Use Artificial Light in Dog Photography
You’ll likely take a lot of your dog photos indoors under man-made light sources. When you’re inside, you have more control over the light, which is good because indoor light isn’t always quality light.
Though you probably won’t notice it while you’re behind the camera, traditional fluorescent lights and CFL light bulbs can cast an odd color in a room; you may realize this when you start to color-correct your photos during the postprocessing phase. However, thanks to (or maybe in spite of) Thomas Edison, you have many ways to correct for poor or inadequate light indoors.
Built-in flash and dog photography
Most digital SLR cameras, as well as CDCs, come with a small built-in flash that pops up from the camera when you don’t have enough light. Unfortunately, these built-in flashes leave a lot to be desired.
One problem is that they blast light at your subject from directly above the lens, which happens to be a very unnatural angle for light to come from and leaves your subject looking pretty unflattering. Another drawback is that sometimes the lens gets in the way of the flash, which casts a horribly ugly shadow (or cloaks your entire subject in darkness).
Here is a good example of what happens when you use your pop-up flash. Suddenly, your cute dog develops glowing alien eyes. When shooting in low light, avoid using your built-in flash at all costs.
17mm, 1/60 sec., f/8.0, 80
External flash and dog photography
An external flash is a separate, battery-operated unit that connects to the hot shoe (that little metal connector that sits above your viewfinder) on your digital SLR camera. If you’re shooting with a CDC, you’re out of luck in this department.
The main advantage of an external flash is the ability to control the direction and intensity of the flash. Here’s a brief introduction to two external flash techniques.
Bouncing your flash: Even with an external flash on your camera, you still shouldn’t point it directly at your subject. Often, photographers use an external flash as a bounce flash to create a soft and dispersed light.
To create a bounce flash, simply point your flash head at the ceiling instead of directly at your subject. When the flash is triggered, it shoots straight up, hits the ceiling, and reflects back down onto your subject.
You can also bounce your flash off of a wall if the ceilings are too high; just remember to find a white wall or ceiling so you don’t end up with a strange color cast in your photo.
Using fill flash: Your external flash can be a surprisingly great tool for outdoor photography as well, especially if shooting in direct midday sunlight is the only option. Adding a small amount of fill flash to your photo can lighten up the contrast of a midday shot.
You may feel funny at first throwing on a big external flash on a perfectly sunny day, but the result speaks for itself. The trick to using fill flash is finding the right balance: Use too little and it doesn’t do anything; use too much and the artificial light becomes too obvious.
Experiment with your external flash at different angles. Start at 45 degrees so the flash shoots slightly up and away from your subject. If your subject is still too shadowy, try pointing the flash directly at your subject, but be sure to dial back its intensity.
Just like the power of a regular flashlight is less intense in bright daylight than in a dark room, so too is your external flash, so when using it outdoors, it’s sometimes okay to point it directly at your subject.
Studio strobes and dog photography
Studio strobes are powerful, off-camera flashes that you typically see in a portrait photographer’s studio. Essentially, they’re external flash units on steroids. Some flash heads connect to a separate power pack, whereas monolights have power built right into the flash heads.
They offer an even wider range of control than external flash units, but they aren’t the most portable type of artificial light options. They’re also more expensive than an external flash unit.
![[Credit: Photo courtesy of Speedotron]](http://media.wiley.com/Lux/29/301629.image1.jpg)
Credit: Photo courtesy of Speedotron
If you’re looking for a studio-style portrait of Buck on a solid-colored background, studio strobes may be for you, but remember that they are an investment!
Dogs Glossary
A-B-C assessment
Checking a dog’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
Dogs Glossary
animal shelter
1. An animal control agency run by local government to protect people from animals, take in strays, and manage animal issues and problems within the community. 2. A privately run shelter managed by individuals who want to protect, advocate for, and find homes for animals.
Dogs Glossary
BARF diet
A method of feeding dogs as closely as possible what they would eat in the wild: raw flesh and bones, along with vegetable matter from the stomachs of their prey. The acronym stands for either Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Dogs Glossary
blow out
A twice-yearly shedding of a dog’s undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
blue slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
breeder
A person who raises, sells, and often shows dogs of a specific breed. Reputable breeders screen parent dogs in an effort to produce healthy dogs that conform to breed standards.
Dogs Glossary
castrate
The removal of a male dog’s testicles to render him infertile.
Dogs Glossary
clicker
A small hand-held device that makes a sharp cracking sound when pressed. Paired with a food reward, an effective dog-training tool.
Dogs Glossary
cohesive bandage
A stretchy wrap that clings to itself used to cover and secure gauze bandages without tape.
Dogs Glossary
come into season
The advent of a female dog’s term of fertility.
Dogs Glossary
dead ring
The stationary ring on a training collar that pulls on the collar, not the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
double coat
Two layers of fur — a top coat of stiff guard hairs and an undercoat that serves as insulation.
Dogs Glossary
dropped ears
The term for hanging or drooping dog ears.
Dogs Glossary
Elizabethan collar
A wide, cone-shaped plastic or cardboard collar that prevents a dog from being able to scratch her head. Used to prevent further injury or hasten healing.
Dogs Glossary
euthanize; put to sleep
To kill an animal to relieve suffering.
Dogs Glossary
fall
Hair that extends over a dog’s eyes.
Dogs Glossary
feathering
Long hair that runs from armpit to paw on the backs of a dog’s legs.
Dogs Glossary
free-feeding
Keeping a constant supply of dog food available so that the dog can decide when and how much to eat. It works best in single-dog households where there’s no competition for food.
Dogs Glossary
heartworms
Parasites that live in dogs’ hearts and cause heart failure. They’re transferred through mosquito bites.
Dogs Glossary
heat
The period when a female dog is fertile.
Dogs Glossary
heel
A command and position in which a dog walks at your left side staying with you as you change direction or pace.
Dogs Glossary
hip dysplasia
A painful malformation of a dog’s hip socket. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Dogs Glossary
hot spot
A localized area of skin infection. It’s usually round, red, and warm to the touch.
Dogs Glossary
live ring
The floating ring of a training collar. Attach a leash to this ring for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
neuter
A general term to describe either spaying or castrating a dog to render it infertile. Neutering and castrating are often used interchangeably.
Dogs Glossary
pantaloons
The tufts of hair on the backs of a long-haired dogs legs that make him look like he’s wearing bloomers.
Dogs Glossary
pedigree
A diagram of a dog’s ancestors for three or more generations that lists the registered names of the dogs and the titles they earned.
Dogs Glossary
pinch collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
praise
A verbal reward for a dog , such as an enthusiastic “good dog!”
Dogs Glossary
prong collar
A training collar with interlocking prongs that pinch a dog’s neck when tugged on. Some veterinarians recommend them above all other collars for training purposes.
Dogs Glossary
pulse
Normal dog pulse is between 70 and 120 beats per minute. The pulse of a puppy ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute.
Dogs Glossary
puppy mill
A place that supplies puppies to pet stores, usually without screening for possible genetic defects or properly socializing the puppies.
Dogs Glossary
registration certificate
The paper certifying a dog’s registration with an accredited organization.
Dogs Glossary
registration slip
An application to register a purebred puppy.
Dogs Glossary
release word
A word that lets a dog know that she is free to move.
Dogs Glossary
rescue group
A network of animal lovers who rescue and find new homes for their favorite breeds or animals.
Dogs Glossary
reward
To give a dog a treat for a correct response while he’s still in the desired position.
Dogs Glossary
ruff
The long, thick fur around a dog’s chest, shoulders, and neck.
Dogs Glossary
separation anxiety
A condition in which your dog becomes anxious and stressed when you leave him.
Dogs Glossary
shed
A twice-yearly process of casting off the undercoat in a double-coated dog.
Dogs Glossary
single coat
A single layer of hairs that comprises a dog’s fur.
Dogs Glossary
spay
To remove of both the uterus and the ovaries of a dog to render her infertile.
Dogs Glossary
stripping
Plucking the dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Dogs Glossary
titer tests
Tests that check a dog’s immunity levels to determine exactly which vaccinations are needed.
Dogs Glossary
top coat
The top layer of a double-coated dog composed of stiff guard hairs that tend to be naturally water-repellant. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and undercoat.
Dogs Glossary
training collar
A collar that enables you to guide your dog and to check her as necessary — a brief, sharp tug tightens the collar around the dog’s neck.
Dogs Glossary
treat cup
A plastic container filled with small treats or dog food. Shake it and give treats from it as a reward as you train a dog.
Dogs Glossary
undercoat
Fleecy or downy fur shorter than the top layer of a double-coated dog. The undercoat serves as insulation.
