What features should I look for in a digital camera if I want to take pictures of a black dog, either indoors or outdoors? I will also be taking action shots of this dog outdoors.

Thanks! -- Liza

-- Liza Klosterman (gatorpoo@mediaone.net), November 14, 1999

Answers

Here is site that has a photo of a black dog taken with an Epson 850Z: http://members2.clubphoto.com/john199182/Epson_850z_Samples_First_pict ures_with_Epson_850z/

You will probably have to piece the site name back together since this forum does handle long URLs well. It doesn't include what wraps to the second in the hypertext.

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), November 15, 1999.

That's my site! I've been referenced! - you can also get there with a shorter address than Bob mentioned as follows:

http://members2.clubphoto.com/john199182/

(use cntl-c to copy, cntl-v to paste).

I actually have a question for Bob - I notice quite a bit of 'blue sheen' on the dog's coat. Believe me, it's really a BLACK dog; is this some of the famous blue ghost showing up?

-- John Hoffman (johnhoff@incom.net), November 15, 1999.

You will need to have some exposure control to get good pictures of your black dog. At the default setting, your camera will try to expose the subject to produce a medium grey (18% grey) This usually works ok because it is a good average of the tones in the typical photo. If you take a close up of the dog, the camera will underexpose the black to make it grey and wash out the image. Adding exposure using exposure compensation will bring the tones back to the proper black. Most digital cameras have some form of exposure compensation.

-- Dennis Pereira (dpereira@ultranet.com), November 15, 1999.

Dennis has the general idea. But the camera will tend to overexpose dark subjects, causing them to be light (grey rather than black). The photographer must underexpose from the camera's suggested setting in order to darken the subject.

-- Steve (milwaukeechrome@aol.com), November 15, 1999.

Right you are. I'll have to start answering questions earlier in the evening next time.

-- Dennis Pereira (dpereira@ultranet.com), November 16, 1999.

John, your pictures are great. You must be pleased with the results.

Dave

-- dave clark (daveclark@mail.com), November 17, 1999.

It looks like I need to start checking this forum more often again. I just replied to comments about the "blue" black dong on Phil Askey's forum, but it looks like John's question has already been answered here. I also agree with what was said here. The metering system was trying for middle gray with your black dog and over exposed the shot. I have black cow and calves and find a AE adjustment of -.5 or -1.0 will be enough to compensate. I am amazed at how much I now use the AE control. With my 35mm SLR I never used the AE in 16 years of use, primarily because I didn't have the immediate feedback to let me know I needed too. With digital it is right there on the viewfinder and I don't mind taking another shot with the AE set one way or the other since it doesn't cost me anything.

-- Bob G. (rgreg88721@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.