Paws Up! Its Friday! - Pet Parade - Winter 'Light' (or not…)

… Is a great annoyance for photographers (professional AND hobbyist!) and pet owners!!!

Yo, folks! (New ways of saying hi everyday, BOLBOLBOL!!) Its Paws Up! Its Friday! time again this week, with us at Earl's World!  Here today, we just love to share some Friday fun and frolics, getting involved with cool blog hops for the day at the same time! Today, we are glad to say (that rhymes BOL!!), we are joining in the Pet Parade Blog Hop (see bottom of this post for more info). We hope you enjoy the post again today, and have a fine evening. Lets roll on today - one step closer to the weekend!!!

Today, I want to share the annoyance of light for both general photographers (outdoor/nature ones especially) and pet owners. The light in winter… well, you may as well not call it light! After half four here in the UK, late October, November, December, January and early February, the skies are black, and natural light is a light year (BOL, light, haha, I'm so funny…!) away from our thoughts and camera lenses.

That is why recently, on our blog, you will have noticed many posts including photos with a beautiful radiator and its little generator thing behind Earl, and tiles after tiles, shining weirdly because of the flash behind Ethel. And if its outside, its practically one of the dog's faces over a black background - no trees, grass, flowers, or anything, because I am simply not here in the day to catch that 'lighter' time!!

Earl, seen here helping me experiment with light and the camera, having just turned on his light source for me...

As you can see in the above photo, my generous boy Earl has decided to help me out with light and camera experiments I have been running tonight. See, bad-quality photos annoy me out of my wits to the point of panic sometimes… maybe OCD? Maybe… but I post them more or less anyway, because, with a tiny little digital camera that seems to have some odd issues going here and there, its almost impossible or a 1 in 10000 chance of getting a super lovely and professional looking snapshot.

So, as an example, compare the above photo, with the flash activated, to this one below, with (annoyingly!) the flags deactivated manually.

Ahhh, the many comforts of indoors!

Now. I hate photos of terrible quality, where its fuzzy, and you can't see the image well or at all - *GROAN*! It makes me feel funny, BOL. And this is the problem we face as photographers at this time of dark, dank year. A lack of natural light to enhance our photos. And with my little digital thing, the flash sometimes makes the photo less sharp. I am personally sick of boring indoor photos however - so this winter time, I have set myself a challenge - scrap the negative outlook, and dress up the indoors as some fun scenery with that indoor theme, but make it look good and meant to be there - not just a horrid, blank radiator.

So, here are 10 of my best thought up tips for you this wintertime (5 for photographs, 5 for general doggy stuff):

Shoots

1. Befriend your flash - without it, you'd struggle to shoot quality images.

2. Enjoy indoors - make a room in your house look fun and photo-friendly for shoots.

3. Accept it and be flexible - Instead of swearing at darkness (that sounds so dramatic!!!), bathe yourself in it's opportunities, and try not to get cross if photos aren't always as you'd want, light wise.

4. Fiddle online - Attempt photo editing on your computer or other device. It may be your saviour or at least impact your work positively for adjusting light and sharpening images, etc.

5. Obsessing could upset your dog - Taking so many photos with the flags going off could really startle your dog's eyes. Instead, take a few, if not right have a break or settle with one! Remember, to a dog, photos mean only a horrid flash, so don't overdo it if you're taking photos of living beings…

General

1. Be an earlier bird - when you get in from work/school, go straight out for a walk if there is still some OK light. You can experience better views yourself, see your dogs safely, and even take some photos and see if the light is bright enough.

2. Don't put safety at risk - if its really dark outside, don't take your dogs out to run around madly. They could bump into something or you could loose sight of them. Instead, go for lead walks, both human and dog(s) wearing some reflective/light-up gear. If this doesn't sound fun or helpful, brisk up your pace for a better workout.

3. Make the most on man - use manmade lights!! They're there to help, and we couldn't live  without them!!! Put them on inside (this will also help with your photography) and even consider installing some in your garden, or if you run evening/night canine activities, light up your area very well.

4. Like the dark - the dark is cosy, and for your dog, great for non-distracted sleeps. After a walk, a dark, cosy place to sleep can be just right for settling them down.

5. And finally, for both of our categories stated here, enjoy. Enjoy a new way of photography for a little while, and smile at the chance for different and exciting photo-shooting opportunities. Indoor photos can be cute, funny, and beautiful too, and the flash can enhance this. Also, enjoy preparing for the dark with light-up/reflective gear - take your immediate family out for an evening walk together, dogs and all, all lit up, safely. 

Look out for further winter safety and holiday gift guides later on on the blog! 

Earl prepares for a funny dark pic… he closes his eyes and rests his head… 1..2..3.. shoot!

Tell me a bit about your 'dark photography' and how you cope in the dark seasons with taking good quality photos. Does your camera work well in the dark to adapt? Do you have a period of time for indoor photos?

We're delighted to be participating in the Pet Parade Blog Hop, very kindly hosted by Rascal and Rocco (our main host), plus willing co-hosts Jan's Funny Farm, Bionic Basil, Barking From the Bayou, and Love is Being Owned By a Huksy! - Thanks again, guys!

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Also, don't forget to cast your kindly vote for me and Earl for the Dogs Monthly (Magazine) HiLife 'Best Friends' Trophy 2014, if you haven't already. This award means the world to us, and to get it would be totally incredible and lifting. Our relationship is special - if you missed the post, visit it HERE and see for yourself fully.

To vote, email Kathie.L@abmpublishing.co.uk with 'Best Friends' in the subject box. In the main body, write 'I would like Summer Clark and Earl to win the HiLife Trophy 2014' (or something along those lines, stating CLEARLY our names). That's all, you can then hit send! Alternatively, write to Best Friends, Dogs Monthly, 61 Great Whyte, Ramsey, Huntingdon PE26 1HJ. Voting closes on 4 December 2014, so get your votes in ASAP, and support one wonderful little terrier and the human girl he has 'saved'!

Every vote counts, and we are eternally grateful for EVERY single person who votes. Thank you SO SO SO much for your such generous voting!!

Earl and I are a fantastic pair, with an incredible relationship and story <3

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