Mick's hound

Posted by John Leech (Grange-over-Sands, United Kingdom) on 26 June 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

I'm sure most visitors to my pages will be familiar with Ian Bramham's photography Ian Bramham. I've followed his emerging talent since he first bought a DSLR - not that his talent took long to emerge. I'm sure any viewers who have not seen his work will appreciate this link.

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Comments (7)

Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom

I don't think I commented on this one at Flickr but it's an exceptional photo. The detail in the blacks of his coat and the obvious lustre of health and vitality are really well captured.

Didn't you say on Flickr that you'd try to get the dog looking on a level with the camera instead up upward next time?

I bet Mick is pleased with this. People think of their dogs as family members (I know I did) so I'm sure there's a market for this kind of photography if you market it.

26 Jun 2009 7:50am

Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom

I forgot to ask if you used a flash?

26 Jun 2009 7:51am

@Ian Bramham: Thanks Ian. As mentioned elsewhere this was a spontaneous rushed set taken at one of my fave locations in the lakes - the top of Steeple - a minor rock which sticks out of the back of Scoat Fell above Ennerdale. With a pack of runners keen to move on to the next peak I didn't have time to think too much. The backdrop was looking good with washed out light while we stood in shadow. Had I gone up there to take black dog photos I'd have taken a couple of reflectors and my flash, but I was on minimal kit (camera and lens) so no flash on this one. I'd want to use off camera flash to work with the dark coat. I took some at an earlier peak, but the direct sunlight caused a few probs, mainly shadows from other runners which I hadn't picked up on, though I did like the blackness of the blacks on those. Very little pp, minor exposure tweak and a touch of sharpen masked to just the face. I think this is the most successful of the set, with the dog low I'm not as concerned about the head angle, though I'm mixed on that foreground rock. There was a better pose but one foot was clipped the rock. Mick is keen to get a big print for over the mantelpiece, not sure if he's going for one of these or whether it will be a reshoot!

Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom

Thanks for the detailed reply.....I hadn't really noticed the foreground rock until you mentioned it but I see what you mean now.

It's interesting to see how important the background of the mountains is in this....I suppose they are the real working environment for a dog like this. The photo just wouldn't have been the same in a studio.

26 Jun 2009 8:30am

@Ian Bramham: There's an article in the current Creative Review about CGI in photography. It is so common in feature films that it rarely gets a mention these days - I was surprised to find that most of Sweany Todd was photographed on green screen, I didn't see any joins when I watched it! A film is more likely to grab headlines if no CGI was used! The software is now decked out with a range of architectural styles and lighting to make set design child's play. Where is it all leading??? Sadly, into still photography. While there is an element of excitement to it, shooting someones dog in a studio and then plopping it onto a stock image of perfect lighting in Ennerdale or maybe some CGI landscape will start to ruin the chance of a good day out. Weddings - oh, never mind the weather, we're shooting your perfect day in our garage with a surround green screen, then producing three albums, the Vanbrugh, the Venice, and the Vagas (Johnny, not USA).