Help with post processing this photo of my dog

[Lilbear]

Hiya, im a newbie to photography and its a bit of my hobby...anyway i really like the pose of my dog in this picture but overall i find he doesnt stand out really good and tips or suggestions how to edit this picture are welcome
I adjusted the exposure and colors a bit, but still something feels not right about the picture imo
I also tried to blur out the background but i just couldnt get it look right

 

[redddraggon]

I'm the first to admit I have relatively poor PS skills, but here's my attempt:

I wish I could get any of my dogs to pose like that.

 

[leftcurl]

i had a go... but my screen at work is pants so i don't know if it's too dark or not.


055-4.jpg by leftcurl, on Flickr

blurred the background a little and also a gradient on the background so it looks more like the dog is lit better. High pass sharpen on the eyes and slight sharpen on the rest of the body and face. All down to personal choice really what you want from it

 

[blackwolf]

I am no expert but i wouldn't change anything in that pic looks sharp and colours look true to a german shepherd also if that is your dog you are very lucky what an ambassador for the breed
edited to say love the second edit

 

[stupar]

I had a quick 5 min play (bit more time would be better)
Seperated the dog from the background and created a cross processed layer to cool the colours and make the dog pop slightly.
cooled the colours and contrast in the dog slightly so it didn't have such a stuck on look.

Also tided up various things in the image which I found took the eye away from the dog, in this case -
removed the blue rope, cloned out some weeds and fixed the slanted broken panel on the fence (screen right), cropped of left hand side which takes away some more clutter.

 

[Lilbear]

oh wow, those edits look great!! Thanks alot
just what i was aiming for but didnt know how to do it. Love the second and third edit, make the dog stand out really well and the centre of attention rather than him melting with the busy background

 

[Lilbear]

I am no expert but i wouldn't change anything in that pic looks sharp and colours look true to a german shepherd also if that is your dog you are very lucky what an ambassador for the breed
edited to say love the second edit

thank u he is a great dog

 

[Mani Gill]

I wish I knew how to do what you guys have just done to the image. I too have a German Shepherd, great looking dog. I have Lightroom and CS5, will have to learn the complicated layer masks I guess.

 

[stormcrow]

I agree with Blackwolf in that I don't think you need to change much. I have removed a few twigs etc. sharpened the dog a little and blurred the background only a touch.

 

[jobe]

I think the pic is ok without trying to simulate bokeh, I dont think I have ever seen a blurring process that matches in camera bokeh.
I have just punched the colours, a little dodge and burn and removed the shadow and the string.

Wayne