Pet Photography

**lucian** · 01-25-2005, 07:25 PM

Well folks, I said I was going to try my hand at pet photography. What an experience!

I figured I do a couple of test shots so I wasn't going to be too very concerned about anything. You know, just a few shots to get the ball rolling and then later do something a bit more formal, better even.

So, I got Cookie into my office and asked her if she would pose for some pictures. She seemed amiable about this and sat real pretty. I told her we were going to do this outside in the daylight and off she went. I should have gotten a hint from this.

I got an old blue blanket. I draped it over the back yard fence while explaining to Cookie what we were going to do. I went back into the house to get my camera and my wife to act as an assistant. When we got back outside all we saw was a blur of blue making great circles around the yard.

Off we go chasing this crazy beagle and blue blanket. Of course the neighbours are watching the crazy yankee again. Never a dull moment for the neighbours. We're really quite entertaining at times.

Finally after about 20 minutes we get the blanket. This time I clothes pin it to the fence, dried grass and leaves and all. For another frustrating 30 minutes I snap pictures of Cookie as Karen tries to get her to stay still. More entertainment for the neighbours.

I thought that it was going to be a total bust until after I got the images downloaded. Out of about 15 images I got two that were almost good enough to call portraits - centered in the background. But I got a half dozen which were good enough to PhotoShop - a little creativity and a cute subject can go a long way.

All images shot on the Olympus E-20 on Program and autofocus. Thank heavens for autofocus. The original was 8x10 at 300dpi. I think reducing the size and saving for the wed the images got soft.

**photoshopabuser** · 01-25-2005, 08:27 PM

Nice one and a great story! Great theater of the mind there.

Everytime you resize and image for web presentation it will get soft on you. It's the nature of the beast.

**fw-studio** · 01-25-2005, 08:35 PM

A great story and just be glad that they weren't 2 shots out of 15 on film! You've gotta love digital for that purpose if nothing else. The subject is definitely a cutie and the shot of her with the huge bone is classic! Thanks for sharing.

**ap2** · 01-25-2005, 09:09 PM

ROFLMAO!!!!!

That was hilarious. Your pics turned out nice, especially the one of the greedy beagle with the huge doggy bone. I have a beagle, and in his younger years he was a total energetic pain in the @$@#. Koodos to you for getting some nice shots of her, beagles are not known for their "obedience" skills. But they sure are cute and sweet.

-Angie

**Allen** · 01-25-2005, 09:27 PM

Hysterically funny story Lucien.
I like the way you have displayed the portraits. Very cute.
--A

**Neil** · 01-28-2005, 09:56 AM

Ive been inspired to try and take some portraits of my dog, Bonnie, a chocolate lab! But thats after I try and capture a crown in water!

**mickeybb** · 01-28-2005, 11:03 AM

The best story I've heard in awhile! I can just imagine the fun she was having dragging that blue blanket around the yard. Of course, I am easily entertained! The pics came out great and I love the collage. Good job!

**lucian** · 01-28-2005, 05:37 PM

Thanks.

Once my wife and I get over this bronchitis we'll try doing another set - inside. Hopefully Cookie will be a bit more subdued.

**JimL** · 01-28-2005, 08:01 PM

I would just make a digital background the same as the one you are using for the photos and then not worry if the dog was centered on your "real" background or not. Just put the off centered photo in a larger background shot and crop as needed.
The posted shot look great!
JimL

**Pammi** · 01-28-2005, 11:53 PM

Aw its lovely, great story too
Pam

**[Unlucky E34]** · 04-28-2005, 06:22 AM

Very nice collage style photo.

**happycamper** · 04-28-2005, 11:45 AM

Thank you Unlucky for bringing this one up, I had missed this somehow.

Hahaha, what a funny story!!!! I was picturing this all as I was reading, hilarious! Nice job on the collage too. And give your adorable Beagle a hug from me. What a cutie!!!

**keithbales** · 04-28-2005, 11:51 AM

Nice work on the collage, pet shots can get stressful at times.

Keith

**ScottL** · 05-24-2005, 08:02 PM

Funny story, and great pics. That is why I refuse to photography my mothers 5 dogs... They are all crazy!!! And 2 of them are over jealous. I go to kiss my mother hello, and the little bugger bites my ankles!!!

**Zorb** · 06-18-2005, 07:56 AM

Hi there im gona be honest woth you, your photos are awsome, but the graphic composition..could be diferent more dog style and had some other colours...And taking photos to dogs are crazy!!! eh eh eh

**jfender** · 07-20-2005, 06:46 PM

My two dogs are two of my favorite subjects....they behave better than my kids when I bring the camera out! The Golden just loves the attention and understand/will obey basic commands. The mini Dachshund will do *anything* for food.

Your story was great and the images you managed to capture despite the initial mis-steps, are very nice.

Joy

**lucian** · 07-20-2005, 07:35 PM

It was definitely a fun time. Once the weather cools I plan on trying some with Cookie and our one year old grandson. The five year old and Cookie don't have much of a rapport. But the 1 year old is a different story. Once it starts to get cool and the two of them can play outside I'm sure there will be some of those Kodak moments.

**weeprecious** · 07-31-2005, 07:06 PM

Great story, great pics, i could tell you a few myself having 2 dogs and 2 cats but we wont go there, on saying that...... i just let them loose out the back yard and snap away, had some great shots doing that, just crop what i dont want