Pet Portraits - please post them here

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Originally Posted by ScoutR

ROTFL - typical cat behaviour. Such small animals and they manage to take up so much room. One of my cats likes to sprawl on the double bed in the spare room, and somehow he manages to take up the whole bed, or at least make it impossible for anyone else to get in.

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Hi Wendy,

This boy is not all that SMALL - I gave some stats on him in post 239 above - Page 12.

He also has a friend - let me introduce Missy (short for mischief). She is everything Mack isn’t. Mack is like a Mack truck big sure and steady. She is also a ‘bitsa’ (heinz 57 variety) but unlike Mack has perfect confirmation, is athletic, a great mouser and teases the life out of Mack. She is less than half his size but steels his food, smacks him on the bum as she passes, get’s him fired up to chase her then runs under the bed where can’t fit and while he waits for her to come out she sneaks out the other side and comes back in front of the fire. Such is life.

http://i33.tinypic.com/ao2b2w.jpg

http://i34.tinypic.com/9u1bbr.jpg

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Originally Posted by Peter Ryan

Hi Wendy,

This boy is not all that SMALL - I gave some stats on him in post 239 above - Page 12.

He also has a friend - let me introduce Missy (short for mischief). She is everything Mack isn’t. Mack is like a Mack truck big sure and steady. She is also a ‘bitsa’ (heinz 57 variety) but unlike Mack has perfect confirmation, is athletic, a great mouser and teases the life out of Mack. She is less than half his size but steels his food, smacks him on the bum as she passes, get’s him fired up to chase her then runs under the bed where can’t fit and while he waits for her to come out she sneaks out the other side and comes back in front of the fire. Such is life.

http://i34.tinypic.com/9u1bbr.jpg

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Missy is quite the model. I really like the angle and background you got on this shot. She does look like quite the character. Your 2 sound exactly like my pair both in build and personality. They are quite entertaining, but sometimes I feel sorry for the big guy. He just can't keep up with the other one.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...bac84742_b.jpg

My cairn terrier Taidhg (again). I like to photograph him, but he is a difficult subject. As soon as I pick up the camera he is curious and often wants to sniff the camera (which spoils the picture). He is dark as well, so difficult to get all the details right without any direct sunlight lighting him.
This is him running up one of the dunes near our home, his hair bouncing up and down. Focus wasn't perfect, but still I like the action it conveys. I should have used 1/500, but the light just wasn't there to do it.

:) I like it Peter. He looks so intense and looks like he's really working hard

Wendy

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Originally Posted by Letrow

Focus wasn't perfect, but still I like the action it conveys.

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I agree.

We were looking after a black lab for the past couple of weeks (I've written before about how we 'foster' dogs through an organisation called Barking Mad). It's so difficult to get black/dark dogs in action properly exposed. The one we had loved swimming and would jump off a bank, etc anything up to 4/5 (1.5m) high straight into water.

How were you focusing? I've just set one of the Custom Settings option on my Canon 40D to AI Servo. Haven't used it all previously, but have been trying to get to grips with it.

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Originally Posted by Donald

I agree.

We were looking after a black lab for the past couple of weeks (I've written before about how we 'foster' dogs through an organisation called Barking Mad). It's so difficult to get black/dark dogs in action properly exposed. The one we had loved swimming and would jump off a bank, etc anything up to 4/5 (1.5m) high straight into water.

How were you focusing? I've just set one of the Custom Settings option on my Canon 40D to AI Servo. Haven't used it all previously, but have been trying to get to grips with it.

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On this one I used 3D tracking (it's a Nikon D90). Just experimenting, but I think one of the other options might work better. The manual says this is meant for relatively static subjects (which my dog is not!). Or, and that seems plausible, the shutterspeed should be faster.

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Originally Posted by Letrow

On this one I used 3D tracking (it's a Nikon D90). Just experimenting, but I think one of the other options might work better. The manual says this is meant for relatively static subjects (which my dog is not!). Or, and that seems plausible, the shutterspeed should be faster.

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Hi Peter,

Nikon’s (and indeed most cameras) default focus setting is Closest to The Camera Subject Priority. If you still have this setting it might explain why the feet and foreground were in focus. I friend of mine had problems with this setting on his Canon when using an ultra wide angle lens – everything in the foreground was focused but not the background.

I recommend you use Single Servo on Nikon to make sure YOU choose the focus point – in this case the eyes.

This is my mate ‘Willy Wonka’ so named because as a young horse he suffered from ‘windswept hocks’ and his foal name was Prince William. Windswept hocks is a problem with the hind legs and the hocks (or knee joint) where the joint is so lose it moves sideways. Horse’s bones are like babies in that they don’t knit properly for some time and in the case of horses around 4 years. He is fine now.

My partner said she was not going to ride a horse called Willy Wonga in competition. Over time he will go grey (white) and he spends most of his time in the shadows eating so we have named him Silver Shadow, but he is still Willy to me.

We have had him since he was a foal and I did most of the early education and we are great mates.

http://i37.tinypic.com/dp8jd1.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2hy9ti0.jpg

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Originally Posted by ScoutR

ROTFL - typical cat behaviour. Such small animals and they manage to take up so much room. One of my cats likes to sprawl on the double bed in the spare room, and somehow he manages to take up the whole bed, or at least make it impossible for anyone else to get in.

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LOL... I do know how it happens: f.i. in this photo there are both of my two cats (aren't they as goodlooking as Missy?!).
Nowadays - as they are bigger - just one of them can take the whole bed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2sleepingS.jpg

Later I'll post a real portrait of my cats, as soon as I can find one...

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Originally Posted by Juniper

LOL... I do know how it happens: f.i. in this photo there are both of my two cats (aren't they as goodlooking as Missy?!).
Nowadays - as they are bigger - just one of them can take the whole bed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2sleepingS.jpg

Later I'll post a real portrait of my cats, as soon as I can find one...

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Hopfully they do not grow up with as much mischief in them as Missy has our you will have double trouble. They look like bookends.

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Originally Posted by Peter Ryan

Hi Peter,

Nikon’s (and indeed most cameras) default focus setting is Closest to The Camera Subject Priority. If you still have this setting it might explain why the feet and foreground were in focus. I friend of mine had problems with this setting on his Canon when using an ultra wide angle lens – everything in the foreground was focused but not the background.

I recommend you use Single Servo on Nikon to make sure YOU choose the focus point – in this case the eyes.

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;-) I get that. Still, I dare you to try that on a running cairn terrier...

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Originally Posted by Letrow

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...bac84742_b.jpg My cairn terrier Taidhg (again). I like to photograph him, but he is a difficult subject. As soon as I pick up the camera he is curious and often wants to sniff the camera (which spoils the picture). He is dark as well, so difficult to get all the details right without any direct sunlight lighting him.
This is him running up one of the dunes near our home, his hair bouncing up and down. Focus wasn't perfect, but still I like the action it conveys. I should have used 1/500, but the light just wasn't there to do it.

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Peter read here please about AI Servo. This may be of some help regarding focusing problems you seam to have. :)
And try also the Spot metering because he is very dark dog. :):)

As I've written before, we're a host family for 'Barking Mad' an alternative to kenneling for people going on holiday/vacation or away on business etc.

Snoopy was with us (for a second time) for 13 days up until last Wednesday. She'd just been for a swim in Loch Lomond.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/...b1726405_b.jpg
40D 70-200 f4 L IS @81mm. ISO 100. 1/350 @ f4. Manual. Spot. 14:34

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Originally Posted by Peter Ryan

http://i37.tinypic.com/dp8jd1.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2hy9ti0.jpg

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Willy's eyes say he is playful, gentle, intelligent, and inquisitive, and perhaps has a tendency to follow you around??? Nice shots, Nice horsey.

Wendy

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Originally Posted by Donald

As I've written before, we're a host family for 'Barking Mad' an alternative to kenneling for people going on holiday/vacation or away on business etc.

Snoopy was with us (for a second time) for 13 days up until last Wednesday. She'd just been for a swim in Loch Lomond.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/...b1726405_b.jpg
40D 70-200 f4 L IS @81mm. ISO 100. 1/350 @ f4. Manual. Spot. 14:34

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You caught Snoopy in a very pensive mood. I wonder what she is thinking. Nice shot Donald!

Wendy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Juniper

LOL... I do know how it happens: f.i. in this photo there are both of my two cats (aren't they as goodlooking as Missy?!).
Nowadays - as they are bigger - just one of them can take the whole bed.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2sleepingS.jpg

Later I'll post a real portrait of my cats, as soon as I can find one...

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Aaahhhh yes, the picture of innocence. Very deceiving aren't they. I like the way you have lined them up in the shot. They certainly are a cute pair.

Wendy

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Originally Posted by Donald

As I've written before, we're a host family for 'Barking Mad' an alternative to kenneling for people going on holiday/vacation or away on business etc.

Snoopy was with us (for a second time) for 13 days up until last Wednesday. She'd just been for a swim in Loch Lomond.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/...b1726405_b.jpg
40D 70-200 f4 L IS @81mm. ISO 100. 1/350 @ f4. Manual. Spot. 14:34

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Donald, I have a black lab and I think that is the finest black lab photo I have ever seen. You've caught the kindness of the breed and we can actually see the features. (That black hair is hard to deal with!) Just love it.

Myra

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Originally Posted by Peter Ryan

http://i37.tinypic.com/dp8jd1.jpg

http://i38.tinypic.com/2hy9ti0.jpg

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My goodness, what lovely portraits of Willy. That is the kind of light and background I would love to get. AND the fellow is yours to play with! Won't he be lovely when he's grown up.

:)
Myra

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Originally Posted by Maritimer1

...I think that is the finest black lab photo I have ever seen.

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Myra

Thank you. It is nice to feel that a picture you make connects with someone.

This very nearly never saw the light of day. Barking Mad always produce a photo of the dog on holiday for the owners. A bit over-the-top, but it keeps the business coming in. For most hosts, the Barking Mad franchise holder for the area will take a photo. But the people in our area know that I snap away. But, in this case, those taken by my partner with her Canon P & S were much better than mine. But then I had another look at this one and saw a possibility. So, I've just e-mailed this one to them for them to pass on to the owners, if tehy wish.

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Originally Posted by ScoutR

Willy's eyes say he is playful, gentle, intelligent, and inquisitive, and perhaps has a tendency to follow you around??? Nice shots, Nice horsey.

Wendy

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And bury his head under your arm for a smooch.