Jude my lab

Hi All

Been playing around with my new flash and would love some C&C on this please, be as brutal as you like.....

IMAGE LINK: http://s741.photobucke​t.com …edia/EK3F6839ne​t.jpg.html

We see a lot of photos of 18% grey labs because photographers trusted their camera's light meters to get the exposure right. Your exposure looks great. Some might argue that the critter gets lost in the black background. However, I think it's a stylistic choice here and well done. Print it and hang it on a wall. However, to do that, you'll need more room on the edges. Maybe less on the bottom.

I think it's a really good capture of a handsome animal. I like the use of a black background myself. I think it helps draw attention to the face and to the texture of the coat.

I've no suggestions to make on how you might have done better. I think it's great just the way it is.

[EDIT] Well, I have thought of something. There are one or two white dust flecks that you might use spot removal on ... for perfection's sake.

Nice. I know I struggle to get my black cat to actually look black. I have a few good shots of him. They are mostly accidents, I think.

I like the pose and the image in general. Good rendition of black on black.

The crop is too tight, though. I'd try leaving more leeway, even if you end up cropping tight in post-production. A wee bit of fill on the bottom (a white reflector in a clamshell arrangement) would help balance the tonal values across the image —on the other hand, the brighter face and darker body might be intentional, if so it's fine as it is.

Kudos for getting the exposure spot-on! I know the meter said something entirely different. Only criticism is that it's too tight on the face. Beautiful dog BTW.

Hi All

Thanks for the replies, I have re-edited the photo taking into account the remarks above. Once again thank you for the replies.......

IMAGE LINK: http://s741.photobucke​t.com …dia/EK3F6839edi​t.jpg.html

Ah... I wish you would have kept the original... some of us (me ߘ) would like to see your changes based on the recommendations of the comments.

I'll see if I still have the first edit in my trash can, if I have I'll reupload it.
Thanks for all the replies, I've printed it off and it's now hanging in my hallway.

bensherman2 wrote in post #18364972
Hi All

Thanks for the replies, I have re-edited the photo taking into account the remarks above. Once again thank you for the replies.......

IMAGE LINK: http://s741.photobucke​t.com …dia/EK3F6839edi​t.jpg.html

I didn't see the original, but like the lighting on this one, especially with the bit of light on his ears to separate him from the background.
Just a couple of nits: Since he's looking to our left, I'd prefer that he be at the right side of the frame. And use f/16 next time to sharpen in his nose a little more.

Thanks for the comments, point taken with f16. I could have pushed him to right side a bit more though it's quite difficult to see that much detail on the back of the LCD.