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Aloha's Big Day
Aloha's Big Day
Ann


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pet Portrait III (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm f/2.0D
Location: home
Date: Feb 24, 2008
Aperture: f/6.7
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/180
Galleries: Humorous, Animals
Date Uploaded: Feb 24, 2008

 Aloha's 2nd birthday is this week. The bathmat is on the floor because she doesn't have any traction on the paper, and kept sliding down. The "cake table" is the plant stand that we put her food dish on.

It's hard to light a dog with a black face and light colored body. Usually the face is all blocked up and the body is washed out looking. 5 lights. Key light on the right side into a white umbrella, fill on left through a huge diffusion panel. Background light laying on the floor behind her (partially cloned out) to create the halo around her. Snooted light on the left side of her head, and gridded light on the cake from the right.

Post processing....

* Crop
* Slight levels adjustment
* Clone out part of the background light (behind her foot).
* Screen layer to lighten parts of her face
* Multiply layer to give some density to the cake and its background
* Resize, sharpen, SFW


Post challenge....

I had this idea for a birthday card weeks ago, and finally made the time to do it when this challenge came up. The card looks fabulous, exactly as I envisioned it. I'm considering doing a whole set of greeting cards. I'm happy with the score, especially considering that it isn't really a classic 'portrait.'

Statistics
Place: 10 out of 261
Avg (all users): 6.9154
Avg (commenters): 7.8824
Avg (participants): 6.6635
Avg (non-participants): 7.1856
Views since voting: 3658
Views during voting: 408
Votes: 201
Comments: 28
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/03/2008 01:31:02 PM
What a beauty.... she has magnificent lines.... fabulous portrait, too! My first Dane was her color, she was a real sweety.

From one Dane owner/lover to another!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 09:37:17 AM
Simply love this shot..... She is most adorable!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 05:43:12 AM
This is a great party dog, just so funny, congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 01:08:04 AM
Oh my goodness...I could only dream of how large the mess is when this big fella goes to the loo! It would have to be in 1 kilogram lots wouldn't it??? ;)
Congrats on the top 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:47:20 AM
Pets wearing hats. Always funny. :) Congrats on the top 10!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:23:05 AM
This is so cute I can hardly stand it. I love that expression!

Happy Birthday Aloha. . .I hope she really got to eat some of her cake since she made such a great model and gave you a top 10 finish in this :)

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/02/2008 04:18:26 PM
That is just a fantastic shot, the colors of the cake and hat really make the shot.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/02/2008 12:14:12 AM
Whatever the result of this challenge may be, you should give Aloha an extra cookie for this great expression. Wonderful photo, nice setup.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/29/2008 09:41:37 PM
Love the expression he looks so fed up LOL!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/29/2008 03:14:06 AM
I'll be very surprised if this doesn't pull a ribbon. Lighting is great, pose is nice, and the expression is priceless. The bright splashes of color from the party hat and cake really make this stand out more from the others.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 05:49:39 PM
Why the long face? LOL
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 05:25:22 PM
This is almost a Hallmark card.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 09:18:48 AM
to die for, oh gosh, how adorable is your model. his calm composure and elegant pose, whilst still looking interesting and have emotion in the eyes is outstanding. Oh and the photographer is pretty good too 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 03:38:43 PM
Nice lighting, focus and dof. Nice dog too! 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 03:10:40 PM
lol that is soo cute. great idea, and the dogs expression is perfect-8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 12:57:37 PM
LOL - wonderful! I think I remember Aloha wearing Christmas lights - we love the name. My girls love this picture. They keep asking if we can look at the "Birthday Doggie" - great job!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 09:34:40 AM
We have a winner... If not I will call for an investigation! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 08:29:48 AM
This is so good it is my top pick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 02:30:11 AM
Very cute idea from a very cooperative one year old. As an improvement on future shots, I would try not to have wrinkled fabric for a table cloth
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 07:00:26 PM
nice setup, big dog!! good focus and contrast
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 04:19:21 PM
Nice focus!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 01:27:45 PM
How in the world did you get that big dog to sit still for this photo. Awesome job. Great lighting and focus. Love the expression. You are definately more creative than I was in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:33:46 PM
OMG what a sad "little" face on such a special day!
Looks like a sweatheart of a pal! *7*
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 08:28:19 AM
There's something irresistably funny about dressing up a giant dog :-) Even if it's just a birthday hat. I'm impressed she's not drooling with food so near! I don't know if I would have used the carpet with it only partly under her; I feel like I should pull it out farther so she can sit her rear on it, too. She looks patient, but not comfortable.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 01:41:05 AM
This is a great shot. Very funny.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:53:58 AM
LOL - this is great! From the picture to the pose to the look on his face, they all make me smile. Very Good, Very Good!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:44:03 AM
scooby-dooby-dooo!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:20:20 AM
Good lord, give that dog a treat!! What a face. hee hee - great sport he must be.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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