anyone shot working dogs in the water?

[ekohl]

I have been asked to shoot a water dog trial. Anyone done it? I am thinking waders and a long lens to get down to the dog's level in the water.... Any suggestions or ideas? Examples?

Thanks!
d200
55-300 VR
70-300mm g
80-200 f2.8

[Roy]

One thing the judges don't want at a trial or hunt test is something that will be a distraction to the test but if you can get in postion I would add to what you already have in mind by getting set up with the dog coming in your direction. Lot's of these dogs (athletes) love to do big water entries. If you can capture that you will have some winners but if your in the wrong position all you will get is water and no dog. The best shots will be from the line, in the water and if possible the release to the handler.

Who is doing the trial/ test and what level will the test be? Beginner or advanced?

[ekohl]

it's an advanced level competition, and i'm shooting the two dogs of one particular owner. I plan to shoot the last "practice" day that dogs have, a week prior to the trials. The extra week will be practice for me too, and let me know if I'll need to rent a lens.

[DigitalDiva]

LOL! I thought you were asking if it was dangerous endeavor, I hope no one has been shot working dog.

[Roy]

The practice day will help a lot. There should be someone, either a trial committee or you may have to wait till the day of the trial and ask the judges prior to the trial that can tell you how close you can be. Since it's advanced, the marks can be long and there will probably be some handling involved if they are doing blinds. It's hard to say if you need to rent a lens until you know how close you can be. The judges usually come down to the trial grounds and have an idea well before the trial of how they are going to run it. Try to find out early. If you can get in cover I would think that the assortment of lenses you have now would be good. Just remember the best shots are going to be with the dog coming toward you and if it's a 200 or 300 yard mark even a big lens isn't going to do a lot of good. Probably what I would do is get several shots of the dog leaving the line but face on then as many as possible of the water entry then I'd move to another position to get the return to handler. Hope that helps but the practice session is going to help more than anything I say so good luck and let us know how it goes. I'd like to see what you come up with.

[ekohl]

will do, i'll post the good ones!

[ekohl]

For a practice day, not too bad:

www.thunderphoto.dphoto.com

they are in the Portugese water dog album..

[SaundraU]

Not bad but I guess I don't really get a feel for the whole event even after scrolling through a large number of photos.

[Graydon]

Pictures look good... but I'd have to agree... 164 pix is a lot to go through and the gallery doesn't load all that fast... and the thumbs are too small to "filter".

Nice gallery functions though... but not the easiest way to go through so many shots.

That out of the way.. pictures are good... got some leaping mid-air shots in there a couple of times.

I'd like to suggest culling out some of the better ones for posting here for c/c from others.

[jchooper12]

You seem to be framing all of the photos in the center of the frame. Try offsetting them, like when they dog is swimming, put him in the 1/3 to left or right (depening on which way the pup is swimming :o) I think that will help these photos some. Also, try to cpature what the dog is swimming to in the same frame, that will give the photo a subject.