Shadow's Mini Photoshoot

[dolphin1]

Yesterday afternoon I had a mini "photoshoot" with my dog Shadow. These were my favorite two from the "session". Is the composition OK? What could I have done to make the photos more interesting?

Camera Nikon Coolpix L110
Exposure 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 15.1 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire


Camera Nikon Coolpix L110
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/4.7
Focal Length 19 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

[dolphin1]

What!? No comments? Are my pictures really that terrible? Or are they just to good?LOL.

[DelCan]

I'm sure someone will be along to critique you!

I like #2. I like the way you got the puppy to pose like that!

[karen_s]

Originally Posted by dolphin1

Or are they just to good?LOL.

Actually, they are good! I saw these yesterday and wanted to critique them but I couldn't see much too pick on (especially #2). I'm in a worse mood today so I will give it another try.

I will start with #2, I love it. Frame it and hang it on your wall. If I had to pick at anything in this photo, it would be the rather hot background. It looks (orangey or something). But, the dogs face it so strong and clear that I hardly noticed.

#1 is just ok. Nothing really seems to be solidly in focus. It could just be a case of camera shake as your shutter speed of 1/5 might be a bit slow for handholding and for a living breathing subject. I try to get to at least 1/60th (that is often more if I am shooting with longer focal lengths.) And I like the hint of green, but not the part in front of him/her. It's light and so is the part of your dogs nose that crosses in front of it so some of that definition of his lower jaw kinda gets lots. Not a bad idea though, just keep working with it. If not for the focus issue, I think I'd like this one almost as much as #2.

I'm just going to add that taking photos of black dogs can be very difficult (proper exposure is a challenge) and you just did a really good job with it. There is a bit of a hotspot on the forehead on #2, but you managed to get a lot of detail and bright eyes so it doesn't much bother me. I like his perky ears too, shows great character.

[dolphin1]

Thanks for the critique Karen! The background in #2 was my backyard fence and on my point and shoot camera I can't adjust the shutter speed. I wish that I could though I am glad that you like them. The photos were all candid so I didn't make her pose at all.

[wags2gc]

I'm by no means "an expert" or even a moderate amateur, but if you have access to a photo editing program, I'd darken the highlights, just a tad, on #2. Other than that, I love the detail in his fur!