August- September Assignment Calendar Photos

[F, Calla & Luca]

Back by popular demand we are doing calendar photos this month. This should give us plenty of time to get photos, critique them,  and in general try to help each other in this tough competition : ) I am copying some of Adina's past guidelines so you will have an idea of what's acceptable, assuming they will remain the same. I will also track down some of the back and forth we had about what's she looking for as far as content when I get a chance. Please only post photos that meet the minimal guidelines. We should all try to be honest in our comments. Sometimes I think we try to be nice , always a good thing, but avoid helpful criticism , which can also be a good thing. In this instance helpful criticism is to be encouraged I think.

Update: Adina's Guidelines

Update: 2011 Calendar Submission announcement

Update:  This assignment is going to continue for the month of September

For those of you asking about cameras and editing, this was taken with my Nikon D90, and I did barely any editing. See, no snow on Calla's nose

The original:

My submission, later cropped a bit more for the 2011 labradoodle calendar cover:

 

Update: Here are some more discussions that may give you more ideas of what Adina prefers. You have to wade through them.

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***** If you crop, and you should only do this judiciously, the photos need a MINIMUM of 1800 x 2300 pixels when Adina submits them. It's better to leave a margin for error, Adina can fiddle with the size if she loves your picture and needs to crop a little.

[Ann Kendig]

Great scenery and photos. Most of the calendar photos the doodle fills the photo more than these when shooting try to get closer to your doodle or zoom in so the doodle fills the photo but the great scenery is still in the background.
The second photo conveys a sense of exploration and adventure to me. Where is this great scenery at? Mike

[Jodi and Stella]

Mike this is in the Lake Tahoe California area. I agree with the zooming idea, more doodle, less scenery.

[Ozzy Bob and Leanna]

Beautiful girl, and breath-taking background!  I'm not a photo editor, but to me your pictures are awesome and makes me want to be there!

 

[Carol and Banjo]

Stunning photos of a beautiful dog and gorgeous scenery.  I think for purposes of a doodle calendar the scenery may be over powering the doodle.  Just my humble opinion.    They're both fabulous photos!!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

This is not a shot I am considering for the calendar, but I was playing around in photoshop trying to figure out the cloning thing (which I haven't) and I kind of like the way this pic turned out, all I did really was darken the background and it sure made the doodle pop.

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh Donna....I just love this!   Surely, calendar worthy!   The contrast is striking!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Thanks Carol, I like the photo but I was thinking the background might not be that great for the calendar.

[Ann Kendig]

Quincy has definite POP in this photo and looks like he is about ready to jump out of the picture.  There appears to be a halo around Quincy.  The road is not as dark by him, was this from the darkening process?  If you can reduce or eliminate the halo I think it would help the photo.  Nice work.  I really like your photo of Quincy on your DK home page that has a boat in the background.  Mike

[Donna K & Quincy]

Thanks Mike, I was just fooling around with the photoshop trying to learn a few things and when I darkened the background I really liked the almost 3D effect. I'll have to try and get rid of the halo even though he is an angel. I'm just not that good with a mouse.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I like this a lot. I see what Mike is calling the halo effect. I like it. This is a really good photo of Quincy.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Of course he has a halo, he's an angel. LOL  It is from the darkening and I didn't get close enough when darkening the background. I was just playing and kind of liked the 3D effect it has.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Love the effect.