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Posted by Kathryn (Warburton, Australia) on 14 November 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

I hardly ever do portraits - i don't like having to direct a person while taking a photo and i like to take my time and not inconvenience anyone. So this portrait type of image is very rare for me - my puppy Bronte is very patient with me and likes to pose as you can see! She is usually hard to photograph well as getting the right exposure is hard due to the contrast in her fur.

I thought i would post this image after seeing Calvy/Abhi's photo the other day. Bronte is a beautiful puppy (i know i am biased but she really is!!) with a beautiful temperament and she is very smart and well behaved. We got her nearly exactly 3 months ago from an animal shelter. she is a labrador x kelpie x something else and has a slight harelip which in my opinion makes her all the more sweet!!! We feel extremely lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to adopt her into our family!

Thank you all so much for your lovely encouraging comments. I am getting quite busy and am finding that i don't have a lot of time for both photography and maintaining this blog as much as i would like to so i probably won't be able to reply to each and every comment from now on but i promise i will eventually get around to visiting your blog! Happy snapping everybody!

Kaha the Kiwi has set off again on his journey around the world to see all of his AM3 friends. Keep up to date with his adventures on his own blog here. Safe travels Kaha and i hope you have a ton of fun!

Thanks for viewing my photograph!
All feedback, especially constructive criticism is welcomed and very much appreciated. Enjoy your day!

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Comments (25)

Desparado from Despo Ville, India

Awww!!! SO cute:) Her pristine eyes have that tint of mischief and I loved the twirls and twists in the slightly closed ears:) She looks a distant cousin of my other canine!
It's lovely to see her in full frontal portrait mode...just shows how much regards you hold for her!
God bless you & dear Bronte!!! Do post more pics of her...

14 Nov 2008 6:12am

@Desparado: yeah she is great! her ears are weird - over a two week period they change; both ears are folded down (lab style) then one will go up (kelpie style) then the other will follow before they both take it in turns to go back down again. it is most amusing!!! i have another pic which i might post soon which involves her favourite toy - a washing line peg!!! haha she is addicted to the plastic! Thanks Desparado!

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

Look at those love eyes. She is indeed beautiful. A great portrait.

14 Nov 2008 7:22am

@Steve Rice: Thanks Steve! I have passed on your compliment to her - haha!

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Such telling eyes....She obviously loves you to bits:-) What a lovely story. I'm glad you found her too. I hope you will all have many years of happiness together:-) Thank tyou for sharing your lovely Bronte

14 Nov 2008 7:28am

@Linerberry: Thanks Liners! she is lying under my feet right now, her usual position when i'm on the blog, and i am passing on the lovely comments!

chrissy from London, United Kingdom

Aah she is so cute, amd those eyes. a ovely portrait

14 Nov 2008 8:05am

@chrissy: yeah she is, though she did just get told off for hassling the cat!! she just loves to constantly lick him and can't understand why he doesn't like it!!! haha. Thanks Chrissy!

Chimti from India

She has the most telling eyes I've seen in dogs...and looks very kind, like a mother almost...Beautifully taken and am sure the pup is just as much cherished by you :)

14 Nov 2008 9:31am

@Chimti: indeed she is! Thanks Chimti, i have passed on your comment to her!!! haha

R.Mariscal from Spain

Nice shot !
Hello and thank you for having begun to visit my photoblog. In the photo of the eclipse there uses an lens Sigma 80-400/4; 5,6

14 Nov 2008 10:29am

@R.Mariscal: Hey R! It's my pleasure and thanks for the info and your visit!

MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

The look in those eyes.It melts your heart. Beautiful 'puppy' portrait.

14 Nov 2008 10:31am

@MaryP: yeah and she uses it to her advantage - especially when she wants your toast in the mornings! haha. Thanks Mary!

Veronelle from Lens, France

lovely dog ! :-))

14 Nov 2008 1:35pm

@Veronelle: Yeah she is! Thanks Veronelle!

Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States

Oh... so incredibly sweet... me, I miss my Red Cattle Dog that is back in Australia... I would LOVE to have a Kelpie here though but in the US they are SO expensive and I don't really have the room for one of them to really run.

14 Nov 2008 2:01pm

@Fliss: yeah you need a pretty big yard - sometimes bronte just runs for 10 minutes straight!!! i bet your doggy is sweet too- as they all are!! Thanks Fliss!

greg from Denver, United States

adorable!

14 Nov 2008 2:03pm

@greg: yep!!! Thanks Greg!

Mary from PA, United States

Adorable Kathryn !

14 Nov 2008 3:36pm

@Mary: yeah i think so too! Thanks Mary!

PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States

Hi Bronte!

14 Nov 2008 3:54pm

@PD: hehe i'm sure she would say Hi back!

Florence from Paris, France

What a lovely dog indeed... so sweet ! A cracker !

14 Nov 2008 4:16pm

@Florence: Thanks Flo! yeah too sweet sometimes - i never wanna go out and leave her!

willow from Chelsea, United States

She's adorable! She looks very sweet and patient in this image - great capture of her personality.

14 Nov 2008 4:30pm

@willow: Thanks Willow - I was quite happy with this one!

willow from Chelsea, United States

She's adorable! She looks very sweet and patient in this image - great capture of her personality.

ps - is she emily or charlotte? or am i barking up the wrong tree? (sorry, couldn't resist the pun)

14 Nov 2008 4:30pm

@willow: haha nah neither - she was actually named after one of the Australian Olympic swimmers - we got her while the Olympics were still on!

Bookfool from Vicksburg, United States

I agree, she's beautiful! She has such sweet eyes. I have the same trouble with my black cat with white trim. Black and white fur friends are difficult to expose, but you've done a fabulous job.

14 Nov 2008 6:50pm

@Bookfool: they are also really hard to see at night aren't they?!- we nickname her the shadow! Thanks bookfool!

Shrig from Washington, D.C., United States

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments you left all over my blog! I feel as though I've been in a slump lately, but I'm sure that will go in time :)

It looks like you have a wonderful companion here! I'm rather fond of animals, so I look forward to more shots with your dog :)

Cheers!

14 Nov 2008 7:31pm

@Shrig: not a problem! you have a nice blog and i really love today's image! i hope your slump clears up soon - just get out there and take some photos - it usually inspires me! Thanks Shrig!

Chris from France

Nice picture. My dog does not pose like that! I understand when you say that it's difficult to expose correctly as your dog is black and white.
If I may, I would advise closing the lens a bit more than f5.6 as the focus does not extend up to the nose. Nice to have the background blurred though.
Cheers, Chris

14 Nov 2008 8:24pm

@Chris: yeah i really wish that i had used a smaller apeture but i think i remember having issues with the light and i was working hand-held - also the focus might not have been so strong on her eye... i don't know but thank you for the suggestion - i will try to remember for next time. cheers Chris!

Vinman from Clacton-on-Sea, United Kingdom

I used to have a black Newfoundland dog so I know how difficult it is to take get them to look black and keep detail in the fur. I like the minimal depth of field but sharp eye as well.

14 Nov 2008 9:51pm

@Vinman: cheers Vinman! yeah it is pretty hard. i am personally in two minds about the dof - i like it shallow so that the focus is strongly on her eye but am then a little annoyed that the nose is out of focus. i think that the former wins out though! Thanks for the feedback!

Jeffster from Long Island, United States

Cute pup with soft brown eyes. Looks very gentle.

15 Nov 2008 12:31am

@Jeffster: yeah she has a very gentle personality but still gets stupid sometimes! haha Thanks Jeff!

Charles from New York, United States

Nice shot. Looks like one active little pup. Like the crop.

15 Nov 2008 1:54am

@Charles: Thanks Charles! Yeah usually she doesn't let me get this close to her - i think i actually snuck up behind her and she turned around and i clicked! haha - have you seen the movie Zoolander about the rediculous male model?? well it reminds me of that! haha

JJ from Jersey City, United States

ohh Bronte is so cute, and your have captured her, the eyes are stunning

15 Nov 2008 2:01am

@JJ: yeah she is so adorable! Thanks JJ!

Zing from Hamilton, New Zealand

So cute, nice focus on the eyes.

15 Nov 2008 5:19am

@Zing: yeah. Thanks Zing!

Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand

Very loving big brown eyes that have the look of wise old eyes. Great shot Kathryn! How very lovely to have found each other.

15 Nov 2008 4:44pm

@Maxine: yeah she does seem pretty wise and she learns things so quickly that we have said many times that she is an old soul....but then as soon as we say that she goes and barks at a bucket!!! haha!

Anita from West Nottingham, United States

Very nice portrait of you puppy! You did a great job with details in the black and the white areas, which, as you wrote, are a challenge.
I know exactly what you mean about the challenges of taking portraits. Those are the same reasons i don't take portraits of people.
This photo would be improved by cloning out the speck of dirt on the puppy's face between the eyes, as well as the 3 white spots to the right of her face.

18 Nov 2008 1:26pm

@Anita: Yeah you are right - now that you have pointed those things out, they are very distracting! haha. i will definately try to clone them out. Thank you very much Anita!

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Pentax K100D
1/250 second
F/5.6
ISO 400
75 mm (35mm equiv.)