Digger
A friends dog out for his first walk in the park looks inquisitive.
A friends dog out for his first walk in the park looks inquisitive.
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Nov, 2016Views
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kathyosborne
April 13, 2017
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo of Digger at a Australian Rules football ground/park in Edgewater, Perth, Western Australia.Time
I think it was about 1030 hr on a bright sunny morning. It was during winter so the sun was low and was offering great light.Lighting
I didn't really have much choice in regard to lighting as I was in the open and it was one of those see the opportunity and take it. I just positioned myself so that I felt that his face was lit right and took the shot.Equipment
This shot was taken using a Canon 7D Mk11 and a 70-200mm f2.8 L zoom lens set at f2.8, to help knock the background out, on 70mm, 1/400sec, ISO 200. Handheld, no flashInspiration
I volunteer to take photos of a local junior football club on a Sunday morning. I was doing my usual routine sitting on a small stool close to the boundary line and resting my elbows on my knees to steady the camera whilst taking action shots of the girls and boys out on the field playing. I saw the dog and its owner on the far side of the ground opposite me. The pup, which was on a lead, was behaving very well and was also watching the action on the field (probably dying to get out there and play with the kids). My attention in the next few minutes was pretty much focused on the kids playing but I was also glancing at the pup and saw that both he and the owner were still walking around the field and getting closer. The siren for the half time break sounded and I rose to continue my routine of getting some candid portraits of the players in the team that I cover. As I was doing this I noticed that the pup and owner were only a few yards away and the pup made I contact with me, started to wag his tail and attempted to come toward me but was restrained on the lead. I fell head over heels for this young dog and approached the pair greeting the owner and then knelt to pat the dog and he was all over me. This was when I saw his beautiful intelligent eyes and knew I had to get his photo. I asked the owner for permission she agreed and got Digger to sit for me. After adjusting my position for good light I started to take some shots but realized I was missing something. He was paying attention to me but wasn't in the zone. I talked to him with the camera away from my face and he reacted but it wasn't what I'd seen earlier in him. I then gave him a low whistle, his eyes lit up, he concentrated, tilted his head a little and I was able to get this shot. Thanking them both for the opportunity I got their e:mail address and told them I would send them a copy of the image I then raced off to get the kids in their huddle listening to the feedback from their Coach. I did send them a copy, they loved it and it now sits proudly on a wall in their home.Editing
I just did the usual little dodging, burning, sharpening and added a vignette. The colour version was good but it was obvious to me that this was an image that should be in black and white. I used PS to do this and adjusted the colours a little to obtain this result. Oh ! the owner didn't trust Digger off the lead so I had to remove that in post.In my camera bag
My Thinktank Streetwalker bag (which I highly recommend) contains a Canon 7D Mk11 attached to which pretty much full time is a Canon L Series f2.8, 70 - 200mm lens a combination that is great for sports and action although now the kids have gotten older and now playing on the full size ground I would looove something like a 600mm or a 100 - 400mm but being an ex soldier on a disability pension I think they, particularly the former, are a little out of my reach lol. I also have a Canon 24 - 70mm F1.4 L Series and a Canon16 - 35 L Series lenses. A Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite, a Minolta Auto Meter111 (which I quite often forge is there). A remote, a multi tool, a small but powerful torch, a small first aid kit, pens, a notebook, several cleaning cloths, spare batteries and SD and CF cards, a rain cover for the bag and an emergency poncho for me, a compass, and a couple of flash light diffuses, a bottle opener/ cork screw of course and a Blackrapid Sports shoulder strap and I think that's about it.Feedback
My advice for something similar? well I guess it's always being aware of what is going on around you. Not is this necessary for personal safety reasons but because even though you may have gone to a location for a particular reason you just don't know what you may see, be prepared for any thing I suppose. Approach people and ask if they will co operate and I know we are all told to do this many times but engage with the subject whether they be human or animal or even landscapes. Happy shooting.
