Any Photo Bugs Out There?

[ColColt]

Some years ago I use to make a living in photography while laid off from a 16 year job with a local Nuclear Plant. I started making business cards, set up a studio downstairs, bought some high dollar equipment and started doing portraits, weddings and family reunions. I had been into photography about 15 years at that point, just not professionally. Having said all that, I can't help but see how such an improvement it would be if when we take shots of our buddies just the addition of a simple reflector could make so much difference in the photo. I know most shots are done on the cuff and not much time is available for a reflector as you may loose the shot. But, if sometime you just want to take some "set up" shots indoors or out, for that matter, a white reflector held at the right position could open up shadow areas and bring more detail into an otherwise dark area of the face.

Just a for instance, in the picture I was looking at of a member named Marshy and her dog Dexter, you can see how a reflector would have opened up that shadowed area of his face and filled it in to get more detail into the eyes, which is the most important part. the pictures were good but, a reflector would have helped. Check the link out where I saw him and you'll see what I mean. I saw another picture where someone's Corgi was sitting pretty in the living room and there was strong light behind him-strong, but soft. If a reflector had been put just several feet in front of him to bounce that light back into where it was a bit darker, more detail would have been evident in the eyes. Not being critical, just thought I'd provide a few pointers in case no one has thought of this. I know you can't get dogs to pose all that well but, if you know in advance what you want to do and where to place him/her, you can put the reflector on a stand or have someone hold it at his level to bounce that light into the shadow areas.

http://www.gocorgi.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=842&c=3

Here's another great example of checkers where the light is strong to the left and how great a reflector would have come in if it had been placed/held to the right to bounce that light back in his shadow side to open some detail.

http://www.gocorgi.com/gallery/showi...c=3&userid=526

[Chip's Mom]

I love to take pics and I am hoping to take a photography class this summer. i didn't want to take it now with a new pup and all. Too busy. I just got a new Sony digital camera for Christmas and I just love it.

[Delilah]

I know Checkers Mom really well and I know that she took this shot from this angle to get that shadow. She likes contrast and looks for the unusual combinations of light and dark. Ask her to send you her link for her "outdoor" shots. She has some beautiful ones.

[Dillydoodle]

She does take some of the nicest photos - I love the contrast between light and dark- the photo she posted of Gator with the dark background is one of my favorites, i would love to get a shot like that - but alas, i suck at taking pictures... I thought it was my old digital camera, and went out and got a new Sony Cybershot DSC H-5 and while the photos are better, i can clearly see that it is not the camera's fault that the pictures are not the greatest... LOL!
Emilie

[tandemgal]

removed by T-Gal

[Checkers]

I love getting photo critique from people who have more experience in the field. In the picture mentioned though I was actually seeking the contrast between the light and dark and took several from different angles to get the right one. Don't worry though, I take no offense if you would like something better or would have done it different. I would enjoy photographic feedback on other pictures in my gallery (or I can send others) to see what you think as well. One day, when I can afford it, I would love to get into photography... and, in fact, I would LOVE to become a professional pet photographer, both indoors and out. That would be a dream job for me. Right now though... I have no experience, outside of my own experiments. Love the idea of having a thread where we could each offer opinions on individual photographs... based on the photo itself, and not the subject matter, which we all know we love anyhow. Good idea.

-Cheryl

[ColColt]

I got into photography back around 1977 on a serious basis. I took pictures of everything from transformers and trashcans to squirrels playing in the yard. I used slides so I could see the exposure errors I was making as they can correct for that while printing color negatives so, you never know what you did wrong. My first darkroom was my bathroom and put the trays in the tub!! Couldn't do that today as it would kill my back.

I haven't gotten into digital photography yet but, I have a Kokak Z612 coming in Friday and I already have a 1 G SD card waiting for it! It's a new world to me even though I've been shooting a long time. I learn quickly and learned a long time ago (at least with film) that what our eye sees and what the film sees are two different things. Most film cannot record over about a three stop variance in light...some maybe three and a half . If you get over that, you want have detail in the shadows as it just can't handle that difference like our eye can. If we can think in terms of that, we can adjust accordingly. That's where fill flash and reflectores come in handy. Of course, if you're going for high contrast, and I have myself many times, then it won't matter. One of the best shots I ever made was of my brother and nephew using only one 12 inch reflector flood with only a 75 watt bulb coming from their right side-no reflector. It made a great high contrast shot that actually one me a best of show where I worked.

Colt, I have no reflector so where is the best position to have my subject when in strong light - left/right of the light or sun... light behind the Girls or behind me? Or just try and stay with indirect lighting?

That depends on what result you're looking for. Reflectors can be nothing more than a large white card or as elaborate as a "store bought" one at your photo dealer. I don't like the silver type as it throws too much light back and is harsh. The one I had was white on one side and silver on the other and could be folder into a circle of about 18 inches in diameter. You could take it anywhere. I always favor side light at about a 45 degree angle to the front and open up the shadow side with the reflector. It doesn't matter if the light is from the left or right. If you try to get them where they're looking into the sun (as from behind you) that may make them squint. Light coming from the back of them means now you are facing the sun and may get an erroneous reading on your meter (I'm still thinking 35 mm-film type cameras) because it's seeing mostly that bright sun. film type cameras try to make everything 18% grey...neutral That's why you've probably seen a cat/dog in the snow woefully underexposed and sitting in grey snow. It tried to make the snow 18% grey since it was probably picking up more snow than dog. I can't vouch for how the digital cameras work in that respect as I don't have one yet...but, it's coming!

Sometimes we just have to shot or loose that shot and with animals, that's probably most of the time. But, if you have an opportunity to catch them in a good mood and they don't mind being positioned a bit, I like the light, be it window light or the sun, coming from about a 45% angle either right or left of them. A backlit situation may give underexposure in some cases if the camera's metering system sees more of the background than the subject. In actuality, you can shoot regardless of where the light is if you can move or get your subject to move if you don't like the light. Or, you can have someone hold a white card to the shadow side to fill in what you feel may be shadow or dark area of the face. The one thing I have going in this area is I can read light and know how film responds to it. I've been doing it long enough, I should!

You all know ANY picture of a Corgi is going to be a good one-there's just some ways to even make them better at times.

Loved you photo, Cheryl, and it struck me as very strong and had great depth and feeling. That's what drew it too me first hand. Try the soft, white reflector sometimes and you'll see wheat I mean as to how to fill in those shadows. If you like high contrast shot, nothing wrong with that. I do myself on some subjects. In fact, I've shot some things I wish had been more contrasty but, I developed the print in #5 grade Agfa paper and got what I wanted since it's their (or was) highest contrast B&W paper. I don't know if anyone even does much B&W anymore but I loved it.

[ColColt]

This is what a professional photo reflector looks like...some are round some are more oblong. Mine was a 42 inch oblong type and very handy. BTW, Cheryl, you couldn't have gotten a better shot with the lighting you made that photo with. the light is split right down the face and muzzle-not too much on one side or the other. That's what you look for in a high contrast shot. As we say down here, "you done good!" I'd like to see more.

http://www.photoflex.com/Photoflex_P...ver/index.html

T-Gal, I think I'm like you. Having no experience with the digital jobbies yet, I can't say how I'll do. I'm more attune to old Nikons and 35mm film that anything digital but, I plan on doing a lot of experimenting. I can only assume they will respond like 35mm only no film.

We don't have to spend a fortune for a reflector. A white poster board type is fine...anything to reflect the light with.

I love this shot with Checkers by the window with soft window light coming through. Where would be a good place to reflect some light here? Someone standing behind her just out of view with the white card facing the window throwing that light back in the shadowed area of her face/body. that would be a good shot as well. I tried to snag the photo and just post it here but, I seem to have trouble getting the "ManagementAttachments" window to open so I can. Don't know what the trouble is there.

http://www.gocorgi.com/gallery/showi...&imageuser=526

[Fluffypants]

I would love to be a professional photographer, and have many times wished I had a reflector. I am another one who hasn't entered the digital world yet - am still clinging to the film! Not sure why I won't give it up, just a personal preference I guess. But I have been considering looking for a digital camera for the past few months . . . and that's as far as I have gotten!

[tandemgal]

removed by T-Gal

[Fluffypants]

Thanks T-Gal!

[Checkers]

I kinda conned my mother-in-law into getting us a digital camera. See... many years ago my husband (before we had met) got his mom a double broiler so she could always make banana cream pudding for him when he visited. Kinda a self beneficial present. So I reminder her of that and then pointed out a great way for her to get pictures of her soon-to-arrive grandson would be to get us a digital camera for Christmas. She was so excited she had it ordered and on the way to us the very next day! She did a great job. Almost all of my pictures (including the one in question) were taken with this digital. It is Canon PowerShot A610.... I have nowhere near figured out all of the features... but I have been very happy with the photo's and I have found the basic operations on it to be easy enough to figure out. I also like the fact that it is small, without being TOO small. The feel of it really reminds me of a lot of the 35mm cameras so I like that a lot. That is a personal preference though so it really depends on what you like best. Good luck on finding your new digital when you decide to Jessica!

-Cheryl

[Checkers]

Okay, here goes... here are some of my favorite photos that I have taken. This first one is of Dixie. She was my brother's dog, a half GSD/half chow mix that I brought home from work with me (when I worked for a vet kennel in FL). Tragically, she developed epilepsy around 6 years of age and it accelerated very quickly....
The photo appears somewhat fuzzy here because it was done with my 35mm prior to digital.. and it didn't scan in really well but I still like it. What I like most is that is shows of the beautiful natural color of her eyes.

Here is one my favorites of Checkers on guard duty watching out for his front yard.

One of my favorite action shots of Checkers playing with a dalmatian buddy, Ginger. Trying to get full speed Dalmatians and corgis in one shot is HARD LOL!


More in the next post....

[Checkers]

Favorite baby photos (so far LOL)...
Halloween


Fall Colors..


Okay... thats about all I have without getting access to the computer that is in the shop right now LOL.. but that is a sampling of the pictures I have take and like best for "photography" reasons. Critique away! This is fun!

[corgimom]

I love Justin in his Halloween costume - really cute picture