Family Portrait - input requested

Workingdog · 06-18-2008, 08:04 PM

I had a brief session with our dogs to do a nice portrait to frame and put up on the "family wall". This is the best out of 6 or 7. Does this work? Is the background OK? Would you crop top, bottom, or side? Lighting? The dogs are pretty easy to work with so I could re-shoot if something here is way out of whack. Thanks.
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*rmtagg* · 06-18-2008, 08:09 PM

I love the shot but the blue on the right side draws my eye away. they sure are pretty dogs! And you did a nice job shooting them too

SpecialK · 06-18-2008, 08:57 PM

The grass in the foreground cuts them off, I think.

Workingdog · 06-19-2008, 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by SpecialK

The grass in the foreground cuts them off, I think.

So, crop a bit off the bottom then? Maybe about half of what is there now?

*hinckc* · 06-19-2008, 06:34 AM

Hi Workingdog,

I really like it as a picture. The composition is cool with the grass in foreground, and OOF background. The exposure, too, is spot on -- it's hard to shoot black and (off)white dogs. They look like they're working together to hunt something!

As a portrait, though, I'd personally like to see the dogs looking at or towards the camera. With an off camera flash over one of your shoulders, you might even get a little catchlight in their dark eyes to draw the viewer in.

Cool shot!

-Chris

MRRiley · 06-19-2008, 07:13 PM

I like the DOF that the foreground grass provides but it would be nice if a paw or 2 were visible. This would lead the viewer's eye into the shot a little better. I like the dogs looking off to the side btw. As for the background, I agree that the blue patch of sky on the right side is overpowering. If you could redo this at the same location shift yourself slightly to the right and point the camera a little to the left to get more of the trees in the background.

oh, are you bringing them to the gathering up on Skyline Drive?

SpecialK · 06-19-2008, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Workingdog

So, crop a bit off the bottom then? Maybe about half of what is there now?

No, I meant the grass interferes with the dogs.

Workingdog · 06-19-2008, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the comments all.
I go back and forth about the blue sky on the right. Sometimes I think it's a little distracting and sometimes I feel it's somewhat balanced by the blue on the left and good that the blues are not symmetrical. I tried some shots with them looking at the camera but the lighting was such that half the face was sunlit and the other half in shadow. Since I don't have an external flash, having them look to the side eliminated the problem. I think they look better this way too. The grass is getting high but not much can be done there; sometimes you have to play the cards you're dealt. I did try cropping just a little off the bottom and I like it better.

It would be nice if they could come to Shenandoah. We could use them as models as they're very photogenic and work for treats. But, alas, they will be staying at the doggie hotel. I think this will be my 16x20 but I think I'll bring some street rod photos in case we get to do more than one.

LeroyPK · 06-21-2008, 03:50 AM

Looks like mid-day light. You may want to try an earlier in the day or later in the day light so that the shadow contrast isn't quite so.....contrasty.

I too would crop down but would concentrate on filling the frame with the dogs' faces. That said, I would basically zoom in to get rid of as much of both the sky and grass as possible. (That would mean the overpowering sky would be much less of an issue.)

I love the angle, shooting from lower than the dogs. Is it possible to get even lower? It would capture the majesty and power of these two noble beasts even more so than what you have.

By the way, I've often thought I've had some dogs in my family, but yours may be in the extreme!

MRRiley · 06-21-2008, 05:24 AM

I personally like the grass. As I said, it would be nice to mabye see a paw peeking out of it but that is not crucial. The reason I like the grass is that it provide a 'context" for the shot. Lose it and zoom in too close and you might as well be in the studio. As is it, harkens back to their ancestor's days as alpha predators on the lookout for their next lunch.

Workingdog · 06-22-2008, 02:34 PM

Leroy,
A faces-only shot was not the feel I was going for but the low shooting angle definitely was on purpose.

Mike,
Your comment about "on the lookout" and also Leroy's comments about "majesty, power, and noble" is the kind of look I wanted for a portrait of my dogs and I think that you're right about the grass contributing to that look and also shooting from below.

I'll bring a few crops with me to Shenandoah for some help deciding which to print.