I guess dogs like some attention too, especially when they're performing favorite 'tricks'. This one loves to make the leaping catch or find abandoned discs, paw them until they flip upside-down, clamp on, then romp around like it was a trophy. Soon, it's dropped and we start all over again.
I had a hard time making sure the beautiful texture of the black coat came out well, against the sun-bleached sand. This is a great-looking animal!
K-5, FA 100mm f/3.5 macro, f/4.5, 1/800s, ISO 80, 0.3EV.
Ron

[slowpez]

Your exposure looks great. I love the second one with the dog in the background looking like he may just want a piece of the frisbee.

[Kerrowdown]

It's all about have fun, both owners and dogs.

[Supakatti]

I like the first one a lot. The shadow of the dog gives the photo the good balance and the tension.

[scratchpaddy]

I love that second one. The contrast between the one with the frisbee and the sad-looking whippet in the background is just perfect.

[Kerrowdown]

the sad-looking whippet

But Whippets always look like that, even when they're ecstatically happy.

They're a bit like Black Labs in that respect.

[j2photos]

Nice shots, The whippet does look sad, he wants to join in too.

[AussieTrev]

Hard exposure to capture, but you did it, the high key effect of the background brings out the black dog beautifully.

[ausmoose]

Wow, great action shots and the B&W really works here. Well done

[rbefly]

My thanks for all the feedback to Susan, Kerrowdown, Supakatti, scratchpaddy, j2photos, AussieTrev and ausmoose, I appreciate it!
Dog parks or runs are very common here, this one is only a few blocks away from home. Great for practicing my seldom-used 'action' mode, but I rarely come away with anything that really POPS, for some reason.
It was the joy the Lab showed while playing and the beautiful sheen of the fur that inspired me to crop as I did, most frames have several other owners/pets in the b/g. These crops are less than 1/2 full frame.
Even in bright sunlight, I could have pumped the ISO to 400 and gotten better DOF and shutter speed (one stop each), but forgot at the time.
Lessons. Always lessons.
Ron

[sherrvonne]

Whippet is thinking..... "wish I could do that".

[eaglem]

Well taken Ron, the dog looks so happy.

[tessfully]

Wonderful!!!!! Really nicely rendered. Super attractive dog.

[rbefly]

Thanks to sherrvonne, Em and Tess! Yes, I'm pretty happy with the way these came out, particularly the shine of the black fur and the whippet's position and expression. Next time I'll go for a bit more shutter speed and DOF, not too much.
I was also impressed with the FA 100 Macro's ability to follow-focus, it usually hunts at macro distances but as a telephoto it was fine. Perhaps the extreme contrast between the light sand and dark-colored dog helped.
The second shot still makes me smile, I'm lucky the positioning and body language was just right.
Ron

[sherrvonne]

I try to take pics of my dog running but unfortunately she is running at me and then leaping to rebound off of me so it is a little difficult since a dog missile is coming at me!