Popular Photography - February 2015 USA

READY TO
WALK
Parker shot
his golden
retriever at
home for an
ad. Made with
a Canon EOS
5D Mark II and
16–35mm
f/2.8L Canon
EF lens; 1/160
sec at f/4, ISO
400.
Find the Right Setting
“I see dogs as outdoor creatures
and that’s where I like to shoot
them,” says Parker. He says the
best outdoor locations offer
bright, natural light with ample
areas of open shade. A great
setting will put generous swaths
of uncluttered space between
you and the dog and between
the dog and the background. It
will also allow for long, flattering
portrait lenses (say, a fast-focusing
70–200mm f/2.8) and defocused
backgrounds. To keep your
canine calm, avoid distractions
such as people or other dogs.
Parker prefers naturally
occurring shade or that cast by
a large overhead silk or scrim.
If he has to shoot in direct
sunlight, Parker will work only
PERFECT
PAIR
A dog’s relaxed
or attentive
behavior
can suggest
affection or
interest in
people. For
this image,
Parker used a
Canon EOS-1D
Mark IV with a
50mm f/1.2L
Canon EF lens;
1/400 sec
at f/1.8, ISO
1600.
TAKE A
BREAK
For a national
ad, Parker
placed Piggy,
an English
bulldog model,
on her back;
the pup held
the pose
for several
minutes. “It’s
great working
with a pro,”
he says. Made
with a Canon
EOS 5D Mark II
and the same
lens as above;
1/2000 sec at
f/2.8, ISO 800.
early or late in the day, making
sure that his subject is backlit.
He fills in the backlight’s shadows
with reflectors or a flash.
“Bounce a speedlight off reflectors
or white walls, but never
aim it directly at a subject,”
Parker advises.
During the more traditional
portrait segment of the shoot,
he suggests having a wide
variety of your dog’s favorite
treats on hand. Most breeds are
food driven, and most animal
trainers use treats to direct
their subjects’ attention and to
reward and encourage desired
behaviors.
To use treats effectively, Parker
has an assistant tease the pet
by concealing the treat in his
or her hand, making sure the
dog knows it’s there. The ploy
usually provokes the desired
expressions. For group portraits
of a pet and its owners, these
expressions can suggest important
interaction, even affection,
between human and animal.
Act Like a Sports Shooter
Once he’s nailed a portrait that
meets the owner’s needs, Parker
gets active. Capturing dogs in
motion requires all the skills of
a sports photographer.
The best of these pictures
capture real moments that he
could never have imagined or
staged. To start, he might ask
owners to simply play with
their dogs. “Sometimes I play
with the pet myself while
making pictures, typically with
a wide-angle lens. I’m like a
big kid shooting, running and
jumping with the animal. The
results are images with energy,”
Parker says.
“Since I often find myself on
the ground, rolling with the pet,
assistants are essential,” the
photographer says. “They aim
reflectors, change batteries in
a flash, or toss me lenses. My
focal length needs can change
on a dime, and it makes a huge
difference having someone
there to quickly swap out my
lenses.”
On set with animals and their
owners, an assistant plays a
crucial role beyond the technical.
“They make you look professional
and can instill trust in
a pet’s owner,” Parker says. “In
the heat of the portrait session,
assistants organize gear, chase
after a mutt on the run, and
provide distractions that can
catch or redirect Fido’s attention.
I’ve even asked assistants
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