Jim Walczak
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2004
- Messages
- 226
- Reaction score
- 90
- Location
- Lorain, Ohio
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Here's another of those little tips and tricks.....
While I would again reiterate the concept of anticipating your shot, with dog photography (or "action" photography in general), sometimes it can be easier to get a really great image if you keep the subject parallel to the camera....

With my previous image where Molly was running straight at me, again I did miss the focus by just a hair...not bad enough to warrant the deletion of the image, but a tad irksome none the less. In this second shot however, taken with the same low end Tamron lens (same light, same time of day, same river, etc), because Molly was running parallel to the camera, it was much easier to keep her face in focus, even using such a shallow DOF. Whether it's a dog running past you in the water or a dog running past in the middle of a field, this can also present the opportunity for some really great action shots. This would particularly apply to the OP (and others) with the interest of shooting dog shows and such. Because the dogs in such a competition usually run a predictable pattern (again with the example of an obstacle course), you can often position yourself so that when the dog passes you, it will be on a parallel plain to the camera, where you can worry less about "focus" and more about "timing"...catching the dog in mid air in a jump for example.
Also regarding dog photography specifically, for those who haven't considered this already, do be on the look out for local "no leash dog parks". In recent years these have become quite popular in many communities and even for those who may not actually own dogs themselves, they can be a WONDERFUL place to practice and hone your technique! On any given day you can have a variety of dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and even ages, with dogs running and playing, to those trying to sucker other dog owners out of an occasional treat! LOL!
Okies...just another after thought! Enjoy!
While I would again reiterate the concept of anticipating your shot, with dog photography (or "action" photography in general), sometimes it can be easier to get a really great image if you keep the subject parallel to the camera....

With my previous image where Molly was running straight at me, again I did miss the focus by just a hair...not bad enough to warrant the deletion of the image, but a tad irksome none the less. In this second shot however, taken with the same low end Tamron lens (same light, same time of day, same river, etc), because Molly was running parallel to the camera, it was much easier to keep her face in focus, even using such a shallow DOF. Whether it's a dog running past you in the water or a dog running past in the middle of a field, this can also present the opportunity for some really great action shots. This would particularly apply to the OP (and others) with the interest of shooting dog shows and such. Because the dogs in such a competition usually run a predictable pattern (again with the example of an obstacle course), you can often position yourself so that when the dog passes you, it will be on a parallel plain to the camera, where you can worry less about "focus" and more about "timing"...catching the dog in mid air in a jump for example.
Also regarding dog photography specifically, for those who haven't considered this already, do be on the look out for local "no leash dog parks". In recent years these have become quite popular in many communities and even for those who may not actually own dogs themselves, they can be a WONDERFUL place to practice and hone your technique! On any given day you can have a variety of dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and even ages, with dogs running and playing, to those trying to sucker other dog owners out of an occasional treat! LOL!
Okies...just another after thought! Enjoy!