I am using Photoshop CC (Creative Cloud) downloaded from Adobe.com... It is a subscription of $9.99 a month that includes the latest PS as well as Lightroom... and you can have them loaded on 2 computers, ie., laptop and main... so, I have the software with me in the field as well.

Creative Cloud membership also come with many tutorials on both programs...

Go to Adobe.com and look for the link to the Photographer's Special... there is no long term contract and you can cancel anytime...

All I can say, is I love it and the price is right!

beaux

guess what i discovered...

use the "crop" tool on left sidebar and set W x L x Dpi... i use 16x24 at 300 and photoshop interpolates the image to new size.... then I use topaz plug-in for details... i get a perfect print...

and a giant file???

beaux

Just took it yesterday morning on a trip thru Ft.Lauderdale, FL...
It is a 2 shot Panorama... hued to match a bedroom wall where it will be hanging...

The master is 6x22@300...

see more at www.beauxpatrick.com

beaux

Ft. Lauderdale Sunrise 12/30/13

Yeah.. they are great...

www.beauxpatrick.com

and their fulfillment is great... too!

beaux

Merry Christmas morning...I am not too upset with the "critique"... I just consider the source and let it go... some think that photography is an absolute science, but too many variables... I do appreciate the "good" advice.... and this forum....

Ho.... Ho... Ho....

beaux

Treepusher...

Beautiful cat... a treasure!

and makes such a great model... such expression...

do you have any experience with dogs? I need a few hints on shooting pets... I am developing a "Pet Friendly Photography" concept for future business development... I could use all the advice you may have...

However, I do not want to use strobes... only 5000K cool lights... so, I have a challenge to begin... but, the advice I seek has to do with handling animals in the studio... and getting them to "strike a pose" and "smile"... lol...

Any advice is appreciated...

Merry Christmas to you and yours...

beaux

[quote=The Watcher]Bottom line; the photos are not that good. The lighting is poor, shutter speed is to slow and the ISO is to high. It's time for a reshoot with a flash.

Watcher... not to offend, but did you read the full chain? I do not use "strobe" for a reason... so, it is not an option....

These are not snapshots of a cat... which are easier to entertain and to shoot... these are freshly groomed dogs, with a level of excitement because of what is happening to them... they are all a bit hyper... and in a lot of shots you have more than one dog to entertain.... not as easy as shooting a playful kitten on the sofa...

The original Q was how to improve the enlargement, not to find out how to do Pet Friendly Photography... and I have had plenty of responses that have helped... and some that were just off base... like yours...

I am new to digital but not to photography, having been a pro for over 30 years.... I have run my own studio and commercial business... and I have made great money as a pro... and I don't do weddings, lol.

So... please understand that 1... the photos, to the client, are beautiful!.. 2... the lighting is calculated and is sufficient, the studio is set up just for the Pet Photography... 3... the shutter speed has be increased by baring a bulb in one of the softboxes and adjusting the AV to f8, which as it turns out, gives me just the right DOF... I have moved the focal point away from the backdrop a few feet, so the backdrop in not in focus...

What I am saying is, thanks to this forum and the good advice of some members, I think I have solved the problem... which in the end has nothing to do with lighting or shutter speed... it had to do with me using hi Jpg instead of RAW and saving as Jpg instead of Tiff or PSD...

Because the problem was not "bad" photography... it was bad enlargements to 16x24.... but, even those, when viewed from a proper distance look good.

In the future, I suggest you are careful with your wording of a critique so it doesn't come across as an insult....

Merry Christmas to you and yours...

beaux

Sage advice...

One more thing... photography is both a skill (technique) and a creative experience... it is the balance of both that make the "perfect photo", so to speak... but, let me tell you that in shooting animals for their "parents" there is a 3rd factor in producing the "perfect image"... and that is the devotion they have for each other... everyone's pet is the most beautiful to them... and although I am critical of my technique and creativity... I can not overlook the fact that this devotion can make even a "not so perfect" photo very well liked...

Back when I had my studio, I had done an infant shoot and could not get a decent shot... the poser was too big and all shots seemed to be up the baby's nose...

When I received the proofs, I actually was afraid to show them... this was the "ugliest" baby I had ever seen and the pictures were garbage... or so I thought...

When mom saw the proofs, she exclaimed at how great they were... and I even got referral business from the shoot... lesson learned!

More so with animals, I find...

If you are interested in learning more about my research into "Pet Friendly Photography" or have any experiences or ideas.. please contact me...

beaux

Thanks... actually I was able to get 2 stops more light by reducing the DOF and moving the focal point away from the backdrop another foot or so...

I also increased my lighting by removing a softbox cover and exposing the bare bulb... these are high-wattage 5000K cool lights and are great for animals who startle with the strobe... they are more "Pet Friendly", so to speak...

Some suggested a black backdrop... In the test shots we first used a black backdrop... but, with dogs, you have every color of fur... and most are multi colored... and let's not forget the black dogs... no, black did not work for what we were looking for... It had to be neutral... and the lighting has to be at a 45 degree and to the front a few feet... with the dogs eyes, you must have a catchlight... and it needs to be sharp... especially the darker ones...

This experiment was pretty well thought out and implemented.. we have learned a lot about shooting animals in a "Pet Friendly" way... and had a lot of fun doing it... these are the most loved animals and they return it... just a perk, I guess...

Your help has been instrumental in helping me improve the exercise...

Thanx again...

beaux

So many suggestions... thanx a bunch....

To answer a few:
First I used a tripod at about 18" above the floor... down to their level, so to speak... used a wireless release, so there is no camera shake... only, busy animals... I shot these at f16 to insure DOF at it is critical at this close range... used a 55-250 Canon EFs lens usually at about 170mm... the ISO is 3200, thus the noise and the shutter is 1/60, or there abouts... I used Av setting at f16 on Canon EOS T3i 600D... 18 Mpxl...

All images were shot as RAW and JPG, yet I quick edited in JPG and saved to print... I realize I should have used the RAW file and saved to TIFF or PSD... even considered PDF...

I am still confused as to the relationship between something large at 72dpi reduced to 16x24 at 288 or 300???

My biggest mistake was not using the RAW files for making my print files... I see that...

Thanks for the advice... ever wanna know the secrets to shooting "Pet Friendly" send me a line...

beaux

I just completed a shoot and they were Pet Portraits... shot under "cool" studio lighting (5000K) with out strobe. Av at 16 with shutter speed as low as 1/60 when zoomed... the slightest movement and I got a blur...

There is a reason for the "cool" lighting and no strobes... I am a Pet Friendly photographer and don't do anything to startle or upset the animals... 99% of my shots are good... a few did not turn out as well as I would have liked...

I had to have them printed at 16x24(20) and I saved each image at 16x24 at 288 dpi... when printed, I am disappointed in the quality of the enlargement... close up, they seem too soft... at a distance they look great... did I screw up by changing the dpi... even though I used a multiple of 72?

What should I have done...

beaux

Varhol_group


Adams_5274

These wreaths are donated by Walmart... the image was taken this last week in the Florida National Cemetery... 2nd largest to Arlington... they have over 180,000 interments and only 7,000 wreaths... so, there is only a small portion of the grounds that is decorated...

beaux

I have neither Nikon nor Mac... but, I do have a Canon EOS T3i 600D... and it comes with software and cable to do this. So, I am pretty sure the Nikon is capable.

I am doing a pet portrait shoot and I have set up so the client can watch "through the lens" in live view setting as I do the portraits... It is a great idea to involve the client in such a way... and they are intrigued...

As well, it portrays me in a more of a professional image... and they can understand what I am seeing... and if it is a difficult shoot they can see and understand...

Again... I am sure Nikon has a way to do this...

beaux

I have the T3i KIT and I not only got the 18-55 lens...but, the 55-250... a small bag (too small) and an 8 GB SD card.

I like the SD card better than the CF... because it is available from so many sources and not that expensive... I use a 32 GB card and I can shoot RAW/Jpg and I get around 800 shots per card...

I am an old film shooter and I really like the way digital has advanced... this is an 18 MP camera and the detail is amazing... both lenses are macro...

I paid right at $1000... for the Kit, then then extras to get filters, flash, etc...

All in all, just for the camera I have invested around $1500...