Composition, lighting, post...let's hear it.

I've decided to make a serious effort to improve my skills with flash. Would like to hear constructive critiques. This was shot with a 5DII and 24-105 with shoe mounted 550EX. Settings were manual at ISO400 1/180 @ f/11. I exposed for 1.5 stops under on the background with the flash set at .5 stop over. I know there's some garbage in the upper right that I should have cloned out and I could have done a better job cloning my phone number off the dogs collar. What else?

Bob

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7495486​458/

I really like the colors in this photo! I wish you had gotten the dogs entire body though. You're making me want to work MY flash a little more.

Bob, here are my comments:

1) The dog's ears are blending in with the fence in the background.
2) I'm not connecting with the picture at all. There's no subject that the dog is staring at and I can't see the dog's face, so I feel really disconnected.
3) I agree with rivas8409. Showing more of the dog's body might have been better.

The lighting looks fine, but as mentioned, seeing the dogs face would draw one in more, right now, we look out to...? It's the little things you will start to notice in composition,.see where the tip of the dogs ear bleeds into the tree trunk? Just a step to the side would eliminate that little nit.Love the color of your Dobie. Lets see his face next time

I did notice the ears, especially the left. I thought about adding some highlight around it in post to give some separation but this is really just a practice shot so I'm not going to put too much into processing. It's kind of funny how we make assumptions about what we don't see. I agree that looking at this photo, it would seem that taking a step to the left and shooting wider would make it better. The reality is that it would have gotten really cluttered. I also find that a one year old puppy doesn't give you much time to work the scene. He bolted off to chase a bird right after I took this shot.

Here's one that includes his face Flo.

Bob

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/hotbobs/7205969​360/

Gorgeous dogs!! I always wanted a Collie! This is a nice photo, my dogs have the same pool:p

Lighting and flash look pretty good to me, love the sheen on the dog. I agree with wanting to see his face in the image.

Comments regarding the first picture:
I like how you captured the exposure. Even though the dog is black, there's detail that can be seen in the fur.

There appears to be rim lighting on his face. Is this just the sunlight or did you set a flash to pull this off. Either way, it gives nice separation.

He really needs to be looking at something. Too bad there wasn't a rabbit in the right side of the frame... This would show amazing training or self-control if you had him sitting there while a bunny was taunting him from the field.

your second picture is top notch. i love the first one but agree id like to see what he is looking at.

yea just shop a rabbit in the 1st post and were good to go

LONDON808 wrote in post #14668529
yea just shop a rabbit in the 1st post and were good to go

Yeah, or a postman.
Great looking dog. If you shoot more of him/her/it try some without the collar.