Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I am new to Uglyhedgehog and hope I am posting this in the correct area.

I saw something months ago on youtube to get a background shot for my iPhone. It was raining outside and wanted something to do.

I went to Home Depot and got 5 pieces of PVC pipe and made a frame to hold a black blanket. Put a T in the middle of the top section and added one leg to the T so it would lean back. I didn't glue any pieces together so I could store it out of the way. I started out using my flash off camera. Almost worked but I had a strobe so used it instead and placed it on the chair with an umbrella, you will see in the attached picture. Did this during the day but close my blinds.

Camera and settings: Nikon D600 - Nikon 24-120mm f/4VR - lens out at 120mm for shot. ISO 640 - f/16 shot at 1/200 Sec - I think the strobe was set at half power. If I didn't have the strobe I think I could have done it with my off camera flash. Camera was set on manual.

My idea was to get the dog with a black background to use on my iPhone to see the icons clearly. The only post processing was in Photoshop to add black to canvas size to have full background in black and the dog in the correct position. This took a bit of trial and error. The final picture for the phone is Great, and on the phone is Great but the attached picture of the phone sucks, didn't use any effort to shoot that one it's just for demonstration.

I hope I put this in the correct area. Hope others post similar projects, always looking for a project. Always fun when you have a goal in mind. I will post other projects I have done in this same area if it is the correct area. Jim

Mr. Sid

(Download)

The Set Up

(Download)

Final on Phone

Robert R Loc: Indianapolis and Naples

Hi Jim , Welcome. I have been thinking about taking photo of my 3 month old Havanese puppy. I like your suggestions and will give it a try. Now all I need is a way to keep that very active puppy still. I will try one of her squeaky toys. Thanks for posting.

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

Jim-Pops, welcome to the Hog! You will like it here, lots of talented people.

Nice shot! The colors on the pooch are really good. Thanks for the post, nice job!! :thumbup: Thanks, Boone.

wisner Loc: The planet Twylo

Good DIY setup. A suggestion: get a piece of white foam core and place it on the opposite side from the light. This acts as anreflector to bounce some light back into the shadow side of your subject to open up the shadows.
Good luck!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A good concept and well-executed. I prefer dark shots for my desktop background for the same reasons. I haven't made a custom shot for it though (yet... ).

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

Is that a Papillon?
(We have a 15-year-old drop-eared Papillon.)

Cute dog, nice project.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

You are correct although in this shot I was looking for the high contrast effect. We had a hard time keeping the dog still long enough to shoot. We only had 3 shots before he would have no more.
Thanks for the comment.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Yes he is a 9 year old hyper Papillon

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Nice job.

bee7474 Loc: Selah, Wa

Great shot, all your hard work turned out. Thanks

merrytexan Loc: georgia

beautiful job jim! your little friend is gorgeous!! :D

Sensei

I don't shoot portraits of pets often. When I do. I have an assistant hold the dog in position till I am ready to shoot. the assistant lets go just as I use a squeeze toy duck whistle or other whistle to get the dog to look up. Sometimes I toss something back over my head. I also try to have the animal level with the camera. I will often shoot from the side or 3/4 to avoid the distinctive anatomy of a male dog. Some times I will include props in the photo or shoot using a green screen to drop a background in later. In general, if I am shooting someone else's animal, I want them out of site. I like the picture