First critique request...

This is the first time I've stepped out of my box - I took this last March during right after the last spring snow. Helpful cc is always welcome! The only way to learn. TIA!

Data: EOS 5D, 70-200 f4L IS at 138mm, 1/500 @ f8, ISO 400, ec +1, Tv mode. SOOC except sharpened using 90, .2, 0.

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The white is blown out.

Tough tough tough lighting conditions here. Almost white dog against white background. Yet you basically succeeded. There's a clear delineation between the dog and the snow, the dog isn't blown, the eyes are crisp. A more environmental shot might have explained the background better (if people could see that it's snow, for example).

^^ +1 Great job of handling tricky lighting and I don't see any blown highlights either. Good shadow details around the eyes. I would say about perfect exposure and good call on the ec +1. With out that your meter sure would have been fooled to underexpose with all this white.

This has a real fun "high fashion" dog portrait look to it. Cool!

My only nit pik is the "static" composition of this. I wish it wasn't so centered. If it were me I'd like to see it with the eyes in the top 1/3 line.

Nice looking dog.

Looks like you have some sensor dust.

Maybe my comment was wrong... What is the definition of blown highlights? maybe it was something else I meant =]?

Thanks, everyone - keep the comments coming. A little more background on this shot - the snowfall was fresh, and the clouds had just cleared out. The sun was out, but there happens to be a tall cottonwood just to the right of her, and an oak on the other side and it was just after 11am which gave me oddly enough less of a challenge with shadows. I was only about 15 feet away and there was so much clutter around (leaves, twigs, etc. from the storm), plus disturbed snow in front of her, that made cropping the shot a little difficult. But I'm going to go back to the original and see what I can do with that. Sensor dust? Yeah, maybe so. I had just bought the camera and supposedly it had been to Canon for a sensor cleaning but I don't think so - this shot brought it out. I should probably clone them out, huh?

Ron - thanks for the comment about my dog. She's one of several but has perfect Lab temperament - you can see it in her eyes. Your work on your website is marvelous - and you're a judge to boot. So am I - of Labrador Retrievers at AKC shows.

Thanks again, everyone - you've been very helpful! Oh - I would also like to hear more about the comment about white being blown. I sometimes struggle with that when working with snow.

I really like this photo, but it needs a tighter crop as the space on the left hand side is very distracting. There's also a stray hair over the dog's eye which irritates. Personally I love the soft lighting, however, the highlights have blown in several areas, most notably the head near the ears and on the left of the dogs face as you view it probably due to the +1 ev. I realise how hard it is to photograph dogs and you've done a fantastic job of getting not only the eyes in focus but the nose aswell.

Greg,

Thanks. Yes, when I'm not photographing a horse I am judging one! I am not one to hijack a thread by posting into it. But here is a post I did a while back of a lab:
https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=8581836&pos​tcount=132
I did some equine/farm work for the owner and then he had me shoot his dog. You can also see the temperment in his eyes as well. He is the nicest guy. (the dog, not the owner The other dog in this post is one of my aussies. You ought to post your image in that thread.

I will continue to argue that your image is not overexposed. The areas mentioned in the previous post are approaching it. But as jgrussell said the eyes are crisp. If any less exposed you would have started losing shadow details in the eyes which, as you said, are the focal point of this portrait. But keep in mind this is coming from a chubby, middle aged sports photog not a portrait one

"I would also like to hear more about the comment about white being blown. I sometimes struggle with that when working with snow." There is a portrait photog that used to work with Monte Zuckerman that has a great discussion of this on one of the forums. You will find it helpful. Right now I am behind on getting a lot of customer proofs uploaded from last two weekends of horse shows. If I don't send you the link to this discussion in the next week or so send me a pm and remind me to find it for you.

Again, I love the "high key" fashion look of this.

Ron

I like it.maybe a slight tweak of contrast just to make sure that outline is there, but as is.its great!

I like the comp. The white background is blown out but who cares. That detail doesn't matter and would be distracting if it was there. That being said, the white color of the dog against the white background is not quite enough contrast for my taste.

What about this treatment?

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At the risk of sidetracking the discussion, wouldn't this qualify as a high key shot? If so, I think it's a good job. However, I think a tighter crop and center composition would work here.

I think it works well as a high key shot.

I prefer the color version to the black and white version. I agree that it needs to be cropped tighter. Good job on tricky lighting conditions.