This week's blog post is about creating silhouettes of your dog (or any dog). It's all about the shape, form of the object you're photographing. Late afternoon, just before sunset provides a brighter background allowing for creating a silhouette. In order to create these, meter the sky behind your subject and then lock those values in (I used manual mode on my camera). Then frame up your subject against the brighter sky letting the dog go to black.
Check these silhouettes out.
The first one actually shows a little 'rim' lighting around the dog's face showing little bits of fur in a few places while the overall face is dark and without much detail.
Dog head silhouetteDog head portrait at sunset using silhouette techniques
The second photo (below) shows more of the dog's body along with some shape to the overall head and face. In this photograph, the dog was on a bench and I was down below her using a wide angle lens.
Dog silhouette at sunset on benchDog silhouette at sunset on bench
This young dog is striking the pose as a little dog treat is held above her head.
Dog standing - silhouette at sunsetDog standing - silhouette at sunset
The last photograph shows a silhouette of owner and dog - in this photo, the dog is being asked to hold a stay pose on the bench (hence the raised finger to tell her to stay).
Silhouette Photography with dogsTrainer and dog - silhouette
That's it for this week's blog post - if you have some time, go out and try doing some silhouettes of different objects - whether it's your pet or some other object that can be easily identified with form alone.
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This is a personal project that I try to participate in each week (as much as possible). This post is part of a 'blog circle' which is with several other Professional Pet Photographers around the world. Each week a different theme is provided to the group and we, as pet photographers, interpret the theme in our own way. Follow the link provided at the end of each of my blogs to the next pet photographer's blog - and when you arrive back at my blog - you've completed the entire circle of blogs for this theme. For more pet photographers sharing their take on this theme, head over to Nicole Hrustyk of Pawtraits by Nicole shares a few silhouettes