First "People" Photo Shoot

[Second Hand Pat]

I went over to my cousin's house and played with her two daughters and their new lab pup Mako. I can only say getting the three together was impossible so decided to focus on one subject at a time. This was also my first time using my new body, the Nikon D500. The backgrounds and compositions are not good but the kids were having fun (mostly) and the pup was all over the place. I have Cherie's (the mom) permission to post the kids photos.

Lizzie was feeling alittle overwhelmed.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1602/26079187474_c9cd767dcc_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FJwDRm)DSC_0083 (https://flic.kr/p/FJwDRm) [/url]

Her sister Emily was a little spitfire and bit of a troublemaker, playing with the hose.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1600/26619084341_f04fcdc46f_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0137 (https://flic.kr/p/GyeLo2)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1580/26592129562_151b2330c1_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0141 (https://flic.kr/p/GvRBEs)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1468/26619000051_2e314650a2_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0149 (https://flic.kr/p/GyekjK)

The sisters together.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1456/26658119296_4db4ba140d_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0192 (https://flic.kr/p/GBFQ7u)

Most of the photos of Mako were out of focus. There must be some techniques to photographing black dogs. One wet dog.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1674/26618961451_2c817c312c_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0260 (https://flic.kr/p/Gye8Re)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1506/26411715940_020bb10932_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/)DSC_0258 (https://flic.kr/p/GeUWYL) [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/129594174@N08/]

[Discus-n00b]

Very nice Pat, all look very good and sharp. I have a problem with black dogs as well from time to time, I find shooting when overcast or partly cloudy is much easier on a black dog than full sun. Often I have to shoot wide open to properly light the dog instead of making them a shadow since they are already dark but then blow something else in the photo out. Your photos look good, doesn't look to be full sun there. You can see some of my black dog shots here http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?123456-Few-from-the-backyard-yesterday&highlight= overcast/partly cloudy day.

Photographing a puppy can be tough, I've tried. They never stop lol

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Matt, do you think having your pup against a light background helps? These photos were taken on the pool deck in the shade.
Pat

[rickztahone]

Lovely shots Pat. The pup pics look great to me.

[Discus-n00b]

I personally would prefer not to have a lighter background behind them because then I could shoot as wide open as I could without blowing it out but still lighting the dog enough to be seen if no sun is hitting their face. Overcast or clouds just help me out with a light background I feel like because it gives me a buffer so as to not blow it out....I don't have sunlight working against me. If you had trees, grass, foliage, etc behind them I think full sun would look great. Especially on the eyes, they have some of the most personable eyes of any dog so getting them really lit always looks good. Something that absorbs more light than reflects it like light concrete or dirt. I find that the only real light backgrounds that work behind them would be snow which will probably blow out anyway (everyone kind of understands that so it's not so much of an eyesore or critique point IMO), or a light water/beach type scene. Push comes to shove, labs are a very good B&W photogenic dog IMO, it suits them well.

I think the kids are spot on though. Of course I'm far from a people photographer lol.

[Second Hand Pat]

Lovely shots Pat. The pup pics look great to me.

Thanks Ricardo, I need to do more of this, did you catch that these pics were with the new body?


I personally would prefer not to have a lighter background behind them because then I could shoot as wide open as I could without blowing it out but still lighting the dog enough to be seen if no sun is hitting their face. Overcast or clouds just help me out with a light background I feel like because it gives me a buffer so as to not blow it out....I don't have sunlight working against me. If you had trees, grass, foliage, etc behind them I think full sun would look great. Especially on the eyes, they have some of the most personable eyes of any dog so getting them really lit always looks good. Something that absorbs more light than reflects it like light concrete or dirt. I find that the only real light backgrounds that work behind them would be snow which will probably blow out anyway (everyone kind of understands that so it's not so much of an eyesore or critique point IMO), or a light water/beach type scene. Push comes to shove, labs are a very good B&W photogenic dog IMO, it suits them well.

I think the kids are spot on though. Of course I'm far from a people photographer lol.

This was mostly for practice for me Matt. Need to go back for more LOL :D
Pat

[SMB2]

Looking good. Love the last kids shot. The dog shots are great.

[Second Hand Pat]

Looking good. Love the last kids shot. The dog shots are great.

Thanks Stan, I was breaking it in today. Enjoying the new camera. Has a super nice feel to it. :D
Pat

[rickztahone]

Thanks Ricardo, I need to do more of this, did you catch that these pics were with the new body?



This was mostly for practice for me Matt. Need to go back for more LOL :D
Pat

Oh I noticed ;)

[Discus-n00b]

I want a new body! :(

[SMB2]

I want a new body!

Hmmm

[Second Hand Pat]

I want a new body! :(

Matt, your body looked fine at the last NADA show. I see no issues with it. :p
Pat

[John_Nicholson]

Great pictures Pat. I remember back in high school I was the photo editor and needed to finish out a roll of film. We had some fairly new neighbors next door and I went over and took some candid black and white pictures while he played. They turned out nice and I gave them to the family. About 2 weeks later the wife and the child were killed in a car crash. The father moved. He just could not live in that house by himself but he dropped by about 2 years later to thank me for the pictures. In some ways it was a eye opening event for me. A random act of kindness that made a large impact on someone that was basically a stranger.

-john

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks John, sounds like those pictures meant a lot to that father. What a terrible thing to have happen. My heart goes out to him. :( You gave him some happy memories of his family.
Pat

[Discus-n00b]

Matt, your body looked fine at the last NADA show. I see no issues with it. :p
Pat


Hmmm

:alien:

I want a new CAMERA body. ;) Though I could use a few trips to the gym as well....

[Second Hand Pat]

:alien:

I want a new CAMERA body. ;) Though I could use a few trips to the gym as well....

:bandana:

[Second Hand Pat]

Had to try the B&W on the pup.

Cold Puppy

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1667/26427557030_6e9b9dfb4c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Ggj8Z1)DSC_0117 (https://flic.kr/p/Ggj8Z1)

[Chipps-h2o]

Great images! Did you do much post-production on them?