Shadow

Hi all - thought I'd share a non-wildlife image with you. This is Shadow, a 4yr-old Newfoundland that became part of our family this summer, joining our two Saint Bernards. Shadow may be the most endearing dog I've ever encountered...she has a truly remarkable character and is for all intensive purposes a big, black grizzly, using her paws to anchor objects to chew on, raiding our stash of elk and deer antler sheds, carrying any and all containers to us that could have food in them, etc. More than anything, she wants (needs) to be wherever the kids or family is, so she's become the house dog while the Saints guard the acreage.

Jenaya and I have been intending to get some decent pictures of her for a while, and last night I looked out and saw the light was just fantastic but there wasn't enough time to head out for critters, so we took Shadow and my older Saint and did a short shoot with them. Jenaya is beginning a pet photography business (she's just an animal fanatic in general whether wild or domestic) so it's nice to have such a great model to work with when she's not shooting other people's animals!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. I noticed the blacks appear pretty contrasty or even blocked on a couple of my devices that tend to increase the contrast for more pop on pictures, but I can assure you there's good detail and gradation on my primary monitor and iPhone anyway! Please let me know if you think this needs additional work in that respect.

Thanks for letting me share...

Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8 G IF-ED VR
ISO 2200
1/160sec @ f/5
-0.7EV
handheld with VR on, kneeling on ground for best camera angle

Processing Notes:
Converted from RAW using Phase One Capture One Pro 7
Minor adjustments to tone and contrast using Nik Color Efex Pro 4 and Viveza 2 before converting to B&W in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
Additional selective adjustments and dodging in PS5
Cloned about 2.5lbs of grass and debris from Shadow's magnificent mane and coat