outwest

Sookster, husband says large aperature (low/small f stop #) and the background should be further away from the subject than the camera is to the subject. Does that make sense? This was also an overcast day. With a black dog an overcast day works better, but it has been difficult! You'll notice he looks a little bluish instead of black, but I still loved it. I have sojme others that came out well, too, but I posted enough! It was a successful shoot.

outwest

31 weeks: 7 months! I can't believe he is already 7 months old.

What with the holidays, I only got a couple of snapshots this week.

Jazz got a puppy for Xmas.
A boy and his dog


"What's the problem? Why can't she just open the door and come in already?":

Lou

The 2nd picture at 29 weeks in the best close up of a black spoo i have ever seen!!!!! Gorgeous ;-)


Sent from my iPhone using PG Free

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[IMG] Lou poser gorgeous girl 8mo by Louthespoo, on Flickr[/IMG]
Lou is a million times more perfect than I could ever imagine. She is a wonderful little soul, a well behaved sweet young lady that brings smiles to everyone that meets her. And she has definitely won my heart forever

Jacamar

Also, if you use photoshop or similar to do post-processing and sharpen the image, the smoothness of the blurred background can be ruined by the sharpening algorithm, giving a splotchy or grainy look. If your software allows it, sharpen only the foreground.

Also, the quality of the blur (called "bokeh" by photography snobs ) is also a function of lens quality. Better lenses give a lighter, "creamier", and more natural looking blur.

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"I cant talk now, I have to get home and groom my poodle."

outwest

32 weeks:

He is in conformation classes to see if he can get buck up and allow anybody to go over him. He's still young, so instructor feels there is plenty of time. I have an appointment with a show groomer for Jan 29th. Until then Jazz remains a shapeless mass of black, but he is clean and brushed.

I have so much hair now I can hardly see, but my teeth are white.


Oh, no! Whippets always ruin my stick fun. I’ll hide the stick in my mouth, he’ll never notice. Shhhh...don't tell!

TLP

Wow Outwest you are not kidding...that is one hairy boy...how can you keep up with it? He has a beautiful coat...just so much. I can't wait to see him after he is groomed by the show person. Good luck at the Conformation classes. Cosi was the same at first. We brought him to classes and he was not too keen on the instructor going over him. But the classes really really helped.

MollyMuiMa

Excited to see him after his 'show' groom........but I just love how fluffy he is right now! I think I have a soft, fluffy, stick my face in it, poodle hair fetish.......

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I pledge allegience to Ms Royalty
In the United States of her kingdom
And to her rules for which it stands
One Princess under God
In the visible
With diamonds and bones for ALL

petitpie

You were worried about his lack of hair? Beautiful boy!

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outwest

TLP, It is not easy to keep up with the hair. I try my best to make sure he remains tangle free, clean and sparkly. It would help if the boy didn't pee on himself! I have to constantly wash dried up pee off of him or he starts stratching at it. What the heck is with that?! Can't boys with lots of coat not pee on themselves!!??

I am excited to post before and after pictures, but mostly excited to get some shape on the dog. It is better for me not to touch his hair with scissors. You can always take hair off, but you can't easily put it back on.

The instructor in the conformation class is also a judge, handler and breeder, not of poodles, but she owns a standard poodle! Whoo Hoo! She grabbed my husbands arm and said, "Wow!" the first time we went around the ring. She was very complimentary about him. She said I definitely should work with him, so I will try. It doesn't matter how pretty he moves or stands - he has to let strangers touch him without flinching! I figure he has 2-3 months to suck it up. Wish us luck!

I have a lot of assigned homework to do...

outwest

I should have posted this picture to show his hair. I swear it has grown an inch in the last month.