Hey guys, I'm doing a cross post from a different group in hopes of getting some critiques (hope that's ok).
This is Sadie and Lily. Sadie (toasted marshmallow color) is a Basenji mix who is hard to get a bad picture of (I might be a little partial ;-) ) and Lily (brown) is our new rescue who is shy and fearful of everything, including the camera.
After about 45 minutes of just hanging out, playing and just pointing the camera at her she eventually softens up for the close up shot.
All of these images were taken on an Canon 5D mark ii with 50mm 1.4 lens.
The photo of the two of them in the same frame was intended to be a story telling shot, showing the difference in personalities and not a portrait.
Love the first closeup. Good focus on the eyes and a good point of view - dog level. The one where she is in front of the fence tells more of a story than the shot of them together. There is no mistaking the sense of discomfort she feels. The viewer may not be able to tell it’s because she is a new rescue and in unfamiliar surroundings or if she is being scolded for chewing on someone’s shoe but there is a connection with the camera. The framing could be better and it’s a little soft but it’s engaging. The double shot doesn’t really reveal anything about their personalities and the background is distracting. You’ve got the lime green dish on the left and that black and red logo on the right and the lime green vase or lamp at the top. They’re all right at the edges of the frame. They draw the eyes away from the dogs and poor Lily is totally out of focus. Sadie is looking so far out of the image you wonder what is so important that she’s not engaging with the photographer.