First post, pet photography

[JoeW]

Hello all!

This is my first post, so I hope it's in the right category! Just discovered this forum, and you guys seem like a knowledgeable bunch so figured I'd post some of my pictures up for critique!

I shoot mostly pets, usually dogs and horses with a few cats once in a while. Would love any tips you guys have! I don't charge for my pictures and don't ever plan on charging; this is simply for fun.

These were all taken with a 40D and either a 50mm f1.8 (first picture), or a 70-200mm f4.


IMG_5490 by fancysjoe, on Flickr


IMG_7018 by fancysjoe, on Flickr


IMG_7026 by fancysjoe, on Flickr


IMG_5853-3 by fancysjoe, on Flickr


IMG_6972 by fancysjoe, on Flickr

Thanks!

First, welcome!

Second, great stuff. I know 3 photographers who make a living just shooting pets (that's pretty much all they do). It's tough to get good unposed shots of critters. You've done a superb job here.

Third, C&C:
#1: Great shot. Now remove that hair to the lower side of the eye--it catches the light/viewer's eye and is distracting Otherwise, you could sell that sucker. I could easily see it hanging in a tony horse barn or upscale stable in some breeder's place.

#2: I'd crop it a bit to focus on the pair. Also, I wish you were shooting from a slighter higher angle--I feel subconsciously annoyed that their feet are cut off (as if you did a human portrait and the top two inches of the head were cut off by the margin).

#3: Great action shot and use of DoF. Wish you could shoot that in portrait mode (which would work with the body angles of the two dogs. I would crop just a little (the backlit grass on the right side is a little distracting).

#4: Lovely shot. it would be stronger if you could have shot a little higher to get more of the muzzle (so it didn't disappear in to the grass). But that's a lovely portrait.

#5: Nice portrait--I believe it probably captures the attitude of that pooch. I think it's stronger in color. If you're going to make it B&W, I'd burn/darken the background on the left side so you get more contrast with the lighter subject (the dog) and more natural focus.

This is good stuff. Nicely done.

 

[limr]

Leanore, the animal whisperer. (that's a compliment, in case you're wondering )

I get along better with them than I do with most people

 

[FJ94]

First, welcome!

Second, great stuff. I know 3 photographers who make a living just shooting pets (that's pretty much all they do). It's tough to get good unposed shots of critters. You've done a superb job here.

Third, C&C:
#1: Great shot. Now remove that hair to the lower side of the eye--it catches the light/viewer's eye and is distracting Otherwise, you could sell that sucker. I could easily see it hanging in a tony horse barn or upscale stable in some breeder's place.

#2: I'd crop it a bit to focus on the pair. Also, I wish you were shooting from a slighter higher angle--I feel subconsciously annoyed that their feet are cut off (as if you did a human portrait and the top two inches of the head were cut off by the margin).

#3: Great action shot and use of DoF. Wish you could shoot that in portrait mode (which would work with the body angles of the two dogs. I would crop just a little (the backlit grass on the right side is a little distracting).

#4: Lovely shot. it would be stronger if you could have shot a little higher to get more of the muzzle (so it didn't disappear in to the grass). But that's a lovely portrait.

#5: Nice portrait--I believe it probably captures the attitude of that pooch. I think it's stronger in color. If you're going to make it B&W, I'd burn/darken the background on the left side so you get more contrast with the lighter subject (the dog) and more natural focus.

This is good stuff. Nicely done.

Wow, thanks for the detailed critique! I definitely agree with you about #4. I really wanted to try different angles/compositions but due to the fence it just wasn't possible without going in the field, which would have unfortunately woken up the filly.

I will try editing out the hair and cropping the pictures.

Thanks again!