| Author | Thread |
|
|
03/03/2008 02:51:25 PM · #1 |
I would love to have a better critique of this shot. Especially from the 2- 3 votes and the 9- 4 votes that this got. I do see a problem that I thought about trying to correct myself but it does not make sense. I look at this on my monitor at work and can not see all the details that I can on my home PC. If I try to make it look better on my work monitor, it will look overdone on calibrated monitors. Any input would be helpful. Thanks.
Post your critiques here or on the photo, doesn't matter to me. I do not mind if you give it a thrashing as long as it makes sense.
Message edited by author 2008-03-03 14:53:30. |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 02:53:56 PM · #2 |
| I gave this one a 10 during the challenge so can't really comment as I love it the way it is. |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 03:06:01 PM · #3 |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 03:10:47 PM · #4 |
Thanks to Melethia, trevytrev, Citadel for your comments. Very helpful indeed.
And I do need to fork out the money for some decent backdrops. I have had this rag for awhile and have spent my money on the new camera, but if I am going to try and do portraits, I need to buy the props to aid in that venture.
And let me not forget Ivory. You just made me feel better. Glad you liked it.
Message edited by author 2008-03-03 15:13:56. |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 05:24:09 PM · #5 |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 07:48:03 PM · #6 |
I rated your image 5. The reason was that it looked like so many others that did the same thing you did...too much of the body was cropped off (although not as bad as many others, mostly the cat people) and you shot to close. Lighting was pretty good and focus on the near side is excellent, but you are starting to get soft on the other side at the eye and both sides should be in sharp focus. It also needed a bit more light on top and on the far side to keep the shadows from shallowing the far eye. It's not a bad shot, but it was very average in my opinion as compared to the group as a whole. Had it been by iteself, it probably would not have looked as average. Of course this is just all my opinion.
Mike
|
|
|
|
03/03/2008 07:57:34 PM · #7 |
| Nothing wrong with it really. Details are good in the shadows, levels are good, composition is fine. Only thing that felt just a little odd when I initially looked at it, is the background - a bit too dark on the right/too light on the left. Had it been a bit closer to even, I think the overall appearance would have been better, making the far eye not so lost in the dark. |
|
|
|
03/03/2008 10:04:18 PM · #8 |
Thanks Mike and Brad. The background is out. I have had it for awhile and it isn't a good one. Searching ebay as I post this. Thanks for the inputs. A few more things to add to the notebook to look out for and improve. Again, thanks for taking the time to comment:)
I wasn't expecting a ribbon or high finish after seeing the great images in this challenge. Just trying to learn how to do it better next time. I have gained quite a few ideas from the entries that were posted.
Message edited by author 2008-03-03 22:06:24. |
|
|
|
03/04/2008 12:17:11 AM · #9 |
You are welcome, James. For a background, a nice solid black, brown or maybe a Sand/Dune color would go with your dog. A lot of people don't think that black would be good for a dog with black (or solid dark color), but I use a black or a dark hickory background all the time with the black dogs I shoot. If you get a light up high aiming down behind the ears (a ear light ;)) so it lights up from the ears back, you can get good seperation between the dog and background.
I'm kind of partial to the dark browns myself and also have a leather brown that I've not taken out of it's wrapper yet. Most of my backgrounds are painted (not the cheap ones but not the high priced ones either) and they have a tendency to give a little more depth and professionalisum to the shot. I also use a solid black muslin that I got from Chicago Canvas. The threads are dyed black before the muslin is made so the color goes all the way through and doesn't run in the washer. It's also a bit thicker than what you can get at a fabric store. I've used that one for years. It's called Commando Cloth at Chicago Canvas.
I also like using seamless paper. Black, gray, smoke, blue, red, and occasionally white. It's hard to beat the nice smooth clean finish of seamless paper as a background. And it can stand up to dogs pretty well. Wood paneling also makes good backgrounds. I used two panels that I put a 2x2 frame around to stiffen them up and then propped them up behind my platform. You couldn't tell that they were not a wall and when I was done, they came down and stored away. Except my wife obscounded off with them to put in her sewing room to give it a panel look on one wall. LOL! Fence boards also make a good background. I've used them un-weathered and weathered and stained.
So there are lots of things out there that can be used. It doesn't have to be that big either if you can get in close (but not necessarily as close as you did ;)). Although sometimes it's good to have a large 10x20' background that gives you room for a dog that likes to move around a bit... if you have the room for one.
Shooting dogs can be a lot of fun or very frustrating. I've been doing it for years and have experienced both extreams and a lot in the middle. Almost like shooting kids... well, except with kids you can't send them to their crate. :D
Mike
|
|
|
|
03/04/2008 09:13:31 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by MikeJ:
Shooting dogs can be a lot of fun or very frustrating. I've been doing it for years and have experienced both extreams and a lot in the middle. Almost like shooting kids... well, except with kids you can't send them to their crate. :D
|
Isnt that the truth! Been taking a lot of dog photos lately myself. When I have a space and my lights setup, I try and just relax, lay on the floor and let my wife do all the work tring to get the dogs into position :) |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/09/2025 07:07:14 PM EDT.
