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Jasper
Dec 20, 2021 10:24:30   #
Dug E Pi
 
My first pet session. I planned on shooting "Jasper" at f1.4, f2.2, and f5.6 as I wasn't sure with the long nose how the DOF would look. I started at f1.4 and this pet never took a modeling (or Obedience) class and didn't allow for further shooting. My question is does the soft focus nose help draw to the eyes and make this pic work, or should I take some whiskey and advil and try again?


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Dec 20, 2021 10:32:19   #
BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten
 
Very nice!

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Dec 20, 2021 11:22:17   #
lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA
 
Dug E Pi wrote:
My first pet session. I planned on shooting "Jasper" at f1.4, f2.2, and f5.6 as I wasn't sure with the long nose how the DOF would look. I started at f1.4 and this pet never took a modeling (or Obedience) class and didn't allow for further shooting. My question is does the soft focus nose help draw to the eyes and make this pic work, or should I take some whiskey and advil and try again?


I am guessing you are shooting with a full fame camera. I'd go f/5.6. I am not a big fan of soft subjects, only soft backgrounds and foregrounds. I have a few 1:1.4 lenses and almost never shoot wide open. I tried to avoid wide open in my film days. With the ISO range of digital who needs it. Even for focus stacks I stop down a little. The dog is cute in any case.

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Dec 20, 2021 11:25:53   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
It is an attractive enough photo, if a bit unsharp. If it is for you, and you like it, good enough. If it is for a customer or someone else, try again. You can use toys or treats and have the owner / customer help get dog attention and better poses. Sometimes it is just a question of giving them time to settle down. I have and have photographed many dogs over many years, but never for pay.

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Dec 20, 2021 11:29:53   #
dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho
 
I would shoot again using more of a stopped down f stop. For me the out of focus nose does detract from the photograph. Maybe not a lot but why have any detraction from what would be a fantastic photo of a loving family member?

Dennis

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Dec 20, 2021 11:55:46   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
If something other than the face was soft it would probably look OK, but IMO the whole face needs to be sharp. Making the eyes more eye-catching (and the nose less so) can be achieved by other means in PP.

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Dec 21, 2021 12:02:58   #
Hip Coyote
 
Try again. Yep, whole face needs to be sharp. So stop lens down to get that. I also recommend getting away from a pinkish background with a red dog. Maybe a darker background (or no background with dog in center of room or on table.) Expose for black ambient to make background dark, then turn on flash and expose for the dog...that will give you a black background. That beautiful dog demands to be the real focus of the shot...and a dark background, would, IMO, enhance the shot.

I am a newbie to lighting, so take this with a grain of salt...but I suggest looking at flashgear.net (who call themselves the grey card mafia) on setting a darker ambient, exposing a grey card with the flash to perfectly center of histogram and then shooting the scene with that setting. I tried it on a most handsome and cooperative model (me) and it worked perfectly. Of course, I can sit still for a few seconds and bribe myself with a beer to remain still. A dog? Not so much.

Thank you so much for being part of the critique section...this is where I think most of us need to be to really learn this craft.

Happy holidays.

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Dec 21, 2021 14:57:32   #
CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska
 
The out of focus nose doesn't work for me. I'm not thrilled with the background color. I would probably tone it down a bit in PP. Great looking dog!

...Cam

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