Photography Course Work: Canine Companions - Theme 2

Here are the final images selected for theme 2

My second theme was based on shooting people and their pets and capturing the special bond that they have. I have chosen to shoot members of my family and a couple of my close friends who all own and adore their dogs.

Shirley & Bailey

(together for 3 years)

F/4.5, S1/160, ISO 100, Focal Length 130mm

For the images taken of Shirley and Bailey I simpy followed them on their usual walk along the trans penine trail. Using a tripod and a 300mm zoom lens I was able to stay back in the distance and capture them in the normal surroundings in the hope that I would alarm Bailey to much.

The weather was great with lots of sun which made it perfect for capturing the detail in Bailey, he is a very dark haired dog an the light really helped. The tripod helped to steady the camera whilst zooming in close and working on shutter priority I was able to avoid any blurred images.

F/4.0, S1/160, ISO 100, Focal Length 120mm

F/4.5, S 1/160, ISO 100, Focal Length 130mm

F/6.3, S 1/160, ISO 100, Focal Length 300mm

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Sarah & Jack

(together for 4 years)

Jane & Daisy & Lilly

(together for 5 years)

F/4.0, S 1/100, ISO200, Focal Length 105

For the images of Sarah, Jack, Jane, Lilly and Daisy I used the same approach as I did above for Shirley & Bailey. This session proved a lot more difficult as the subjects were all very excited and it was difficult to keeo the dogs still or to try and place them in a certain way.

Again I simply followed from a dsitance using a 300 mm zoom lens accompanied by a tripod to avoid camera shake. The weather was great on this day with a lot of cloud and therefore I have had to increase the ISO to 200 and again have worked in Shutter Priority with this set at around 1/100 upto 1/160 where possible.

Jane & Sarah were really good subjects as they absoluteley love their pets and this shown through in every image taken. The aim of the theme was to capture the special bond that people have with their pets and they both made this very easy to do.

They both have very big personalities and so do their dogs.

F/4.0, S 1/100, ISO 200, Focal Length 70mm

F/4.0, S 1/100, ISO 200, Focal Length 120mm

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Poppy & Merlin

(together for 4 years)

F/5.6, S 1/200, ISO 200, Focal Lenth 40mm

For the first two images of Poppy and Merlin I used a standard 35-70mm lens and didnt use a tripod. The natural lighting wasn't very good so an ISO of 200 was used.

Merlin was brought for Poppy for her 1st birthday but lived at the Grandparents home. It was really nice to photograph them both as the love between them was so clear. When the other grandchildren would be at the home Poppy would tell them to "Stay away from my dog" and make Merlin follow her around in which he did.

F/5.6, S 1/250, ISO 200, Focal Length 55mm

F/1.8, S 1/640, ISO 100, Focal Length 50mm

For this final image chosen of Merlin I have used a 1.8 Portrait Lens, I love how the nose is in focus and they eyes are not, but the image stil drws you to the eyes. I have moved in close to take this image but remained at a similar level to Merlin to avoid alarming him.

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Regan & Austin

(together for 5 years)

F/1.8, S 1/320, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

For this session with Regan and Austin I used only a 1.8 portrait lens and didn't use a tripod. I wanted to stay close to the subjects and wanted to have a shallow depth of field in the images. The weather was dry with some light which resulted in an ISO of 200 being used.

For the first image above I stood over Austin and was looking down on him as he sat, looking up at me and love the result.

Austin is a strong excited dog and it took a good half hour of running around the garden, playing with his toys before he actually calmed down and allowed me to photograph him.

Once he had calmed down he simply lept on top of his kennel and went to sleep whilst Regan stroked him. This was then the time for me to get some good shots of him and Regan.

F/1.8, S 1/320, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

F/1.8, S 1/250, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

F/1.8, S1/250, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

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Ethan, Mariah & Toby

(together 7 years)

F/1.8, S 1/125, ISO200, Focal Length 50mm

During the session with Mariah, Ethan & Toby the plan was to visit the local park where they usually take Toby, however it rained all day so we decided to stay indoors. We decided to take the shots in their bedrooms and again a 1.8 portrait lens was used with an ISO of 200. The natural lighting available was brilliant due to the weather outside and the bedrooms being quite small with only one window in each room.

For the shots of Ethan & Toby I wanted to get in close and capture they fun they always appear to have when playing on the bed and fighting on the floor.

F/1.8, S 1/60, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

F/1.8, S 1/15, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

When capturing Mariah I decided to choose these final 3 images as I like the fact that you dont actually see Mariah, only seeing her hair or her arm. I think the images have bit of mystery to them as you dont know what the owner looks. I also like the expression on Toby's face here as he is clearly looking at Mariah and is totally relaxed and not one bit bothered by me or the camera.

F/1.8, S 1/200, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

F/1.8, S 1/250, ISO 200, Focal Length 50mm

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Logan & Hoo Hoo

(together 11 months)

This is my youngest nephew Logan, although this is clearly not a real dog it appears to have become one of his favourite toys which he keeps with him all the time. I thought these would be nice pictures for his Mum and Dad and also for Logan to have when he is older. Although Logan can not yet speak he calls all dogs Hoo HOO, I think he is trying to say Woof Woof!!

A 1.8 portait lens has been used as we were indoors in low light using this has helped to avoid any blurr or movement.