I am a dog lover(and owner) and I take my dogs to the local dog park and bring a camera and 80-200 zoom. Use a pretty high shutter speed and just shoot as many as you can using the great advise you already got here so I won't repeat it. Here is some samples of my shots.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37991479@N08/albums/72157702768246754
sorry for the double post.
CPR
Loc: Nature Coast of Florida
Some good advice especially to get down to their level and don't get too close.
Also, be careful. Some dogs can be very touchy, especially male dogs if you stare at their face as you get down to their level.
These are so FUN.......nice work !
CPR wrote:
Some good advice especially to get down to their level and don't get too close.
Also, be careful. Some dogs can be very touchy, especially male dogs if you stare at their face as you get down to their level.
Yes indeed! That is why you should use a long lens so you can shoot from at least 20 feet away. Getting down into a strange dog's face with a normal or wide lens is asking for trouble.
Karlonious wrote:
New user & first post. Anyone have helpful advice, tips, suggestions, anything appreciated on how to get great photos of your dog? I’ve gotten some great shots of animals but I don’t have any technique and would really like to become great at animal photography and not just lucky some of the time. Yes, I am somewhat a beginner. Thank you for any helpful comments!
When I got my first camera I practiced on my Basset Hound, Jack, so much that he generally hides when I get a camera out now. Every now and then I’ve captured him in a tolerant mood. I agree it’s important to get down on their level. Makes a big difference. Also, try to make it fun for the dog. I think made a mistake with Jack by trying too hard. Then there’s my Lab, Ben, who has been a total ham since the day he was born.
ronichas wrote:
Very cute images!!
Ant it's nice to socialize with the other dog lovers there. I send them a link to my Flickr album so they can download their dogs image.
Bamboo wrote:
Get down to it's level. Sharp focus on the eyes. look for special expressions.
And watch your backgrounds. If shooting with a long lens moving yourself left or right just a few inches can make a world of difference. If you can't get a pleasing background, open up the lens and try to blur it without losing focus on the pet.
Of course, like some of the images posted here, if you are shooting staged portraits create your own background.
Good luck!
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1Feathercrest wrote:
A beginner photographer doesn't need a telephoto lens. The basic 50mm that came with the camera will do just fine. Get down very low , focus on the eyes, not too close as this will cause distortion, the pic may be cropped later.
It's been a long time since cameras came with a 50mm lens.
Karlonious wrote:
New user & first post. Anyone have helpful advice, tips, suggestions, anything appreciated on how to get great photos of your dog? I’ve gotten some great shots of animals but I don’t have any technique and would really like to become great at animal photography and not just lucky some of the time. Yes, I am somewhat a beginner. Thank you for any helpful comments!
I like to wear my dog down a bet before trying to photograph him. Then when he's relaxed, getting a good shot is easy. As for any shot, light can be a important factor so don't shoot in mid-day. For family and pets shoot two hours before sunset. You can tell when the shadows become long, this is the time to shoot. The close-up of my puggle here is at just that time. The other with me in the picture is more of a mid-day picture. See how light makes the shot. Take pictures at all angles until you find what makes it work for you.
Pic 1: Me and dogo but during mid day and the color is beached out, what strong light does.
Pic 2: Oliver in the shade but being mid day the background is bright and he is dark around the face.
Pic 3: Sun setting, getting closer for the shot after that long walk. Much better
Pic 4: Same as 3 but with Oliver looking at the sunset. Notice the color brings out a relaxing feel. See into his eyes. This is what you want
So you can see that light is everything to create a feel or look. The last shot here pretty much says it all. Do look closer at these shots and in the last shot you can see the sun on the horizon ... in his eye (but only if you download and zoom in). Remember to just have fun and use your camera often and that great shot will happen.
Last shot: Nikon D7500, 35mm f1.8, ISO 100, f3.5@1/50 second, hand held. (No VR) Note that the 35mm lens used on this camera is equal to a 50mm film lens.
1Feathercrest wrote:
A beginner photographer doesn't need a telephoto lens. The basic 50mm that came with the camera will do just fine. Get down very low , focus on the eyes, not too close as this will cause distortion, the pic may be cropped later.
Feathercrest, I think you're dating yourself. I don't think (and I could be way off here) that cameras have "come" with 50 mm lenses for decades.
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