The Moot

[robboh]

Post processing guru's welcome to comment/help!! Other comments welcome too of course
These were taken with 50mm @ f1.8, looking at them now, they are possibly a little soft and I should have opened up to f2.2 at least...

[stubbsy]

While the first one is a little soft, I think the second is fine and has really nice OOF boke (not as good as the 50/1.4 of course ). I think you're being a little tough on yourself. At least you got him/her to sit still!

[Slider]

I agree. The 2nd shot is a beauty.

[Jamie]

Shouldnt that be mutt and not ummm errrr "Moot"?

Anyways, i like the second shot the best, first one is a little soft as you and others have said. BTW thats a beautiful dog you have there.

Jamie

[mudder]

G'day,
What a beautiful animal... I used to have Akita's and always loved Malamutes, I take it it's a husky? Looks lean for a Mal, hard to tell from here.

Might be worth taking the collar off when taking shots... Any USM or sharpening? Think you could could sharpen up a bit and maybe lighten the eyes to get some more detail in 'em? Also have a quick look at what's in the background when taking the pic (check #2), as areas of white or "things" in the background can distract from yoru subject and make it harder for you later in PP. Just rambling

Gorgeous dog...

[robboh]

Thanks for the comments guys!!

Stubbs: I had an interesting time taking these photos, trying to get her to pose nicely I think Im gonna have to look into a f1.4 sometime

The real frustration was when I got back to the PC and found SO many of the shots with sharp noses or ears and not the eyes!! There were some very rude words said about the D70 that night! The top one; well, Ive gone back and looked at it again and I dont think it is that soft, just focused in the wrong damned place!! Having said that, I should have closed down a stop or two to compensate for the lower background-to-subject contrast as well.

They were all taken in AF-S, centre sensor using focus on the eyes and recompose methodology. Ive never had as many OOF shots as since I got the D70. It's incredibly fustrating at times. I havent done another session with here since the firmware update, so must try it again and see what I get.

Slider: Thanks

Jamie: She's a Malamute, which is often shorted to Mal, or we call her the moot (how the last part is pronounced). Tis funny actually, they ARE pretty mute (as in quiet). Basically never bark, just howl occasionally. And yes, she knows shes a beauty too

Andrew: Akita's are amazing looking dogs arent they, bet you miss them (but probably not how much work they are). Nope, not a husky, full-blown 40kg female Malamute. I'll post a 'full view' pic of her tonight.

They have a bit of sharpening (100/3 in Capture1 Pro which Im playing with), but its quite subtle. Thanks for the eye suggestions and also the 'white' area. I'll have a play with that pic tonight and see what I can do about lowering the exposure in that area (maybe do a multiple exposure merge or something) to get some colour back in the sky and less distracting.

[sirhc55]

A beautiful dog (wish I could say the same for cats) - the genre is possibly one of the most stunning looking, and intelligent looking dogs IMO.

I had a Samoyed named Stoli.

[KerryPierce]

Beautiful dog, Robboh! My suggestion would be to use f/2.8 to f/4, maybe more, depending on the perspective of the shot. A softened fill flash would have evened out the exposure and colors.

The closer you are to the subject, the smaller your aperture can be while still giving a nice OOF background.

[cyanide]

I have no useful comments on the photos but I can't resist saying how gorgeous she is!!!!

Malamutes are the only breed I have ever had, or ever will have. Wonderful dogs, although not the easiest of breeds.... My favourite quote/comment about their willfulness: "At some point, any self-respecting young malamute will reach a point where they decide that if you throw the ball, you can damn well fetch it."

Unfortunately it will be a few years before I again live somewhere suitable for a moot, so for now I have to satisfy myself with beautiful pictures like these....