Bear (the Newfoundland)

Hi all! Thought I'd share another of my favourite B&W dog portraits from the fall. Jenaya and I photographed a number of dogs for the breeder that we got our two Newfoundlands from (Belly River Newfoundlands in Fort MacLeod, Alberta), and this is their big stud, Bear. Big suck is more like it, actually, but in all the best ways.

Bear's owners are in the process of building a new home on their acreage, and I wanted to both make use of the open light in what will become the doorway and show just a hint of that memory (house in progress) in the background (the lighter grey OOF vertical lines on the left are a framed wall).

This image was probably the toughest job I've ever handled in final processing...there isn't a great deal done from the RAW file (though I added a custom vignette), but when I sent the finished jpg to my phone the blacks were completely blocked up. I reworked it and sent it to my phone and tablet. Still not right. Back to PS for more selective curves adjustments, etc. Nope. After 8 tries I had something that looked OK on my main monitor, iPhone, Android phone and tablet, iPad, and laptop...but it no longer had the wonderful tones and deep blacks with detail that the original had. The joys of modern digital photography I guess, where any given viewer may experience something entirely different than what you were so happy with when you pressed "save."

I hope this works for you, on whatever device or screen you are viewing this on!

More importantly, I hope you like this character-filled portrait of a truly wonderful Newfoundland.

I do genuinely welcome your comments and suggestions for possible further improvement.

Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR
ISO 2200
1/160sec @ f/4.5
-1.3EV
tripod mounted

Converted to B&W using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 in PS CS5
Several selective adjustments to tones and contrast for acceptable detail on the majority of screens
Cloned several pieces of grass/debris from coat
Custom vignette
Full frame

PS - we added our second Newfoundland from Belly River just before Christmas, who happened to be their other main stud, and he is GORGEOUS. I have been DYING to do some sessions with him and hope to post some pics of the new love in my life as soon as the wind drops down below 60mph...so probably around June.