Exposure: how do I get it right here?

Trying to photograph a fast moving white dog with a dark face. Is there a way I can get the detail in the face without blowing the white body.
Here's an expample of the problem I have.

Flash.

windpig wrote in post #12028447
Flash.

I agree...some fill flash would help to bring out some detail in the face

If you shoot raw, using adjustment brushes can bring out some detail in the faces. Also, was this image cropped in PP, or SOOC? Just curious as Im not a fan of close crops as such. Otherwise a great photo, nice job of freezing the action and keeping subjects in focus

Tony_Stark wrote in post #12028498
nice job of freezing the action and keeping subjects in focus

For sure!

Tony_Stark wrote in post #12028498
If you shoot raw, using adjustment brushes can bring out some detail in the faces. Also, was this image cropped in PP, or SOOC? Just curious as Im not a fan of close crops as such. Otherwise a great photo, nice job of freezing the action and keeping subjects in focus

Yes, it was cropped a bit. Here's the full size. I do shoot RAW but I only use DPP for my PP and I haven't been able to get the combination of reducing highlights while bringing out detail.

Lighting is key. But not fill flash lighting, you need to shoot when her face is in the light and expose for that. Right now her face is in a shadow which is why there is no detail there. All of the sun is directly on her back. you can see a little sliver of light on her nose and it looks good. Just shoot when the light is laying on her face.

that's not a sliver of light on her face, she has a little white stripe. As you can see they're pretty active, it would be a lucky shot if I was to get her face in light, I find it hard enough to even keep them in frame! Thanks all for your suggestions though, much appreciated.

clark becker wrote in post #12028735
Lighting is key. But not fill flash lighting, you need to shoot when her face is in the light and expose for that. Right now her face is in a shadow which is why there is no detail there. All of the sun is directly on her back. you can see a little sliver of light on her nose and it looks good. Just shoot when the light is laying on her face.

I was going to mention that. Shooting in the sun is really tough when you dont use a flash. You can go to Adobe's website and download a full-trial of Lightroom 3, or go to Apple and download the Aperture demo, and just play around with the adjustment brushes and see if you can restore some details in the faces.

So, what are you asking about here?

You shot in Raw, it would be interesting to see how things got processed if you pulled the brightness down a bit and pulled the shadows up -- you have a lot of latitude to play with. Otherwise, you have shot a scene with more dynamic range than an out-of-camera jpeg can handle.

Have you seen our RAW Conversion Thread? It's full of example "projects" that show how to get the most from your images!

I'm in favor of getting in the right place to shoot. I know how it goes with dogs, but you've got to keep the sun in mind and if the dogs end up between you and the sun, you need to move

Dave

tracknut wrote in post #12030784
I'm in favor of getting in the right place to shoot. I know how it goes with dogs, but you've got to keep the sun in mind and if the dogs end up between you and the sun, you need to move

Dave

I cant move that fast. I'm sure you can imagine the way they were pelting around, it was hard enough just to keep them in frame, plus there was the boggy patch they were playing in. By the time I'd gotten over that they were way off in the distance. Thanks though to everyone for your help and suggestions. I dont think I'll be getting a flash anytime soon.
This is about the most I could do with it. I'd rather have been able to get it right in camera instead of trying to retrieve an image afterwards. If only I could get them to play on command, and wait until I'm in position. Position, position, position seems it applies to photography as well as real estate.

This is where software like Lightroom can be handy to use, with its Fill Light adjustment. The Recovery tool can help (during RAW conversion) with saving details in the highlights. I only used the Fill Light control in this example (the lost detail is lost)...

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I don't think you're going to get it any better SOOC. That is a really unfortunate circumstance, with the dark face in shadow and the white back in direct sunlight. This is simply an application for PP. Based on the back exposure, it looks like you just can't go any brighter in the camera.

1) new dog
2) have dog face toward sun
3) post process (selective exposure)

I suggest that option 3 would be the best.

I personally think that photo is great as it is!