Doggy Portraits

[coupekid]

Hi All,

Please could you give me some honest critique on the two following pictures (you may have seen them in the dog thread)

They are a couple of shots of my freinds newly rescued dog called Rosy:





I know its poor etiquette to put more than one piccie up for critique, but I thought as they were pretty similar, I would break the rules like the rebel I am!

(food for thought as well, is the collar on, or should it be cloned out?)

[yoshi]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi Ben,
As portraits, the bokeh is nice on the both, especially on the second. The composition as well. When I was scrolling vertically the first one, his(?) face appeared first and it looked like a bit nervous but soon I realized he was just relaxing judging from the sitting style. I just wish the horizontal line behind his neck on the first one is less noticeable. The colours on the second look also better on my monitor. I like the red collar on his black clothes. No need of cloning out IMO.
yoshi

[Tinka]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi Coupkid,
I always try to be honest, but others may disagree with my take on an image,
but here goes.
Both images are imo extremely good portraits, and capture the dogs personality very well, lovely eyes and expressions, the red collar need not be cloned out as it does not detract from the images, however I would clone out the path line behind the doog in the first image, as this does detract.

As for the Bokeh? I thought this was a ball game But that turns out to be Bocha or botcha.

[jojo]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi Coupekid,
I agree with the other comments regarding the sandy line cutting through Rosy's neck in the first shot (although it didn't jump out at me at first). Did you add a touch of blue in order to enhance her coat? She looks very happy and relaxed and in a lovely condition. I think the red collar looks good from a contrast point of view and also emphasises her family pet status rather than that of a working dog.

Jo

[Caz]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi Ben - don't fiddle with them too much, they're lovely. Just the path in the first picture, like everyone else.

Lovely DOF, she looks like she'll develop into a real character.

Must take some more of Snoopy - bought her a sheepskin rug all of her own at the weekend and she's reclining on it like the princess she is!

Mind you, have only just uploaded my Devon pics from the weekend - the weather was grey, so spent last night editing

If I can EVER get away from work (sneaking a 5 minute lunch hour) I might even post some!

Carol

[Bearface]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi Ben,

These are great dog portraits and for me everything works as it is. That said, I think the reds are a bit over-saturated, as evidenced by Rosie's tongue and collar. Other than that it's all good

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Doggy Portraits

I really like the second one Can I ask if vignetting was added or is the fade in brightness part of natural lighting?

Matt

[Pol]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Hi All,

Please could you give me some honest critique on the two following pictures (you may have seen them in the dog thread)

They are a couple of shots of my freinds newly rescued dog called Rosy:

(food for thought as well, is the collar on, or should it be cloned out?)

I like them as they are. She's doing great allowing you to take pictures so she'll probably gain more and more confidence as time passes.

I'd be reluctant to clone out the collar as it might spoil the appearance of the lie of her fur. If you did want to do anything about the collar you could try using the PS Hue/Saturation tool. You could tone it down quite a lot if you select the reds. A slight reduction of the blue saturation would also reduce the slight blue in her fur too - not a lot, just a touch and her coat will be a truer black.

Pol

[fluffy penguin]

Re: Doggy Portraits

I do like these portraits, but I have to go opposite to everyone else.

The dog itself is well captured love the intelligence and intensity in the eyes, which is what makes a labrador.

but for me the red collar detracts for me, but that is only a personal thing I find the red too bright, If not cloned out, as it may upset the fur line, at least try and tone it down.


regards
FP

[coupekid]

Re: Doggy Portraits

I really like the second one Can I ask if vignetting was added or is the fade in brightness part of natural lighting?

Matt

Hi Matt,

Many thanks!
The vignetting is indeed fake. I added it afterwards. If you want to know the secret, I use the lasoo tool to add a circle (or thin square) around the edge, feather by 250 pixels, select inverse, and use the fill tool at 45% opacity, black, and darken.

I know others do it slightly differently, fo example, rather than fill, they darken using contrast,brightness adjustment.

Its a method that can be quite usefull for drawing the eye to the centre of the picture, and thus the subject matter.

[coupekid]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Big thanks for all the feedback. Interesting to hear what people said about the collar, and particularly the path.....the path was something that didnt even occur to me.

Looks like I have a little bit of work,and I think I will tone down the collar, rather than clone out.

Thanks again!

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Thanks for that 'secret' I'm certainly going to give it a try. It works really well.

[Pops]

Re: Doggy Portraits

I find the 1st shot a bit of an ordinary doggy pose but the 2nd shot is a cracker.
Teeth nice and white, tongue a lovely healthy looking pink, sparkle in the eye and you have displayed the glossy sheen to his coat perfectly. I realize that the vignetting effect has contributed to the presentation but that's all to the good.

[StuartR]

Re: Doggy Portraits

Almost impossible to take a bad pic of a black labrador IMHO! Had a couple of working / pet labs when I were a country lad and into shootin' & fishin' (never saw the attraction of the huntin').