Portrait of a Dog - How to?......

Gilly B

Gilly B

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Gillian
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Okay you clever peeps, I am relying on you to help me out here. I don't have a dog or any other animal to practice with and I have been asked at short notice to take a portrait of a dog. The dog is terminally ill and has a disease in the spine. The owners have asked me to do a portrait next saturday. I have seen some dog photos on this site before, can't find any now.:thinking:

Wonder could anyone post up some piccies of their achievements for me to read, understand and then take a photograph of this dog. He is a Boxer. How do I position him? I would be really grateful for some pointers - that sounded like a pun..... no not the dog kind:lol: Thanks Gillian
 
Will the shot be inside or outside Gilly?
I'll post up some of my examples in a min for you :thumbs:

Edit: Beaten to it by Sharkey :lol:
 
Absolutely mate, I only meant the questions :lol: :thumbs:

I don't usually go for the formal portrait style shot if I'm honest - my clients have normally wanted to show the natural personality of their animals & every time I've set up something a bit more official looking, the animal has been nervous. The ones they have always chosen have always been either soft focused & gentle portraits or had a bit of a funny twist to them, a tongue hanging out or them winking at the camera - something to look back at & smile (I'm a big softie really :lol:).
I think you'll handle this easily Gilly, just follow your usual photog rules & relax & the dog will too (relax I mean, not follow photog rules *lol*).

I have put in some of my early pics, all of my client ones are archived but I'll make sure to dig some out for you before you have to go - these are all of my dog Suki - not excellent portraits but they show her personality well.

Suki001.jpg


Suki_towel.jpg


Suki002.jpg
 
Hey! Guys, thanks for sharing your photos. Sharkey - lovely wedding pics on your site - you look really happy.

I did not see the Boxer in question when I went to do the recce last night, but I understand that he is suffering something called Spongi***** haven't got a clue how to spell it. Something to do with the spine. The owners are on their last ditch attempt to ease his pain with acupuncture. He is obviously a treasured friend. Not sure how mobile he is. I will ring up and find out. Depending on the weather, it could be indoors or out. I am sure they will want an image of his personality but also suitable to frame for the wall.

Mike, I just love that little KCS set of pics. If I were the owner, I would be chuffed to bits. If you can dig out some archived ones, I would be very grateful.

GT Raven - Lovely dog you have there.

The one over riding feature of this site is that there is someone out there who has experienced what you have just been challenged to do and is willing to share their knowledge. I am sure I speak for most members here when I say that my learning curve has been greatly reduced by the tuition gleaned off TP. Lets all keep it up! ......4 foot nothing Gilly steps down off soap-box.
 
Hi ask the owner if the dog has a better part of the day for mobility my dog has arthritus and it can take her a couple of hours in the morning to get going and she tires easily Good luck with the shoot

Bob
 
Thanks Bob. I will, although I am there to do a family portrait (35 people) for 7pm, so am tied to the early evening. It was just an opportunity for the owner to ask if I could do the dog portrait seeing as I am there anyway.
 
moomike i just love the last one.
 
Hi Gilly B

I can't offer any expert advice as I am not one, but I can share a portrait that I took of a friend of a friends dog, unfortunately the guy lived in a caravan where he'd set up a red sheet in his tiny bedroom for me to use as a backdrop, I didn't have the heart not to use it.

tizzy4og.jpg
Wayne
 
As dogs are usually a part of the family why not incorporate the dog in with the owners, it will also put the dog at ease, then get the group to spread slightly allowing for some shots of the dog alone, I find natural outdoor lighting looks best with our dogs but that might just be as they are pitch black.
 
Aw, Wayne you did a good job with the little fella in spite of the red blanket. Thanks for sharing it.

Chrisiow - good idea:thumbs:

PhilT - Good link, some great ideas on that site - thanks.
 
I was shooting an equerstrian show today but managed a few candids, not sure if this is the sort of thing that's any use to you.

ML1W2321.jpg


ML1W2712.jpg


ML1W2785.jpg
 
Aw Dod #1 is so cute. Yeah, they are Brill thanks :thumbs:
 
I recently lost my dog, and was going through the photos I have of her the other night. Her favourite play things were plastic bottles, and the photo that always makes me smile is the one where she has a bottle in her mouth and is taking a wizz. It's just so her - she was a real character, lol!
 
IMG_0067-TP.jpg


IMG_0078-TP.jpg


These are my attempts from last night. Nowhere near as good as I have seen on here.

I need to de-clutter top right of #1
 
Any idea of the aperture used on these Gilly?

Apart from clutter.. my first thought is the muzzle is a bit too dark...have had a fiddle...........excuse the quick cloning attempt.....it was mainly to see the muzzle and chest actually.

boxer1.jpg


boxer2.jpg
 
Thanks Janice. Although subtle, well worth lightening up the muzzle. I was thinking of leaving the tree in the corner on #1 to give a sense of where he was. What do you think? It was #2 that needed work - thanks anyway. :thumbs:


...... I love the fluffy green ear - hehe! :lol: Only kidding. :smile:



#1 - 85mm on a FF camera at f4.5, shutter: 400 ISO 100
#2 - 85mm ditto at f5, shutter:500, ISO100
 
Gilly B said:
...... I love the fluffy green ear - hehe! :lol: Only kidding. :smile:
Click to expand...

Well I DID warn you!!! LOL perhaps he has a cauliflower ear!! LOL
 
Aw! how cute is he/she? Good tip thanks.
 
IMG_0067-TPa.jpg
 
No Rich, don't remove it. it is different though. :shrug: Ummmmmmm.....mmmmmmmm.....erummmmmmm, not sure if I would ever use it though. How did you create that look?
 
lol im i just messed about in paintshop pro very quickly done but used the lighten tool and clarify tool and ir tool and that was the result yeah now i have put it on here i dont think i like it either oh i also used the fill in flash tool to lighten his face up to begin with
 
It's a good looking dog Gilly but I think I would have got down to the same level (no, I don't mean going round sniffing arses :D) to try and get some good eye contact. The second shot is good, you might want to try the Shadow/Highlight tool on the face just to bring it out a bit more.
 
richsmith said:
lol im i just messed about in paintshop pro very quickly done but used the lighten tool and clarify tool and ir tool and that was the result yeah now i have put it on here i dont think i like it either oh i also used the fill in flash tool to lighten his face up to begin with
Click to expand...

What's the fill flash tool? never used or heard of that one? :shrug:

Colin - actually, most of the ones I did take, I was getting my knees damp on the grass with. He kept coming up to the lens to try and lick it. Those shots are not very good. The dog wouldn't stay still as he was uncomfortable. It was quite sad really. The owner did not want me to take any pictures showing his back as his ribs are all showing and his back end is all wobbly. He just kept fidgeting. I was quite pleased with the 3 or 4 they have ordered though - for my first attempt as well.

I will try and lighten up his face as well. Thanks.
 
.......and he is only 2 years old, Bless
 
gilly have replaced that other pic with one that i have just used the fill in flash tool to show you the effect you can adjust the strength to suit
 
richsmith said:
gilly have replaced that other pic with one that i have just used the fill in flash tool to show you the effect you can adjust the strength to suit
Click to expand...

That's really good -thanks. ....but how do you do that? Where is the fill flash tool? I have looked everwhere for it :shrug:
 
it is coral paint shop pro photo ? you goto adjust then in the list is fill flash


fill_cr.jpg
 
Aw, thanks Rich. Unfortunately, I do not have Corel Draw. I have Adobe Photoshop CS2. I wonder if there is a fill flash tool on CS2 then?

I can feel another thread coming on..........:lol:

Thanks anyway. Gillian
 
It's called the Shadow/Highlight Tool in CS2, does the same job. Just be careful with it though as it sometimes gives an unnatural look to images.
 
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