It is my pleasure to introduce you to our newest Newfoundland, and probably the sweetest dog we've ever owned or known.
This is Snowshoes The Big Lebowski, a gorgeous male Newf we brought into our family in December. He is the biggest suck EVER--craving attention and coming up on my lap every night, tucking his head into you during pets and hugs and cuddles, always hoping for more but never even remotely obnoxious in asking. And with 6 dog lovers laying it on, he gets plenty of attention! He's also the biggest suck in another way: unlike our larger female Newf, Shadow, Lebowski's pain tolerance about 0.5 on a scale of 1-10. Who'd of thunk. 
We haven't done a formal portrait session with Lebowski yet, but I did get this shot the other day when he was playing with the kids while they were out sledding. I haven't had time to do much by way of processing, and now that this is up on the web, I'm thinking it looks a little cyan, but it WAS a cold, overcast evening, so it's probably not far from how it felt, if not looked. 
I hope you find our Bowski Bear as attractive as we do, and I would genuinely appreciate any suggestions for improvement to the image/file (Please view LARGER first for more accurate tones and contrast).
Nikon D600
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR
ISO 1000
1/50sec @ f/4.5
-1.7 EV
monopod mounted
cropped slightly from left, top and bottom (app. 90% remaining of original full frame)
Comments
5 commentsWow--sure missed on the colour and tones on the original IMO...here's a new and improved version which is more accurate--Lebowski really is nearly pure black.
Hi John,
Second version works for me with less cyan. I like the pose and the frame filling subject which implies size. Some may not like the snow on the dog's fur, but a newf has to have some form of water on its coat to be truly happy, I like the snow in this photo. Well done John and Snowshoes is a fine looking Newf......................................Jim
What a handsome dog, and a great portrait. I like the calm expression. I always wanted a Newfoundland, but never owned or had ready acess to sufficient land and clean swimming water to make it practical.
Like drowsy bear and almost weighing as much.
He looks very serious, John. The dusting of snow is a fine touch and sure sets of his black fur well. Yeah, the repost has a lot less cyan. I'm curious why in both version the fir at the back of his head, going out of focus, has a strong cyan cast. Since your color adjustment doesn't seem to have changed that significantly, I'm thinking it's an optical effect