Dog photo CC please

Hello all, a few days ago I took my first moving subject photos. I've put this picture in the pet section but I'd like to get some CC on it here as well, where people can be a bit more brutal about likes and dislikes...that's the only way I'll improve. Overall, I'm quite happy with the shot, but always looking to do better. Sorry in advance for the large image size, but I want people to be able to see what is in focus and what isn't. I can provide a huge image as well if it helps.

I didn't do a ton of post processing. I did clone out two volleyball poles, one white and one blue that were on the top of the hill behind Vixen.

With f/4 aperture, I really got her face in focus (at max focal length of 200mm), and I'm wondering if a slightly wider DoF would have been better, with her whole body in focus? I'm not sure if it would make the picture better or worse. And if I were going for a whole body in focus shot, what aperture should I have used? Thanks in advance for any critique.

ISO 200
200mm focal length
f/4 aperture
1/1250 shutter speed
Canon 5D MkII
70-200 F4L IS USM

That's a really nice shot. DoF depends on quite a few things so depending on the distance to subject it might not have been possible to get the whole dog in focus. Usually I refer people to depth of field calculator but it appears that web site has been the victim of a hack. see the stickies all over POTN. It looks better with the blurred background and there isn't much reason to go beyond the eyes like you have done in this shot.

That's a great capture. You might try to selectively sharpen its nose.

I think it is a great shot. If I were to be really picky, (a) the red metal ID tag is a tad distracting; remove before shooting... and get fined by the council lol, and (b) there is a strange brown smudge above the tip of the dog's tail. Perhaps that could be covered in post?
Really, well done. You can take an image and control your dog. I just wish i could do 1 of these!

that is a sharp, well lit shot. Agree about the ID tag. Maybe next time no collar at all. Also, if you can shoot a burst or time it better, all legs off the ground could potentially improve the shot. But I like it just fine as is. I was out shooting my dogs all day yesterday and didn't come close to that shot.

Excellent shot. The eyes and face are perfectly sharp. Well done.

Excellent shot, and that isn't easy to get on a moving target and a wide aperture. Especially on that breed of dog, with a long snout. Typically, the eyes might be sharp but the end of the nose is not, but you have everything sharp that needs to be sharp AND you captured the sense of movement AND the dogs ears are up, which is essential to my mind when shooting German Shepherds. Love that there is enough light in the eyes to give the dog some "life". I disagree respectfully about the dog tags and cloning them out. I would not. Whether or not they are a visual distraction isn't the issue, they are if people think they are, but an acceptable one to ME, because it shows that this is a pet etc. Great shot, all the way around.

What is the brown spot by the tail?

I like it! Looking at that face makes me smile

The DoF is good, I think.

I'm honored by the kind words, everyone. It was my favorite shot of the bunch, so I'm glad you enjoyed it as well.

jkru617, I believe the brown by the tail was the top of a cement drain pipe that is mostly out of view. I didn't notice it until after I'd posted the picture up. Thanks to those who pointed it out, I think I'll go back and try to clone it out.

I appreciate Sue's remarks about the red dog tag, however, I also find it a bit distracting. If I were to take the shot over again I think I might leave the collar(s) on but remove the red tag.

RedSloth, I got a kick out of your comments. But don't be too impressed until you hear the back story...it was a team effort. My wife and youngest daughter held onto Vixen until I was ready for her to be released. My older daughter stood directly behind me with a plastic water bottle as a decoy.

suecassidy wrote in post #15291000
Excellent shot, and that isn't easy to get on a moving target and a wide aperture. Especially on that breed of dog, with a long snout. Typically, the eyes might be sharp but the end of the nose is not, but you have everything sharp that needs to be sharp AND you captured the sense of movement AND the dogs ears are up, which is essential to my mind when shooting German Shepherds. Love that there is enough light in the eyes to give the dog some "life". I disagree respectfully about the dog tags and cloning them out. I would not. Whether or not they are a visual distraction isn't the issue, they are if people think they are, but an acceptable one to ME, because it shows that this is a pet etc. Great shot, all the way around.

Sue, thanks for the great comments. First off, even though I live in central CA, these shots were taken over Thanksgiving, not far from where you're at, at my parents in Mission Viejo. Vixen is actually a pure bred Malinois, althought I can certainly understand the confusion. I'm a dyed in the wool Belgian Malinois fan (I've had 4 of them), and based on this photo alone, even I would have guessed she was a German Shepherd. At this angle the sabling on her coat looks a lot like the typical saddle on a GSD. And her face has never been as black as is common on many Mals.

Speed was definitely an issue. She's a quick dog, and has been clocked on a radar gun at 32 MPH...for a bit of friendly rivaly, the fastest we've seen a German Shepherd run (and a svelte female at that), is 27 MPH. (You'd be amazed at what a few bored K9 handlers can come up with to keep us occupied at patrol training). I shot these using the multiple exposure setting as she ran at me, and the majority weren't worth keeping.

I'll add a couple other fun ones for comparison. In this first shot she has the more traditional Malinois expression...ears layed flat back and that "all so eager to meet you" expression:

First shot is great, doesn't get much better.

Have you ever seen a Belgan Malinois perform in French Ring, they are king of French Ring. Many law enforcement and goverment agencies use them quite extensively.

A very close friend brought his entire kennel from France here. He also is a Jude for French ring here in the states. He sells many of his dog's to goverments around the world fully trained in various fields like bomb detections , drugs, etc. because of there working abilities, much like the German Shepherd working bloodlines.

Bianchi wrote in post #15296684
First shot is great, doesn't get much better.

Have you ever seen a Belgan Malinois perform in French Ring, they are king of French Ring. Many law enforcement and goverment agencies use them quite extensively.

A very close friend brought his entire kennel from France here. He also is a Jude for French ring here in the states. He sells many of his dog's to goverments around the world fully trained in various fields like bomb detections , drugs, etc. because of there working abilities, much like the German Shepherd working bloodlines.

Hi Bianchi, thanks for the compliment on the photo! I have never seen French Ring myself, though I'd love to. One of my former Malinois was a prior French Ring dog from Holland. As far as the Malinois as a working dog, you're preaching to the choir. I'm a law enforcement K9 handler myself. I've had four working dogs, three of which have been full or crossbred Malinois. The Mals have replaced the German Shepherd in numbers in civilian and military law enforcement. Don't get me wrong, the GSD is still very popular, and an outstanding dog, but Malinois are more numerically superior these days.

Love the first shot and also the one with all fours off the ground!

However, Not a fan of the pp you've done on the all fours shot.

Each to there own though

Without reshooting, what happens if you recolor the red tag to something more neutral in post?

Thanks for posting that side pic of the Belgian Malinois, as I can see it definitely is NOT a German Shepherd from that angle. (Not in coat, not in markings, not in stance, but from straight on, wow!) I have done dog show photography and THOUGHT I knew my breeds pretty well and made a snap judgement from that first shot. My own dogs (Bearded Collies) were often mistaken for Old English Sheepdogs from people who weren't familiar with the subtle (?) differences. Great looking Belgian Malinois and great images.