The Nature, Wildlife and Pet Photography Forum - Fine Art Landscape Photography

Trying dramatic

Posted By: domnrem

Trying dramatic - 06/18/08 06:45 PM

Trying some more dramatic lighting with the equipment I have . .
Thanks,
Celeste

Attached picture 16000-IMG_2494esma.jpg
Posted By: Visceral Image

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 11:45 AM

Celeste

I like trying different lighting on pets that will sit still for us. I think directional lighting on a this breed of dog is very effective, the lighting enhances the angular face but I think I would prefer the lighting coming from the other direction with the darker portion away from the camera. Well done
Posted By: domnrem

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 12:43 PM

Thanks for the reply!
Posted By: Jim Garvie

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 01:10 PM

Celeste,
using a single light to get directional shadows can be very effective. It's good to try it from different directions and heights just to see which way the dog looks better.

BTW, be careful when you set up your dogs for portraits: those front feet should not be pointing outward like a duck. For show people, it would be unacceptable but even for most casual owners, the feet should be parallel with the body. Except for certain breeds like English Bulldogs.

Keep experimenting with directional lighting until you come up with a set-up you really like and it will give you an option when you shoot your pet portraits.

Jim
Posted By: domnrem

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 06:09 PM

Thanks for the tips. Appreciate it. I'll keep experimenting. It's embarrassing posting work that is not good, but need to put that aside in order to learn. Thanks for taking the time.
Posted By: Jim Garvie

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 07:52 PM

Celeste,
it's not that the work isn't good. It's that it could be better because you clearly want it to be.

There are two aspects of photographing pets:
1. the technical, photography aspects of exposure, composition, lighting, etc.

2. the issue of how different animals or different breeds are supposed to be shot to look their "best" i.e. like the image the owners have in their heads of their pet.

I deal with it in terms of show dogs but I also see it with pet owners so I try to understand what image they have in their head and then try to duplicate it at least once in my shoot. Because I have a lot of images of dogs, I can show them samples of their breed and they can say "yup, that's how I want Snookie to look". Without samples to show, you need to probe a bit but you can figure out what their vision is of their own pet.

Then you can apply your vision. After I've given people what they expect, I give them what I would like. Sometimes they like it better and sometimes not but at least I tried to expand their vision a bit.

Keep trying things and asking questions. When you're satisfied with your images, you won't have to ask as much.

Jim
Posted By: domnrem

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/19/08 09:44 PM

I am indeed posting things I am not happy with in the hopes of doing better!! (doing this can be a bit disconcerting, that's all!!) I really appreciate the advice.

Do you have recommendations for general sites/books that may help learn how to show the best characteristics of a given dog? I guess going to different breed club sites, if not, would be the place to start.
Posted By: Jim Garvie

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/20/08 12:00 AM

Celeste,
the best place for dogs is the AKC site, www.akc.org. Look up the breeds and you'll see a stacked shot that pretty much shows you how the dog should look to a judge.

The key is to translate that kind of image into a pet portrait with them sitting or laying down. The key is to understand that things like feet turned out or in, hocks pointing out or in, are not what people want to see in their own pet even if they are pigeon-towed and cow-hocked .

It's not unlike finding the most flattering pose for a person having their portrait taken. You don't emphasize an unattractive feature like a big nose or weak chin. Same with dogs and cats.

Another thing to learn is which dogs you want to give you "ears" and which are not supposed to give you up-standing ears. With Dobes, the ears are supposed to be straight up. With Rotties, the ears are supposed to be attentive across the top of the head but not stick out to the sides. Bassett Hounds never give ears. Whippets do. Again, seeing the AKC Breed images will help you understand which is which.

For mutts, you need to try to see the underlying primary breed influence and take it from there.

Your images are very nice and you are willing to try new things so you should do well. There's a lot to learn beyond the photography piece and there's a ton to learn there. We're all working to try to get better.

Jim
Posted By: Jim Poor

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/20/08 10:11 AM

I found a portrait photography cheat-sheet that basically shows the lighting effects of one light at three different heights relative to the subject and a points in a circle around the subject.

It is done with a human, but I think it could easily apply to any subject, and even be re-made with a cooperative dog.

http://www.diyphotography.net/portrait-lighting-cheat-sheet
Posted By: Julie

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/20/08 11:29 AM

I think it looks pretty nice. Gives the impression of looking out into a window. I might lower the exposure just a hair, but, other than that, it is a nice effect
Posted By: domnrem

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/21/08 10:20 PM

Very cool! Thanks, have it bookmarked. My Dom (big Chi) is cooperative in staying in one place - - not necessarily in the exact position I put him in yet, but does stay in one place, so I should be able to try this with him!

Appreciate the link
Posted By: domnrem

Re: Trying dramatic - 06/21/08 10:25 PM

Thanks Julie, I appreciate your input very much. I agree about the exposure- - I think that would get me even closer to the effect I was aiming for. Will be sure to bracket next time to see the difference and have more to choose from.
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