Dogsly - Photograph, Love, and Share Your Dog Pics

Ok, if you know me then you're likely well aware that there's 3 things that I'm really into... these are mobile technology, photography, and dogs, specifically, my best friends Zoe and Nash! Over the years I've likely photographed them hundreds of times and shared their pics widely. Well now, thanks to the cool Dogsly app I have an Instagram-like service that enables me to snap a photo, add an effect, geotag the location, add a description, and share via social media (like Twitter and others).
Dogsly is available for iOS - I use it on the iPad2 and is a very awesome way to catalog and preserve your pooch pics while on the go... kudos to the developer for a great idea on this one! See Dogsly.com or search "dogsly" in the iTunes store.

Using Dogsly on iPad2 to add an effect to a photo of Nash

Dogsly - Photograph, Love, and Share Your Dog Pics

Galaxy S II Mobile Pet Photography Tips

Photographing Zoe is one of my favorite things to do with a camera. Having a sweet, smartphone camera such as the Samsung Galaxy S II makes it very easy and fun to do. Here's a couple of images snapped in Victoria near Elk Lake. All I needed was a cool, crisp day, lots of sun (even with the sun pretty high in the sky the photos turn out quite nice), the Galaxy S II, set to capture in high-res although no special effects were used... oh, and finally, the last thing I need is a pooch like Zoe who will sit still on command until I'm finished!

 

For best results snapping your pet I suggest the following: go to a quiet location away from other people and pets, prepare your camera and desired settings prior to putting the pet into a down position, issue the down or sit command and act fast to position your camera but move smoothly. Finally, I prefer to hold the camera away from face so I can look the dog in the eye and so that she can see mine. If you have a pet that is trained well... snap away!

Galaxy S II Mobile Pet Photography Tips

My Galaxy S II pic of the day #vmtester

A vibrant image captured with Galaxy S II 4G. The camera manages bright light conditions very well, photo captured in Normal mode with a strong enhancement which really pulls out the colors and fine details.
Sent from Samsung Mobile

My Galaxy S II pic of the day #vmtester

FxCamera photo from Samsung Galaxy S II

 

Photo captured on Samsung Galaxy S II 4G using the free, FXcamera app for Android, toggled onto BxW setting. A simple, basic camera effects app with a number of options

Cool app!

FxCamera photo from Samsung Galaxy S II

10 Tips For Photographing your Dog

Trying to get a great photo of the pooch to hang on your wall or share with your friends on facebook? I’m a long time dog lover and an avid fan of photographing them. Here’s a couple of pointers that could help you although there’s no substitute for having a well trained dog!

10 Tips For Photographing your Dog

1. Be Fast – C’mon, you have a digital camera, snap away, don’t just stand there messing around trying to get rover positioned perfectly, take the freakin picture already!
2. Get her to sit – 99% of the time, a sitting dog (or lying) makes for a much better shot than if they are standing or walking around
3. Remove distractions – Get rover to sit in a place where he won’t be bothered by a bird buzzing him, squirrel running by or other things that will definitely drive him nuts
4. Talk to her – Once she’s sitting nicely and you are ready to roll (you are ready with her positioned within the viewing frame right??)  to to the pooch as you would normally so she feels comfortable. For added effect, just before snapping, mention a “hot” word like “are we gonna go to the PARK” to get that anxious look for the shot
5. Cookie! – If all else fails, keep some treats in your pocket, if you can get the dog to sit then try one handing the camera and hold the treat high above the camera so she looks right at it
6. Multiple Dogs – Unless you have a couple of dogs that are very well trained, trying to photograph 2 or 3 dogs in one frame, all sitting nicely is very tough to do… good luck with that one! Note, this is easiest to accomplish indoors or in a very familiar environment – see photo below as an example.
7. Get Rid of the leash – Again, some training required, however, you’ll need to take the leash off. Photos with a dangling leash from the collar simply look bad.
8. Be Still – Be sure to snap several frames if possible and limit your movement. Chances are that if you move around fast the dog is naturally going to try and follow you around. Make very slow, deliberate movements and act casual when snapping. Try slowly getting to different angles like a crouch, hold the camera high, and move to the side. If you move slow she’ll hopefully stay positioned for you
9. Select Your Spot Wisely – Having a well trained dog will really help, but try and get him to sit in a spot where you can leverage a cool and relevant backdrop like a sign (a no dogs allowed sign in the background of a dog photo always brings a chuckle)
10. Be Patient – Take your time and take lots of pics. You’ll likely never get that prized photo the first shot so keep your camera / cameraphone handy and be prepared to snap at any time. Like many shots, lighting is crucial so setting the photo in the evening when the sun is low and the light is awesome will help you out and the dog might be a little tired and relaxed by then as well

10 Tips For Photographing your Dog