Please be brutally honest

[OEH]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2678115848_120ef50a74_b.jpg

I'm thinking about entering this into a local art (rather than photography specifically) competition.

What do you think about it. I have rather a lot to choose from, but I quite like it. The subject of the competition is animals.

[Jeanneh]

it is a lovely pic but what about cropping it a bit ?

[poloman]

Your composition is good.
I like the shot and it tells me a story.
The wall is in sharp focus but the face of the dog is a little soft.
you might try some high pass sharpening to good effect.

[gjl711]

This one does not do it for me. I like the basic setup and look of the picture but the dog looks as if he is running and not jumping over the stone wall, almost as if it was cut from another picture and photoshopped in.

[mama2-8]

Colors are great!

[poloman]

I did a few experiments with your image, I hope you don't mind...
I graduated some gaussian blur, making it stronger to the left to accentuate the subject. A curves adjustment. High Pass sharpening. Using a neutral gray adjustment layer, I dodged the dog to give it a little more pop. I concentrated on the front legs a bit so you can see them better in contrast to the wall.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2680138864_8394702c83_o.jpg

[Flo]

I tend to agree with the though that the dog looks pasted in.I don't know why.:confused:...its a lovely shot.

[OEH]

Thank you all for the advice, I'll definately try some sharpening. I'll try some fiddling see what I can do. I have to say my husband doesn't get this one at all either. Maybe he's right.

She does look pasted now you mention it, but I promise she wasn't. Here's the moment before.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2680296122_660d0cc227.jpg

[poloman]

I think people tend to think that because dogs are so relaxed about it. Kind of a all in a day kind of thing.

[LeuceDeuce]

Images of your pets actually doing something are the most interesting. No one wants to see another "cat sleeping".

I really like these.

[kitmos]

Thank you all for the advice, I'll definately try some sharpening. I'll try some fiddling see what I can do. I have to say my husband doesn't get this one at all either. Maybe he's right.

She does look pasted now you mention it, but I promise she wasn't. Here's the moment before.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2680296122_660d0cc227.jpg

I like this one better. Looks less pasted in.

[gjl711]

..She does look pasted now you mention it, but I promise she wasn't. Here's the moment before.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2680296122_660d0cc227.jpg
I never had a doubt that she didn’t jump the wall but pictures are funny sometimes as they are a moment in time. If this had been a moment earlier when she was getting ready to leap or a moment later as she is preparing to land it would have conveyed the feeling of the jump more. Caught in mid-air between the two she looks relaxed and sort of trotting thus giving the added in feeling.

BTW.. what is it with Labs and balls? Our black lab will chase her ball until she died if I kept throwing it. I almost have to judge when she has had enough. I wish I had ½ the energy she does.

[OEH]

Yeah, I know what you mean, never mind, I've got lots of others I might enter. I think because she always seemed to bank there never was that mid air shot:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2679476945_6412886e82.jpg

I wish this was sharper though as it really is mid air- over a five bar gate!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2679543001_4e24f858b7_b.jpg

[puggle]

It's very cool to see the dog jumping over this wonderful stone wall. Here's my opinion:

The sky is overcast and gray, and would look better with puffy white clouds and blue sky.

The dog looks cut out and pasted, as others have mentioned. I think if you used a slower shutter speed and panned the shot, you may have been able to blur surround, which would help show the action of jumping over the wall. It's too "frozen" and need the blur!

Try it again, if you have the chance.

[Flo]

Love the second photo!

[puggle]

Here's an example of how to show the speed, yet still stop the action, by using a slower shutter speed and panning the camera. It'll take a few tries but it'll be worth it!

289549

[lbcyalater]

[quote=OEH;5934064]I'm thinking about entering this into a local art (rather than photography specifically) competition.quote]

How does one find out about competitions in there area? I think that would be fun to put up some of my stuff.

[JVBAKER0]

I think OEH's series should be titled "Why dogs should not drink Red Bull"

[Flam]

The picture looks great to me, the ball in the mouth really helps

[OEH]

I think I'll enter it with a few others and see how it goes.

[poloman]

Glad to hear it. I like the shot.
Good Luck!