How to photograph Black dogs?

Briony

Briony

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Nicki.
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Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong when photographing black dogs, I seem to get a shadow and never seem to be able to get the actual features of the dogs to show expecially in the snow. It is probably something extremely simple to you guys but not to me:shrug:

Below is a piccy I took and have brightened it slightly bit still not happy.

JAN2010037.jpg



Thanks, awaiting your comments and criticism.
 
I`m not gonna criticize, But you spelt it Back not black dogs lol

:thumbs: Happy new year :)
 
The opposite way you'd photograph snow...
Remember the camera's light-meter is trying to render that black coat as medium grey - photographing them in bright sunlight means that there is too great a Subject Luminance Range for the camera's chip to record all details properly...
Try moving to a shaded area or use a bit of off-camera fill-flash to balance the shadows a bit.


Oh and while you're at it - focus on the Dog in front. 2/3 of your available DOF is to the rear of the point of focus...
 
Arkady said:
Oh and while you're at it - focus on the Dog in front. 2/3 of your available DOF is to the rear of the point of focus...
Click to expand...

Oo - there's one for the little black book, I always thought it was centred. Would make sense of a few of my shots though!

Arthur
 
Best thing to do is use spot metering if you have it, meter off the dogs and then reduce the exposure by two stops. This will retain detail in the shadows.

It will probably blow the highlights if the scene has more than an average dynamic range but it is important that you expose for your subject and not the scene.
 
Xmas09015.jpg


So I will never get a good picture of balck dogs in snow in the sunlight then?

Point taken will try and find some shaded areas or change the dogs for a different colour :lol:
 
Ambermile said:
Oo - there's one for the little black book, I always thought it was centred. Would make sense of a few of my shots though!
Click to expand...

+1 to that. It's these little bits of info that love this forum for. (Is serendipity the right word to use here?)
 
Briony said:
Xmas09015.jpg


So I will never get a good picture of balck dogs in snow in the sunlight then?

Point taken will try and find some shaded areas or change the dogs for a different colour :lol:
Click to expand...

Shoot early in the morning or later on before sunset, this will reduce the contrast a bit. You definitely need light shining sideways, or else they will look flat black blobs. Also it will make sense to use much longer lens for that, and get the to interact, not just sit randomly. Finally, use RAW converter to pull / recover all details from shadows and highlights, it is doable!
 
You could try using contrast masking in post processing:
196zid.jpg
 
3990134220_143dcc40ca.jpg


My dog with off camera flash, just off to the right of camera, helps bring out features without turning to a mush of black
 
Black dogs are difficult whatever the background,especially garker backgrounds. Spot metering is good and knock some exposure off, trial and error sometimes.The water on this dogs sides has still blown,but was rescued in PP.

Finale1.jpg
 
Perhaps I will have to go for Golden Labs next time LOL do like the blacks though:shrug:
 
Briony said:
Perhaps I will have to go for Golden Labs next time LOL do like the blacks though:shrug:
Click to expand...

Yeah, a lot easier.......:thumbs:


JHalstead089.jpg
 
Another one I took this morning:-

JAN2010001.jpg



C & C very welcome as I really need to get better.
 
Briony said:
Another one I took this morning:-




C & C very welcome as I really need to get better.
Click to expand...

The harsh light from the side has introduced shadow and made the shot difficult, try getting in shade and down to the dogs eye level.............:thumbs:
 
Thank you,

She thinks I am playing when I get down to her eye level and we end up in a heap laughing but will try :thumbs:
 
Briony said:
Thank you,

She thinks I am playing when I get down to her eye level and we end up in a heap laughing but will try :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Try some action shots of her retrieving then, she will do it, it is in her genes...............:D
 
Not her I'm afraid she is my beating dog will go anywhere but not pick up !!!! believe me I have tried everything.
 
Briony said:
Not her I'm afraid she is my beating dog will go anywhere not not pick up !!!!
Click to expand...

Ah well, there you go, you know her better than I do........:lol:
 
Or get a spaniel...............:lol:


CountrySports005.jpg
 
Briony said:
I had a spaniel, never again LOL
Click to expand...

Try ione of these then, ignored my own advice about the collar on this one.........:bang:


CountrySports045.jpg
 
Nice, are these all yours?

I prefer cats like these though LOl

KENYA2267.jpg
 
No, they are dogs that belong to my mates.

Cats?.........*shudders*......:(
 
Fine looking dogs, Briony - very fine indeed.
 
Aw :thankyou: Thank you I have not had many nice comments about my photos that has made my year LOL
 
Quick edit,i`ll bin it if you don`t like it.


JAN2010027.jpg
 
really nice dogs...and they are black...so you want them to come out black..
i would use the palm of my hand as a guide for exposure in daylight
then shoot this reading +/- 1/2 stop either side
the contrast is due to direct and unfiltered sun
try photographing in a more muted lit area
eventually you will get it right ;)
 
I usually take a reading from the dog and step down two stops....

A lovely couple of Labs you have there, by the way.

Harley_with_Border.jpg


Harley_Lying_Down_B_W.jpg
 
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