holding the camera, lens, flash in your right hand, toss a toy or cookie with your left and capture the dog's expression at the exact moment he/she looks at the item you tossed.
5. ignore the toy/cookie if it hits you on the head. Make it look like you planned it that way.

Seriously, unplanned shots are great but if you're going to do pet photography, you need to set up a shoot where you're working a bit closer to the dog/cat and where you work on the most difficult aspect of pet photography: baiting. If you talk with James, Julie, Dee Dee and others, you'll find that getting expression, ears and head angle is the most difficult part of this particular discipline. To do that, you have to know what's correct and then figure out a way to get the animal to do it.

Oh, and by the way, some animals don't react to anything. I've actually jumped up and down to get some kind of expression from a dog -- and the look was "what kind of crazy guy is that?" Better that than blank stares.

Keep shooting. You can borrow my dogs if you want to practice.

Jim

I think it is a wonderful capture with lots of energy and beautiful color.

Jim is cracking me up with his stories. I have a tendency to throw things and I can get my voice REALLY high and obnoxious. It makes people want to cover their ears and run away, but, gets the dogs to cock their heads

Julie,
and don't forget to make rude noises with your mouth . Whatever will get the dog's attention.

At one show, I had a battery-powered cat that meowed and waddled. It was great at getting the dogs' attention. Until a Dobe jumped off the stand, attacked and ate it .

I have play balls that I squeek and roll; furry toys that I squeek and toss; a kitty that mews when I press it; a hedgehog that makes really rude noises when squeezed. But my favorite was "the Red Devil." This toy made no noise but it got every dog's attention when I tossed it. In fact, several people had me take a photo of it at one show because it got the attention of dogs that were impossible to get.

Unfortunately, after 3 years and 4 beheadings, it bit the proverbial dust at the hands (mouth actually) of Cassidy The Destroyer. And I've never been able to find a replacement. Sigh. You can see it in my avatar under Cassidy's daughter, Juneau.

Anyway, toys are a very important part of the arsenal.

Jim

I really like that shot, nice lighting, the colors are beautiful and great catch especially not planned! (Although that seems to be a yellow lab rather than a golden retriever...) Nice capture though!Did you get any wildlife shots as well? Looks like a beautiful day.

Quote:

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It was great at getting the dogs' attention. Until a Dobe jumped off the stand, attacked and ate it

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LOL yeah there can be a real fine line between getting attention...and getting TOO much attention! Your post has me rolling Jim.

Dee Dee

I have so much to learn, I thought a Yellow Lab was same as a Golden Retriever

Thanks all for the compliments

John,
This is a Golden Retriever. Meet Driftwood's Hard Drive aka "Crash". Note the Red Devil in his mouth before its untimely demise.



If you're going to do dog portraits, you probably should pick up a breed book just to brush up on what the different breeds look like.

Cheers,

Jim

John you may have a little to learn about some of the dog breeds, but you certainly have nothing to learn about photography! I just looked in on your site, awesome work. You really have travelled I'm envious!

Jim Crash is just too cute. And a perfect nick name for "Hard Drive" LOL!!