3 objectives when taking a photo

[Goosemaster]

This is my boy little Johnny Jones flushing a bird.

This is my 1957 sweet 16 Browning

 

[Goosemaster]

This is my 1957 sweet 16

 

[Goosemaster]

This is my 1957 sweet 16

 

[AKSkeeter]

1. Place the phone slightly below the dog
2. Capture the landscape we are hunting in
3. Capture the "catch light" in the dogs eyes

This photo was from our hun hunt this morning.
My older lab, a bit beat up from hunting roosters earlier in the week.

 

[Js4fn]

Ride home from are hunt this morning he flushed me nice rooster but umm dad was taking pic of his dog. Doh

 

[Wind River]

I think a pillow for Christmas is requested.

 

[gfo]

These two can't be bothered to smile for a Michigan wild rooster, public land limit

 

[That1uncle1776]

Tried our best to behave

 

[KCrowley]

Lower than the dog is usually a good policy, and sometimes you can't get low enough!


But every once in a while, high above the dog is the best choice.



Usually eye contact makes a photo better, too.


But not always.


Shooting during the "Golden Hours" usually give the best results.


Include the environment, too.



The one tip I'd give other than those already mentioned in the thread is; a dog with it's ears perked invariably makes the photo better than a dog with it's ears back. Some dogs just hate being photographed, but if you rattle a box of treats or use a squeaker to get their attention, the results are almost always better.

 

[gimruis]

I've met that last guy a couple times at the annual Crappie Contest.

 

[AKSkeeter]

Lower than the dog is usually a good policy, and sometimes you can't get low enough!
View attachment 8998

But every once in a while, high above the dog is the best choice.
View attachment 8999


Usually eye contact makes a photo better, too.
View attachment 9000

But not always.
View attachment 9002

Shooting during the "Golden Hours" usually give the best results.
View attachment 9003

Include the environment, too.
View attachment 9005


The one tip I'd give other than those already mentioned in the thread is; a dog with it's ears perked invariably makes the photo better than a dog with it's ears back. Some dogs just hate being photographed, but if you rattle a box of treats or use a squeaker to get their attention, the results are almost always better.
View attachment 9006

Yes and "catch light" in the dogs eyes is also important!

 

[AKSkeeter]

First wild bird for my youngest at 9-months.

 

[AKSkeeter]

A photo to discard.
Got the landscape with this photo, but should have waited longer to capture the "catch light" in the dog's eye
and hope for a shot where no grass blade blocking the dog's face.
From yesterday's hun hunt in Montana.

 

[KCrowley]

A photo to discard.
Got the landscape with this photo, but should have waited longer to capture the "catch light" in the dog's eye
and hope for a shot where no grass blade blocking the dog's face.
From yesterday's hun hunt in Montana.

It's just my opinion, but I think that with most environmental shots it's advantageous to not have the dog coming towards the camera and because of that catchlight really isn't significant. Even if there is a dog (or hunters) in the shot, they're not really the focus of the image, it's the landscape you are trying to capture. Here's a published example of a dog coming towards the camera, but there is no catchlight. The dog-in-motion, the leading line and the fall colors are the most important parts of the image:


Here's another published example where the landscape is the feature of the image, not the hunter or the dog:


My favorite hunting landscapes always have something that draws the eye into the photo. This photo isn't mine but I included it in my last book because it's so good at drawing the viewer right into the scene. Anthony Hauck is the photographer and his dog Sprig is showing us all where to look:


This isn't a great hunting landscape and it will never be published in any magazines or books, but it is a good example of using leading lines to draw the viewer into the photo:


Again, all just my opinion.