‹ Previous Weekly Challenge Gallery Next ›

Shadow - WC #655

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted October 8, 201446 views9 comments

Hi Everyone! This is Shadow, a 4yr-old Newfoundland that became part of our family this summer, joining our two Saint Bernards. I posted this in the POP gallery about a month ago but as it remains my favourite portrait of her, I wanted to share it in this week's challenge as well.

Shadow is the most endearing dog I've ever encountered...she has a truly remarkable character and is for all intensive purposes a big, black, family-loving grizzly, using her paws to anchor objects to chew on, raiding our stash of elk and deer antler sheds, carrying any and all containers to us that could have food in them, etc. More than anything, she wants (needs) to be wherever the kids or family is, so she's become the house dog while the Saints guard the acreage. She loves climbing up onto my lap on the couch or burying Jenaya in the beanbag or one of the other kids in their bed in the morning.

Jenaya and I had been intending to get some decent pictures of her for a while, so one evening last month when I looked out and saw the light was just fantastic but there wasn't enough time to head out for critters, we decided to take Shadow and my older Saint and do a short shoot with them. Jenaya and I are beginning a dog photography business (separate from our wildlife imagery) so it's nice to have such a great model to work with whenever we feel like capturing something new of her!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. I wanted to show off the amazing character in her eyes and coat so was thinking B&W the moment she gave me this pose out in the field. I chose a little "grainier" and deeper conversion and processing to bring out the incredible texture in her coat while matching her natural, rugged look.

Thanks for letting me share...

Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8 G IF-ED VR
ISO 2200
1/160sec @ f/5
-0.7EV
handheld with VR on, kneeling on ground for best camera angle

Processing Notes:
Converted from RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7
Minor adjustments to tone and contrast using Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Viveza 2 before converting to B&W in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
Additional selective adjustments and dodging in PS5
Cloned about 2.5lbs of grass and debris from Shadow's magnificent mane and coat

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on October 8, 2014 at 9:46 AM

A really fine image John. Superb conversion and I think you captured a lot of personality here. Makes me want to meet her.

pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 8, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Now that's a serious dog. I like the near white background and the bits of grass surrounding her. The background, in particular, really lets her eyes dominate.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on October 8, 2014 at 2:20 PM

Let me begin by saying that I'm a photographer who specializes in dog portraits. I look at images of dogs many hours each day, and have for a number of years, so I can be a bit "pickier" than most, and tend to look at dog images with a critical, evaluative eye. With that qualifier out there, my comment is: you hit this one out of the park. There is not one single thing that could be improved upon here, IMHO. You started out with a beautiful subject in Shadow. You posed her just right, got at eye level, and captured her looking over her shoulder, with a hint of the natural environment being provided by the grasses. Oh, those spectacular eyes, and looking directly at the camera! Post-processing was perfect. Her character and her strong connection with humans shines through. This image is haunting in its beauty and soulfulness, and is for me one of the truly unforgettable ones. Major kudos.

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on October 9, 2014 at 1:45 AM

A very nice portrait that captures her focused attention and shows all the textures of that thick fur coat. I think the b&w conversion was a good idea, especially for this dog. I had to laugh about the 2.5 lbs of debris you removed from her hair

You should see a Newfie that has been running through the devils club and salmon berry bushes in Alaska!! Their fine hair gets so tangled with the sharp needles and brambles that the only way to remove them is with scissors!

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 9, 2014 at 9:20 AM

Excellent portraiture John!
Love everything about this, especially those eyes

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 9, 2014 at 11:31 AM

Real fine dog portrait. Good luck with the pet photo biz. I suspect you will do quite well with it.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on October 9, 2014 at 7:38 PM

Hi John,

Nice BW shot. No nits here and I never pass up looking at a Newf photo...............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on October 9, 2014 at 10:45 PM

Hi John. Excellent in every aspect

Albert Darmo
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on October 20, 2014 at 2:35 AM

Thanks for all your kind comments, fellow NPN'ers! As I shared in my second image of Shadow, I am just completely taken with this dog...and although the other image was chosen as the WP, this remains my favourite of her so far. I love her crazy "mane" and all the wonderful textures therein, but it's her eyes that I love the most, and this image shows why even if it loses something by not seeing their gorgeous amber tones. I'll try and find an appropriate opportunity to post a portrait of her in colour sometime. Thanks again!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments