Spring 2016 Saber Tails 23
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
Indoor Dog Photography
by Bob Cohen
I
wrote previously about photographing dogs out-
doors. In that article I said photography is about
light. And it’s light - the kind, quality, and amount,
that largely differentiates indoor and outdoor pho-
tography.
O
utdoors we have illumination provided by the
sun. Indoors there can be illumination from
the sun or artificial light. Windows or skylights let
in the light from outdoors and can provide marvel-
ous light for photos near the window. Blinds or
curtains should be open to let in more light. The
light can vary depending on the weather outside,
the season and the time of day. My dogs love to
sit on the armrest at the end of a couch that is next
to a large window at the front of the house. That
window faces west and, in the afternoon, it lets in
a surprising amount of light. Over the years I’ve
taken photos of each of my dogs on that couch
as they watch the outside (one of their favorite
activities) and are illuminated by the light coming
through the window. That location is a favorite of
mine in the winter with snow outside. The snow
acts as a reflector and light softener, making the
quality of the light less harsh and more attractive.
A
t the other end of the harshness scale lie pho-
tos I’ve taken of my dogs on the floor in pools
of sunlight coming through the windows. This
light tends to be contrasty and somewhat harsh, as
it spotlights the dog in the warm light.
A
s in the earlier article, I’ll mention general
approaches that can work with any camera,
whether it is a separate camera or a camera built
into a cell phone, as well as technical suggestions
that apply mainly to interchangeable lens cameras.
If you’re using a cell phone or point-and-shoot
camera, just ignore my discussions of technical
settings.
W
hether direct sunlight or more diffuse light, I
prefer natural or room light (available light) to
flash when feasible. It tends to give a more natural
appearance and sometimes flash can bother the
dogs. Also, some cameras provide a preflash which
Bernie and Kiki singing
Taffy Yawning