Next to people, animals are the most popular subjects for photography. The animals that are closest to us, our pets, are friends, companions, and housemates. Animal photographs share many of the characteristics of other types of photography. They can be documentaries, showing the natural conditions of animals in their surroundings. They can be portraits that separate an animal from its natural environment to reveal a unique and often humorous personality.
This dog in front of a fan makes an energetic composition with visual interest. What other art elements and design principles can you find in this image?
In this animal portrait, indirect lighting enhances the soft texture of the dog’s coat. What kind of mood is created in this image?
This close-up of a horse’s neck creates an abstract image that could be a snow covered mountain. What patterns and textures can you see in this image?
Getting an eye-level viewpoint of your pet makes a better photograph. What elements play a part in this image?
The tight cropping and the wide range of values make this a strong image. How does the soft focus affect the mood and impact of the image?
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
For this assignment, you will choose to shoot either a portrait of someone with his or her pet or a portrait of an animal. If you choose to take a portrait of a person and a pet, keep in mind that you are trying to capture the relationship between the person and the pet. If you choose to take a portrait of an animal, make sure you use the same information you learned about human portraits and apply it to the animals. For example; formal portrait of an animal should have a solid background, focus on the animal; environmental portrait of an animal would be an animal in its environment; candid portrait of an animal shows its personality; faceless portrait of an animal does not include the face of the animal