That look!
Dec, 2017Views
996
Likes
Awards
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 38 Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 3Top 10 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rank
Categories
Platinum
p_eileenbaltz
February 15, 2018
I know that look! Beautiful work.....congratulations on being a contest finalist.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This shot was taken outside in late November in the Upper Hudson Valley, New YorkTime
4:30pm - in November and so the sun was getting low but not obscured by the trees yet.Lighting
It was later in the day in the winter, a cloudy day and so the lighting was quite flat. His face was turned toward the open sky. Behind him was a grassy hill and an open greyish sky between two trees which I knew would halo his head and draw your eye directly into his.Equipment
I used a Canon 5Diii and my most favourite lens in the whole world 135mm Prime. ISO 800, f/2 and 1/1250sec. No flash and no tripod.Inspiration
This lad has a personality that is really very big and a naughty way about him that I knew if I gave him a toy, I could capture that. We played for a while before I picked up my camera, but not too much. I needed to keep him keen. He is good about bringing back the toy but not before he threatens to play keep-away first. This is totally his "I'm not ready to give it up" and "You can't have it, nanny nanny boo" look. He knows I won't play that game with him so it's just a fleeting moment when he thinks about it. That split second moment is what I wanted to capture as it just makes me crack up every single time.Editing
I work in LR and PS. This image was edited totally in LR. Black and white dogs are incredibly difficult to expose for and so inevitably the highlights have to be brought down and the shadows up. I brought the blacks up a tad but made sure the darks in my Tone Curve were taken down a bit so the blacks stayed black. Clarity was bumped up a little to +8 along with the dehaze, vibrance and saturation to bring out the vibrant green of the toy. I sharpened the eyes a little and did a slight overall sharpening. That was it, this particular photo didn't need much editing at all.In my camera bag
I always travel with my 70-200m, 35mm, 16-35mm & 24-70mm. I love my 85mm for portraits but find it too slow for dogs running around. A lint duster for cleaning wet kisses off the end of my lens! Yummy treats, squeaky toys and other noise makers.Feedback
Patience. Keep setting them up to be in the position you want them. Always try to see their naughtiness as funny and not irritating (they know when you are irritated). Get the dogs comfortable with you and try to let them know that you are there to have fun with them first and foremost. I always try to teach dogs to do things for me because they want to and not because I make them. It is so incredibly easy to 'talk' dogs into doing what you want using a massive amount of bribery! Learn how to understand their language, go to a dog park and watch the interactions between them all. Watch closely for signs that the dog is uncomfortable (with a child hugging them for example) and take lots of breaks. Know your camera and it's settings like it's second nature so that when you are out in the field you can switch settings on the fly. Learn to shoot on the manual mode so you have the control. Have fun and good luck!
