"tony cooper" <tony_cooper213@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:d7o5049epp8egrvejvlft2rasln46f7g45@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:21:00 GMT, "Dudley Hanks"
> <hanks.dudley@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>>Crop lines, that is...
>>
>>http://www.geocities.com/hanks.dudley/Dima.html
>>
>
> Kinda depends on what you are trying to present. Are you presenting
> an image of Dima, or presenting a composition with Dima in the image?
>
> There's an interesting pyramid of the lighter fir (pun intended)
> behind Dima, but - in my opinion - it leads the eye away from the dog.
> It's like a big arrow directing the eye to go upwards.
>
> If your intent is present an image of Dima, then I'd crop it
> horizontally lose the trees. Put Dima's tags on a vertical line about
> a third of the way from the left of image.
> http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f244/cooper213/dima.jpg
>
> Overall, your composition is too balanced for my taste. Static.
>
>
> --
>
> Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
Thanks, Tony, I appreciate the feedback.
Concert photography was what I loved doing in the past, so action, drama
energy were what I strove for. With my present current shift to more
still
life type shots, it's taking a bit of experimentation to achieve the
effect
I want. So, I am grateful you pointed out the overall static atmosphere.
As for my intention, I am not so much into doing a portrait of Dima;
rather, I want a composition which tells a bit of her story. When we
graduated, GDB brought in a pro shooter to do a grad portrait of the two
of
us, so I have a shot of her in harness by my side which looks very nice.
With my first guide, Bonner, he loved to lay around on the beach. When we
were on holidays, when we frequented the beach areas of Vancouver, Canada,
and the Sunshine Coast (a bit north of Vancouver), Bonner was in his glory
just lazing around, lying on the sand and trying to dig holes (when I
wasn't
looking). So, I took a good shot of him in that setting, a very low-angle
shot taken from just in front of a fore-paw, his head lifted, mouth open
in
a smile like expression and his eyes gazing out over the water. The shot
was low enough that his head was surrounded by sky, and the light --
nearly
white -- sand adding contrast to his darker fur.
When people think of guide dogs, they have this stereotypical view of
guides
which excludes the dog's real nature. What people miss is that guides
have
a life out of harness as well. I don't want just another shot of my
guide,
in harness, on the job, playing a supportive role. I want the shot to say
something about my guide's soul.
In Dima's case, she loves the great outdoors. When we go camping, she
relishes in chasing squirrles, birds and little things that hop, scurry or
slither across the ground. She would run off into the trees and find a
big
stick and bring it back. Then, we would play tug with it, and she would
chew it to pieces. She would wait for wasps, bees, dragon-flys and other
flying insects to get close. Then, she would whip out her muzzle and snag
them in mid-flight. She got stung a few times, but it never slowed her
down. one time, when she was in harness and we were at a busy bus stop,
waiting for a bus to take us home at the end of a busy day, she forgot
herself and leaped about four feet into the air from a sitting position,
snagging something that got too close. She snapped her jaws about 3 or
four
times in mid-air before she got it, but she got it. At least, that is
what
one of the totally shocked bystanders told me, after regaining her
composure. I think they thought Dima was a rogue guide who was about to
go
for their throats -- sort of a Cujo in harness.
This is why I want something in the picture to symbolize the woods -- and
her spirit.
While I didn't plan the big arrow pointing to the sky, I like what it
stands
for, and I want to thank you for pointing that compositional element out
as
well. I have been thinking about doing a reshoot in a different area to
see
what I get, but the composition you describe almost sounds poetic,
definitely prophetic.
Today, Dima is having a bit of an off day. I have been getting used to
her
nearly back to normal demeanor, but she was a bit quieter and calmer today
than she usually is. I wouldn't say she has been lethargic, but
definitely
more subdued.
I'll need to monitor her closely tonight, I think.
Thanks for the suggestions, Tony.
Take Care,
Dudley
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