Autumn pet portraits.

Hi, this is my first time posting my images on this website.

A little bit about me. I've been trying to learn photography for sometime now, I got my first DSLR some 8 or so years ago, but not being able to understand what all the settings ment and therefore not ever getting out of auto settings I put my camera down some 5 years ago. Keen in wanting to learn to take great shot's I purchased a new camera last year in July and am now starting to grasp what everything means. The more I learn and understand photography the more I get addicted to it .

I've been shootings all sorts of subjects, mostly my children, macro, nature and some birds in my area, just to name a few. I have a love of animals and use to work with them before having my children (we have three boy's), so naturally I'm keen to try my hand a pet portraits, I have no interest in trying to make a business out of this, just chasing a great capture, this is my first more serious try of capturing our two dogs.

I'd like to hear your thought's of my images and any help or tips you have to offer, I can see a few things that could be improved, but keen to hear how others see them. Thanks.

The first photo is Rocky, our 10 year old Tenterfield Terrier.

My second photo is Charlie, our 5 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Thanks for looking.

Exposure is good on both of them, Rocky's eyes are more clear than are Charlie's...Get down to Rocky's level, don't shoot down...good first posting.
Aah...fall was 5-6 months ago, why delay the posting?

Nice portraits...cute dogs On number one I wish the dog was further to the right with the empty space in front instead of behind him. Love the fall colors!

Pretty! I like the first one better because the lights in his eyes are nice.

Thanks for the reply's.

chauncey - I live in Australia, we have just coming into Autumn here and the cold whether is on it's way, which I'm not looking forward to. I took these yesterday.

Guitartists - I wondered the same thing about the composition in the first one, I usually "fill the frame" on almost everything I do, so wanted to try something a little different. I do have shot's of Rocky the other way, with the empty space in front of him, if you or anyone else is interested to see?

December Blvd - Thanks for stopping by.

One question I have is how to get the eye's much clearer? In these images I used a reflector, which helped a lot with the eye's compared to other snap shot's I have of them. Is it just a matter of being more aware of the light and angle I'm shooting?

So...... I'm gathering no one has any tips on how to capture the eye's more clearly at the time in camera?? other then using a reflector, as one was used in both of these shot's. No one else has a critique for me on where I can improve?

I like both your compositions but I would leave more space in the direction they are looking. In the first one you can have his tail almost to the right edge of the photo. In the second one you have cropped the body so you could almost make it a head shot, or maybe crop right up to the right ear, and have the dog looking off to the empty space on the right.

Fill flash would solve that dilemma wouldn't it? I use the speedlite, captures the eyes.

I knew that...yeah, right I did.

I do really appreciate it, for those who have taken the time to reply.

Chiefy - Thanks, I'll add one of Rocky with the empty space in front of him so others can compare them and see which one is preferred for composition. The first two images are as is SOOTC so I haven't done any further cropping or post processing. I'll try to leave Charlie with more room next time to compare compositions, he was near the edge of the tree and I was thought the background may have become distracting.

Flo - Thanks for your suggestion. I have a speedlite, but hesitant to use it as I worry I'll have it set wrong and wash everything out. I've been studying up (self taught) on exposure over the last couple of weeks and practising getting my camera settings right. I also have books on composition and flash that I'm wanting to get to next to study, so I'll get there slowly (wish I could absorb it all faster :lol. Your signature is funny. Gave me and hubby a good giggle.

Learning how to post process, editing is a whole new area for me. But get there some day.

chauncey -

So here is another of Rocky to compare the compositions (and anything else that comes to your mind). This image as is SOOTC, except I have cropped this one slightly to get rid of some empty space above his head.

Thanks for the help.

aaaawwwww.... I like that new one

Macro girl wrote in post #15849629
I do really appreciate it, for those who have taken the time to reply.

Chiefy - Thanks, I'll add one of Rocky with the empty space in front of him so others can compare them and see which one is preferred for composition. The first two images are as is SOOTC so I haven't done any further cropping or post processing. I'll try to leave Charlie with more room next time to compare compositions, he was near the edge of the tree and I was thought the background may have become distracting.

Flo - Thanks for your suggestion. I have a speedlite, but hesitant to use it as I worry I'll have it set wrong and wash everything out. I've been studying up (self taught) on exposure over the last couple of weeks and practising getting my camera settings right. I also have books on composition and flash that I'm wanting to get to next to study, so I'll get there slowly (wish I could absorb it all faster :lol. Your signature is funny. Gave me and hubby a good giggle.

Learning how to post process, editing is a whole new area for me. But get there some day.

chauncey -

So here is another of Rocky to compare the compositions (and anything else that comes to your mind). This image as is SOOTC, except I have cropped this one slightly to get rid of some empty space above his head.

Thanks for the help.

Watch the focus points, this would be a printer, but for the fact that focus seems to be on the red leaf and you need it on the eyes...

Thanks Guitartists. I do agree that the empty space in front is better, I also liked the first shot I posted of Rocky, but as I said was unsure about the composition and wondered what how others saw it.

Thanks tmoore323 The eye's are in focus, as I made sure AF points of focus where on Rocky (particularly his eye's) as I was taking my time and watching for this very careful. When I resized to met the forum requirements I've lost the sharpness in his eye's. I checked my original full size shot and his eye's are sharp, his nose is not. I'm not sure how to post a larger image so you can see, as I don't upload my images on any websites.

Of the two of Rocky, I prefer the first - mostly because of the pose. In the second, because Rocky is in the middle of the darker area, he doesn't stand out that much and I find my eyes are drawn to water which is distracting from the subject. In the first photo the water, and the lighter leaves in the background, combine to make Rocky the center of attention.