Taking the High Road

In a blog somewhere in another time, the topic was "shoot from above," or something very similar.  It is the theme this week, and normally I skip duplication, but having done some Fall sessions the past two weekends, I noticed something about some of the shots I liked best, and why that might be the case.

So I looked back through some of my past photographs and realized a pattern that often led to more successful shots.

The three things I noticed readily were:
(1)  I was standing on a plain above the subject.
(2) Standing on a plain above the subject cause the subject to LOOK UP almost every time.
(3) The "look up" expression was almost always a great one.

If I had to add a fourth item, based on my experience and memory, it would be:
(4) Since I wasn't kneeling or stooping to try to get on the same level as the subject, the subject would often remain where they were (i.e. dog would not try to run to me thinking I was in play mode, etc.).

Taking a "higher road" seems to be something I do often.

Below is a shot of Talley I had added to a recent, previous blog.  I edited it to add the Fall theme of leaves, but I was clearly above her on a different plain, and her expression, and curiosity over my being there, are clear in her expression.

I just added the image below to my Facebook business page.  Keeping a dog that loves water out of the water can be a very trying experience.  I've filed that in my memory banks.  But having the owner hold the dog on a very long lead, and then moving above the scene, kept the dog's interest in me.

And certainly, Cash got to swim after the session.

There are other examples of "shooting from above," that are a little more textbook than simply placing yourself in a spot a few levels up from the subject.

If you have a dog that loves to roll over on his back to show how happy he is, especially when he has a lovely orange ball to play with, then catching a few photos of upside-down-ball-dog should be shot from directly above.

Our Luke is an exuberant ball handler, who can remain upside down indefinitely.

Taking the high road can make for some very fun photos.  Cats are often great subjects to take from above as well.  Our kitty, Luna, is a specialist at laying upside down everywhere in the house...but that's another blog.

To see more photos of things shot from above, the blog circle photographers are waiting.  Start with Susannah Maynard of Pet Love Photography, photographing Cincinnati area dogs for “Tails of Cincinnati,” a coffee table book to benefit SPCA Cincinnati.  Work your way around the circle until you find yourself right back here.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever plain you are on!