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Waiting - WC719
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Waiting - WC719

by John Launstein

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted January 18, 201660 views5 comments
When Jenaya and I aren't pointing our lenses at a wild subject, chances are pretty high we're photographing dogs. 

I had the opportunity to create some portraits and action shots of this handsome Golden Retriever, Magic, this summer and noticed right away how incredibly attentive (focused) he was on his handler. Because Magic is both a companion and a working retriever, he spends a lot of time in water training. We went down to the river to get some shots of him leaping into the water after tossed bumpers, and between these action sequences I kept admiring how his focus stayed glued on his handler, and knew I wanted to capture that moment. I was already thigh-deep in the river with my tripod, but I sidestepped upstream, planted the tripod legs into the river bottom and squeezed off this shot.

Thanks for your time and any comments, critiques or suggestions you may have.

Detail view (small box with arrows under the image above) shows this off a lot better IMO.

----------------------

Nikon D7100
Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR
ISO 800
1/500sec @ f/4
.33 stops underexposed from meter
Mounted on FEISOL CT-3372 Elite tripod with Acratech GV2 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on January 19, 2016 at 1:45 AM
This is an excellent capture, not only of a nice looking dog, but of a special relationship.  I like the B&W on this one.  It looks like you got exactly what you were after, John!
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on January 19, 2016 at 8:30 AM
You caught the intensity very well, John.  This looks like it could be a magazine cover.  Including the hand and the bumpers completes the story.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on January 19, 2016 at 12:29 PM
I never tire of your canine photos. As already stated, nicely done!
Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 19, 2016 at 7:59 PM
Love the concentration of the dog on his owner / handler.   Also your B&W treatment fits this portrait well.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by John Launstein on January 20, 2016 at 12:13 AM
Thank you very much, Gary, Mark, Jim and Eva! I did not have a lot of room to spare through the (effective) 450mm and would have backed up for just a touch more room but was rather precariously positioned mid-river here. I'm pleased you like it!
Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments