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Windows to the Soul
Windows to the Soul
jerowe


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pet Portrait II (Advanced Editing V*)
Camera: Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT
Lens: Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Location: Magnolia, AR
Date: Dec 12, 2006
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 400
Shutter: 1/100th
Galleries: Animals, Digital Art
Date Uploaded: Dec 12, 2006

 This is my beautiful 4yr old chocolate lab Ali.
the deadline on this challenge snuck up on me. i wanted to do an all out shoot w/ my studio lights, but time did not permit. shot this before one of my college finals today. hopefully i'll get a good grade on both the test and this image ;) i originally wanted to put her in a santa hat, but figured there would be enough of that going on in this challenge so decided not to.

she loves to pose for the camera. :D i wanted to do something that would really bring her eyes out, and i think this did it. some might think it's creepy, but it's very beautiful to me.

kindof odd how i set this up. it turned out JUST how i wanted it, and maybe it was plain luck, or maybe i'm getting better at setting up things with trial and error...but i had her sit still...and drool a little bit.. cause i wanted some drool on her whiskers for added detail, then i gave her a biscuit. then, i made her bark by telling her to speak (she learned this when she was a few months old ) and this spread the drool all over the place. then put another biscuit treat right by the lens, and voila! picture taken.
edited, and boom. done.

post processing:
curves adjustment layers
levels
tons of dodging and burning
resize for web (640 on the long side)
unsharp mask on the lightness channel in lab mode
save for web

good luck to all :D

***Post Challenge***

WWOWOWOW my 2nd highest scoring image. it was fun watching this one climb up. congrats everyone that entered, very well done.

Statistics
Place: 26 out of 378
Avg (all users): 6.5752
Avg (commenters): 8.3333
Avg (participants): 6.3721
Avg (non-participants): 6.7664
Views since voting: 2185
Views during voting: 430
Votes: 266
Comments: 21
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 07/05/2007 10:18:28 AM
That's one handsome lab. Never mind the technicals - look at that face : )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2006 12:35:10 PM
i think is a stunning work...congrats!10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/26/2006 11:05:13 AM
Compostion Γ’€“ I am just not comfortable with this composition. I am not sure if itΓ’€™s the crop that throwing me off. I think maybe placing the whole head in the shot would have changed his look even if the head was on an angle.

Technical & Set-Up Γ’€“ From reading your comments the setup and lighting looks good and your methods of creating something different from the norm by creating a semi-wet look is excellent. This also shows in the comments from the other members and a lot of them liked the wet look. Looking at the rest of portfolio you have a good understanding of you camera and your technique is very sound.

Post Processing- Overall the processing has been done good as there is good clarity and your view of getting his eyes to attraction to the photograph is one spot. As soon as I looked at the photograph the first thing that drew me in was her eyes.

Opinion Γ’€“ This image fits and works very well for this challenge. You have just a beautiful lab and you have managed to capture that with excellent clarity. My biggest change in this photograph would have been the composition and this would have just been getting more of his head into the shot and not such a tight crop.

Hiral Patel
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2006 06:38:55 PM
Perfect...a gorgeous Lab portrait
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/20/2006 05:47:16 PM
Again, very very nice! I gave you a 10. Great detail and focus.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/19/2006 10:45:38 PM
Wow, just about perfect
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2006 09:19:53 PM
Gorgeous - great rich warm color, beautiful eyes nicely captured. Love the bit of wetness on the whiskers
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2006 03:44:53 PM
This is my pick for the blue ribbon. Very nice! - 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/19/2006 02:09:01 PM
8 - Nice crop and composition. Wonder about a little more ear top left, so perhaps a slightly taller frame. And, 'if only' both eyes evenly lit, but fairly minor.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/18/2006 04:39:11 PM
Good luck saying "no" to those eyes....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/17/2006 02:06:22 AM
A beautiful entry. Just a bit of halo around the ear but no big deal. Nicely done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/16/2006 08:17:24 AM
Love the eyes, and the expression. Nice lighting. I'm a sucker for chocolate labs.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2006 06:15:01 PM
Great eyes and fur some how the comp is not quite working for me maybe too much space on the right. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/15/2006 12:38:14 PM
Lovely brown lab . .
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2006 07:13:08 PM
very very nice!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2006 04:35:33 PM
Good face and dewdropped whiskers. Not sure about title insofar as the eyes are not the "one" feature.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/14/2006 07:07:59 AM
Striking image. Lovely colors and excellent detail. The water droplets on his whiskers ar ecool. Bumpin gup to an 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2006 05:17:19 PM
Beautiful dog and love the background. Really goes hand in hand.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2006 02:56:27 PM
I like the wet look, good shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2006 09:48:36 AM
Nice lighting, DOF, pose.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/13/2006 09:11:36 AM
Nice honest doggy portrait. I like the wet on his whiskers. Maybe it's my eye, but there are areas that seem a smidge over sharp. No detraction - maybe I need my glasses. LOL 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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