Hey Visceral, I've never seen dogs (particularly portraits) shot on plexi, I have seen models and fashion, and glamour shot on plexi and when I saw your shots I thought because of the keen subject, they would lend well to high key plexi. I believe the multi dog shot is doable on plexi, and I know the portraits are doable, it's just a matter of getting the right dog(s), the right lighting, and the time and energy to making it happen.
I don’t claim to know how it all would work, so it's a challenge to anyone who would try it. I'm pointing out what, in my mind would be interesting. In fact one might put hours of effort into making the shots only to have them turn out like junk – in time all of us do it a time or two (waist time with shots that never turn out). I can not tell you how many hours I have into getting one subject shot just they way I want it. To me, when you see those very unique shots, there often is a long story behind them starting with a vision, and ending with a huge commitment of time, talent and money.
More specifically, you point out some very challenging issues related to shooting slobbering dogs, and pets on plexi, or white for that matter, you also are identifying the difficulties of taking images to a different level no matter what your subject. I agree with you that unique shots take special care, attention, and often a huge commitment to the final product. In some cases it takes years of preparation before a single image worth keeping is ever captured. As mentioned before, most of us have shot some subjects many times over the course of a decade or more and put hundreds our hours into the process and still we don't have exactly what we are after. I think that helps keep us pushing and striving to capture the perfect shot.
I've used common everyday run of the mill home depot plexi, here's a product that I've never used, but it looks interesting,
http://www.backdropoutlet.com/catalog/pr...CFQ-kiQodsUGV0gHow to handle all the details and the potential problems like paw prints, is your challenge should you ever choose to accept it. In fact, now that you mention it, paw prints might actually work well in a horizontal image. I'd thin that a fan would keep the hair at bay, edge lines might be okay, they might not, you may need to get a bigger sheet of material, there are ways to do thing. In fact, you may even have to find a dog that is willing to walk on the plaxi, and that could take time.
What happens in my mind when I see a shot just happens, I did not stop to consider all of the possible issues related to dirt, slobber, and paw prints on plexi, but on the other hand none of it would stop me if I felt inclined, I'd figure out a way to do it, or at the very least wear myself out trying.
I expressed my gut reaction, maybe your studio is not set up for anything like it, and maybe it's too much effort and too costly, all which could be true with many other subjects. So, I don’t have all the answers, I saw a shot in my mind when I saw your pictures, and decided to post, maybe there is no way to do it, maybe there are too may obsticals, but I doubt it.
As for brighter backgrounds, I'm not a fan of white material scrunched up on the floor. . .. that's it, personal preference.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Tony Bynum
