one page notes: Pet Photography Tips and painting with lights

Pet Photography tips

• Catch your Pet's Character- 
  It’s a good idea to photograph pets in their preferred spots or enjoying a much-loved pastime such snoozing on the porch or catching a Frisbee. To capture a pet’s character, you can ask yourself what is unique about your pet and try to capture that uniqueness on camera.
• Freeze the action- Set the focus mode to continuous focusing (AI Servo AF Canon/AF-C Nikon) so that the lens can constantly maintain its focus on the running pet. For multiple shots use continuous shooting mode and hold down the shutter button as long as you’d like.
• Aim for the eyes- Use a standard lens (50mm) or a zoom lens that covers the 28-70mm lengths. Turn the mode dial to AV (Aperture Priority) mode and select a wide aperture for a blurred background. Use spot metering and focus on the eyes – this area must be sharp – and avoid flash if possible, for a softer look.
• Include people- A standard lens of 50mm is ideal for this kind of image. A shallow DOF (depth of field) keeps things in the center of the frame sharp so make sure you have focus on the eyes. Remember to be quick when taking this type of image because animals are easily distracted when outdoors.
• Get on their level- Getting on the floor and at the same level as your pet is a great way to capture some dramatic, yet natural shots. Lying on the ground usually prevents the use of a tripod, so to keep the camera steady you may use a camera bean bag, or a sturdy book as support.For the blurred background effect, choose a shallow DOF (f/2.8-f/8) and a fast shutter speed since pets can move fast! Shutter speeds of 1/400s and faster when you are outdoors is a good bet.
• Avoid using flash- Flash can scare them or make them nervous and hide. Additionally, flash is harsh. Particularly if you are indoors, it’s best to use natural light since this won’t wash out feathers. If your pet is light colored, white fur in particular will look washed out with a flash. Another reason for not using flash is because animals can photograph with red eye, like humans. Finally, try to avoid using flash with animals that live in tanks, because glass will reflect the flash making an unsightly white hotspot.

Recommended setting 

- If you pet is still or relaxing then try to avoid using flash as animals tend to dislike it. Open the aperture to let more light in instead. This also keeps the background blurred and works for artistic shots.

Recommended equipment

-A standard lens, such as a 50mm f/1.8 or f/2.8 is also useful because it can take good portraits and can work quickly in low light conditions without needing a flash.

Conclusion

-Pets can provide a range of interesting photographs from cute to dramatic. Build up a rapport with the animal; use toys and treats to reward them if they are behaving well and let them leave if they are bored of having their photograph taken. Feeding an animal first is always a good idea if shooting portraits as it leaves them relaxed. If your pet is going outside make sure you have another person helping in case they break free. 

Painting with lights 

-Painting with light is a fun technique that gives great results. It is called painting with light because this is what you are actually doing while taking the shot – painting with light.

1.  A camera capable of long exposures – film cameras will work OK, but if you really want to get the most out of the shooting session, use a digital camera.
2. A nice tripod. Since you will be doing some long exposures you want to make sure your camera sits still.
3. A flash light – and by flash light I do not mean flash as in a speedlight, but the flash light or what our British will call a torch.
4. A dark location. This one is tricky. If you are going to shot at home – a dark room will be OK. If you are going to shoot outside – make sure that you are not doing this under a street light, or where a car can come by and “paint its headlight” all over your shot.

This is how it works:

Set the exposure to a relatively long value. Stop down the aperture as much as you need. If you are outside do nothing. If you are inside – this is the time to turn off the lights.Once the shutter is open use your flashlight to light the stuff that you want to “paint”. You can use the flashlight as a brash, and “smear” the light, just like you would have done with brush and paper. Or, you can use the light as a pen, and do precise work. Areas where you go slowly will be more lit then others. Be careful not to linger to much over the same stop – you will burn it.

Here are some great ideas to use this technique with:

Product like shot – In a closed (dark) room place your product on a table and paint it’s contour. You can use several colors to make a strong effect or to draw different (even imaginary) parts of your object.

Location shot – find a location with some ambient light. Find an object that is less “hit” by that light. now you can use the ambient light to capture the background, while painting the object with light. You will get a nice effect – with some surreal foreground and a “normal” background.

Environmental Graffiti – If you are shooting a wall (or even on thin air…), you can scribe on the wall. Make funny graffiti; Write huge love notes; Make a political statement – there will be no trace left other then the one on your memory card.