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Great Dane photography is something for you as a Great Dane parent. It won’t make your dog’s life better but it will give you a way to always visualize the joy your dogs bring to your life even when they are gone.
I spend a lot of time and blog posts on places to take your Dane to experience the world and enrich their lives. This blog series is about capturing those moments in photographs.
When we lost our first Dane, Selar, I realized I didn’t have as many photos of her as I wanted and certainly not many good ones (as illustrated below). I had always meant to do a series called the Many Faces of Selar because she had such an expressive face but I let time slip by and I only captured a few of her expressions and most are on slides making them not as accessible as digital is today.
With the advancements and affordability of quality cameras and artificial intelligence everyone has become a technically competent photographer. But just because you have a good camera, including the camera in your phone, doesn’t mean you will automatically make awesome images. Great images aren’t just about the technology. Master photographers used equipment that is no where near what is available today, but their images still remain relevant.
The reason some photographs remain timeless are:
- Lighting
- Composition
- Moment or gesture
I will go into each of these with more detail in future posts but here is a short rundown on each.
Lighting
Whether you are inside or outside, lighting can be either natural or artificial. Natural is the easiest and cheapest but it can still be tricky. Artificial light can be either strobes or a constant light source. With either type of light you want a catch light in the eyes. Lighting also creates the mood of the photograph which is important for creating an emotional reaction in the viewer.
Composition
Where things are placed in the frame can create tension or stillness. If an item doesn’t add to the story it distracts from it. It is important to watch the borders of the image for unwanted items. Additionally, the use of lines and angles will guide the eye around the image.
There are various rules of composition including the rule of thirds or the golden spiral. Knowing when to follow and when to break the rules depends on your intent.
Moment or Gesture
The most important element for any photograph is the moment. The story or the expression are what make us laugh or cry. An emotional response is the what will make your photograph memorable. This is the hardest part.
The classic Elliott Erwitt photograph of a Great Dane and Chihuahua. Erwitt has a large collection of dog photographs as well as a couple books of just dogs.
Inspiration from other pet photographers
There are so many top notch pet photographers today that trying to list them all would take forever. The two linked here have totally different styles to illustrate the possibilities.
- Amanda Jones is known for her simple white backdrop studio work.
Anne Geier takes outdoor pet photography to a new level with her lighting and amazing scenery.
Do you have any challenges getting the photos you want of your pup? Post them in the comments.
I love your babies so glad I have been a small part of their lives. Miss you all
Ahh, thanks Cat. Miss you and I hope we can connect in person soon.