Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-30-2017, 04:36 PM
threeforthree's Avatar
threeforthree threeforthree is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,756
Default Camera pro`s ,,,,question??

How can I get a better picture of a black dog, seems I never get a good face shot.Using mostly a Nikon 60 and Iphone 6s..thanks
__________________
jpg images

LIFE IS TO SHORT TO HAVE AN UGLY LOOKIN DOG .....GET A LAB
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-30-2017, 05:28 PM
Gray Wolf Gray Wolf is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 1,217
Default

Try more light on the dog's face and/or a darker background.

Experiment!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-30-2017, 05:30 PM
huntsfurfish huntsfurfish is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Southern Alberta
Posts: 7,350
Default

Turn the dog around.
__________________
.
eat a snickers


made in Alberta__ born n raised.


FS-Tinfool hats by the roll.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-30-2017, 05:37 PM
ak-71 ak-71 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Almaty
Posts: 2,032
Default

Not a pro, but I would try a 'fill flush" to effectively get more light on a dog
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-30-2017, 05:39 PM
tranq78 tranq78 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Edmonton & Hinton
Posts: 504
Default

Don't use an iPhone. It has automatic exposure settings. It means a black dog will always turn out gray because it will overexpose the image.

Use your Nikon. Do 3 things: Stop down (simply set camera at -1 to -2 exposure using the +/- EXP button), otherwise your pup's black face will turn out gray. Next increase your shutter speed to 1/250 or faster, you need to freeze the image so it doesn't blur. Finally, increase your depth-of-field (in other words, use f-stop of f4.0-5.6) so the face/body is in focus.

Sounds complicated but it really isn't. Just do these steps in sequence and you'll be just fine. Last 2 things. Let the ISO fall where it may, don't worry about it. Turn on shake reduction on your lens if you have it.

Oh, if you are tempted to use a flash, it has to be sophisticated enough to let you use a flash exposure of -1 to -2. If you point the flash at the dog he may get red-eye.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-30-2017, 05:41 PM
HighlandHeart HighlandHeart is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 954
Default

Fill flash and darker background are both great ideas. Try taking the dog's photo outside in full daylight. If you are comfortable with manual features of your camera you could change the exposure value to get a better picture or you could change the exposure in an editing program after taking the shot.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-30-2017, 06:38 PM
Selkirk's Avatar
Selkirk Selkirk is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: In the shadow of the Valhalla Mountains, BC .
Posts: 9,174
Thumbs up When in doubt, use your DSLR

Cell phones are getting better for photos these days, but they are still only good for quick snapshots.

For good photography, set your cell phone aside and learn how to take advantage of all the features on your Nikon DSLR.

Mac
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-30-2017, 08:56 PM
Cottus Cottus is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 374
Default

On your iPhone tap the dog's face - this will focus and auto-expose the shot as smartly as the computer can. When you do that you'll get a little yellow box with a "sunshine" icon beside it. Slide that little sunny bugger up or down until it looks good to you then snap the pic.

Auto-exposure works on averages of light levels (18% grey yadayada) but when you shoot snow or black dogs things get screwy. Just flip that sunny icon bastard up and down on your iPhone and you'll be golden.

It is a little counter-intuitive (according to the auto-exposure you are intentionally "OVER-exposing" really bright, snowy pictures, and you are "UNDER-exposing" dark doggies) but that's just the way the computer programs work.

Good luck, post pics.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-30-2017, 10:46 PM
ak-71 ak-71 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Almaty
Posts: 2,032
Default

Another, fancier way to cheat your way out of a dynamic range issues would be a pseudo HDR from raw (nef) files. It can be quite amazing what you can pull out.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-30-2017, 11:24 PM
Weedy1 Weedy1 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 2,485
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by threeforthree View Post
How can I get a better picture of a black dog, seems I never get a good face shot.
Sausage is your friend. Tie sausage to a thread, dangle it in front of the dog, say leave it, stay or whatever its favourite command is, take shot and voila. Photoshop out thread. Amazing what you can get a dog to do with a piece of sausage. White on black, black on white.

dog.jpg
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.