I sometimes see this style of wide angle, funky crops, not always level, close up, and low to the ground shooting done with dogs.
I like the style and love my dog, so thought I'd give it a try.
Anything you care to share to help me bring it to the level of the better ones that sometimes get posted here?
Thanks,
Tim

#1

Fun pictures. If you're trying to do the big head dog look, you'll also want to include more of his body.

I love #4. My doggie does this all the time!

Thanks, Ethan!
Good advice. Noted!
-Tim

Anyone else have some help here?

Looks like on number 4 you missed the focus on the eyes. His ears are perfectly in focus but i think for the shot to have more impact, the eyes are really the spot to focus on

Fun shots!

I like the expression in #5, but the focus seems to be on the grass behind and a little of the rear eye. What aperture did you use?

BTW I'm not an expert. Learning myself...

As I recall, the most extraordinary closeups come from Aaron Lam. Search for Aaron Lam and check his work. I may have the name wrong, or mistaken him for someone else, but I believe that is the right person.

These don't do anything for me.

Keep trying....IF you want something extraordinary. It is not just the use of a Wide Angle that makes the pic.

I hope that helps you.

altopog wrote:
Looks like on number 4 you missed the focus on the eyes. His ears are perfectly in focus but i think for the shot to have more impact, the eyes are really the spot to focus on
Thank you!
Yeah, that seems to be my biggest struggle in photographing a dog. I rarely seem to get the face sharp from nose to eyes. I'm shooting at f4, f4.5, and even f5.6. I'm thinking it's technique I lack.
Practicing!
-Tim

DavidJBurger wrote:
Fun shots!
Thank you, David!
I appreciate it, and am glad you enjoy them!
-Tim

Emily Mulder wrote:
I like the expression in #5, but the focus seems to be on the grass behind and a little of the rear eye. What aperture did you use?

BTW I'm not an expert. Learning myself...
Thanks, Emily!
Shooting at 4, 4.5, and even 5.6.
These were shot with a Leica Dlux4 point and shoot, as I don't have anything wide for my DSLR, other than the fisheye.
I seem to get many more out of focus than in focus when doing this.
Am thinking I really need to hone in on technique.
-Tim

http://www.aaronlam.com/

Steady Hand wrote:
As I recall, the most extraordinary closeups come from Aaron Lam. Search for Aaron Lam and check his work. I may have the name wrong, or mistaken him for someone else, but I believe that is the right person.

These don't do anything for me.

Keep trying....IF you want something extraordinary. It is not just the use of a Wide Angle that makes the pic.

I hope that helps you.
Thank you, Steady.
Ha! This is actually the guy that I had in mind when doing these shots. I just didn't know his name! This forum is where I've seen his work and got inspired.
Anyhow, thanks for the direction to his site. Maybe with luck, he'll see this post and weigh in.
I didn't do any post work other than basic levels and crops. His work seems to have much more post work with blurs, etc...
Of course, catching the right moments is key, too, from what I see.
-Tim

Yep...I think Aaron has a great eye for making those unusual images of dogs.

It is MORE than just using a wide angle.

It is MORE than just getting low.

At least I think so... in his better images.

purdy puppy wonderful fresh images.

jhobgood wrote:
purdy puppy wonderful fresh images.
Thank you! Other than needing to work on depth/sharpness, I like them too!
I'll be up with him for some time tonight. He does NOT like the fireworks, so I'm babying him until they stop!
-Tim