Animal Pictures Indoors

[Laserguy]

While rummaging through a directory of pictures from a couple of months ago, I found a picture of one of my cats that I wanted to like, but didn't. The shot was nicely in focus, and he had an amusingly intent facial expression, but I hated the colors. The white balance was off, making everything too yellowish and drab, and the background was "meh" at best. Nothing I did in software was making anything any better. On a whim, I switched it to monochrome in the RAW converter, and it immediately became a much better shot. A bit of fussing with the levels and I had both my and my wife's favorite ever picture of our cat. Buoyed by my success, I found a picture of my beagle that had similar issues with drab color, and made another satisfying image. Black and white portraits (of people and animals) can look great; who knew? (Note to self: See about reinventing that "wheel" you've heard so much about.)

 

[Vic B]

Black and white can really make a difference with some shots.

Vic B
Photo blog: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/victor/hereandthere
Blurb books: http://www.blurb.com/search/site_search?search=victorb&filter=bookstore&commit=Search
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

 

[cosinaphile]

i completely agree... sometimes the color info is just so much nonsense, and a photo stripped of it becomes a much greater thing, tone makes the point first....... light and dark .......without distraction... ive saved many a photo this way
yet,
color is beautiful , i mostly shoot color .... and you are completely correct


cheers

 

[ahuyevshi]

I love color but I prefer B&W... Shades of gray are the only way to see the beauty and simplicity of life... My mutt... 1/2 boxer 1/2 pit full baby.....

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[BBW]

Great photos you two and I agree both as an animal lover and as someone who never was very into black and white, as a means of my own expression.

Laserguy, if you only knew - I have posted way too many animal shots in my Photo A Day blog...and I seem to have them in my galleries, too. Here are a few. Meanwhile, Boris - you've been keeping your beautiful dog from me! Both you and Laserguy have just gotten Gold Stars in my book.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[ahuyevshi]

BB, Lol... when my ex and I split my pup had to move in with my mom... I see her at least 3x a week... I miss her so much, but my parents can provide a better life for her... Hence not many pictures... Now my dad loves her more than my sisters 2 pups.. My sister and parents share a 2 family house... So the 3 of them play all day every day...

Her & Her pitbull/lab cousin

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

her rotty cousin

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[Christilou]

Black and White

I always try a black and white conversion before I completely dismiss a shot I might otherwise delete. Sometimes it just redeems it sufficiently to become a keeper. It can also be a double edged sword because it can then become difficult to decide what works best for a particular image!