# Kona's Thread I take a lot of pics of Kona, because he is always outside and is difficult to photograph [and I really like him]. I figured I would start a thread dedicated to his pics, the ones that I feel are worth sharing. Hope you guys enjoy! ---- ## Thread In Kai Ken · started by brada1878 · 74 replies - **Category:** [Kai Ken](https://nihonken.org/community/c/kai-ken) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-01-17T23:06:58.000Z I take a lot of pics of Kona, because he is always outside and is difficult to photograph [and I really like him]. I figured I would start a thread dedicated to his pics, the ones that I feel are worth sharing. Hope you guys enjoy! ---- ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2009-01-17T23:19:15.000Z Kona is so handsome! ## _dlroberts · 2009-01-17T23:24:16.000Z The sequence of three face shots are great Brad! Looking at them I had a thought. The background is totally blown out so you can see the detail on his face. Maybe you should try to HDR some of his photos? Doing it on camera might be a pain because I suspect he doesn't keep still very long (and you'd probably need a tripod), but isn't there some software that lets you HDR photos in RAW format? Just a thought. Great spam! ## asia · 2009-01-18T01:58:04.000Z You made my day!! Thanks! ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-01-18T03:27:12.000Z Interesting Dave, I had never done that before. I had to look up how to do it in PS CS3. I had 2 different "exposures" of one pic, so I tried it - not sure I got the best result since the 2 "exposures" were not that different, but here is the result... Next time I will purposely shoot him at different settings in order to get a better result after HDR. ---- ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-01-18T03:29:29.000Z Back to back of one of the original photos and the HDR version... org: HDR: ---- ## _dlroberts · 2009-01-18T03:34:54.000Z Hmm. Interesting Brad. I think we might be on to something here. :-) I think you can see more detail in his face and tail, and especially in his ears. The background is also a bit more defined. ETA: I think his brindle shows a bit more clearly in the HDR version too. I'll be curious to see how things work out! Also, your camera should automatically do exposure adjustments for HDR. If you go into the settings menu, there is an "AEB" adjustment (Auto Exposure Bracketing) that allows you to dial up to +/- 2 stops. On mine, AEB is right above the flash exposure compensation (FEV). I think you can get 1/3 stop increments. So, if you set it to 1 stop, your camera will then automatically take three pictures in a row at -1 stop, neutral, and +1 stop which you can then HDR using CS3. ## lymura · 2009-01-18T04:42:54.000Z Kona is such a handsome boy. I just love his little face! ## Leonberger (admin) · 2009-01-18T08:07:08.000Z Kona looks great. I especially like his head. For the HDR, even if you just have one RAW file, you can make 3 jpegs out of it, with the exposure corrected in CS3. One to -1stop, another to +1stop, and one as is. Then you can combine those. This way you can retrieve some far out, almost clipped highlights, and boost the under exposed parts of his face, while keeping what is well exposed as is. In that HDR, it seems like it only boosted the low lights, blowing the highlights in the process. But you definitely can see more detail on Kona. ## shelbysmom · 2009-01-18T08:22:54.000Z He totally looks like a dark, longer-haired version of my Shelby! Maybe that's why I love the Kai so much? I just wanna kiss his lips! Love him and all of the pics! ## sujewel · 2009-01-18T09:53:25.000Z I love that third pic. He looks so commanding! I'm not a photo expert, but you can definitely see more of Kona's face in HDR. The right side of the original had a great deal of shadowing. Though, i did notice too, that the posts in the background have whitened/softened in color too. ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-01-18T20:55:55.000Z I have been waiting for this thread for a long time!! Love Kona! You could take a picture of him with a cell phone & you'd still have an amazing shot ;) ~ ## KFontaine04 · 2009-01-19T10:35:54.000Z Kona really is a gorgeous dog. I love the one of him standing on the fence. ## asia · 2009-02-09T20:58:21.000Z Umm...Kona spam for those of us in withdrawal?? ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-02-10T01:36:13.000Z +1 to Amber.~ ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-02-10T13:11:54.000Z Here ya go... I probably took 50 shots of him yesterday and only 4 came out due to the lighting from the snow [back light]. ---- ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-02-10T15:35:05.000Z Yay! <3 ! Thanks Brad :) I have no idea what it'd be like to shoot with all that snow around. I imagine I'd get very frustrated, so kudos to you! ~ ## asia · 2009-02-11T01:24:24.000Z Thanks Brad! I have never done much photography in the snow. We had to in my intro class, but that's been so long ago, and no digital then :( I love the first one (perhaps a desktop photo?) I had one of Kona on my desktop a while back (I'm constantly changing my desktop image), and everyone wanted to know if that was my dog. I told them it was the dog I wanted, and then had to add "well, not the exact dog, cause he belongs to someone else...but I would love one just like him..." And then of course they wanted to know if "the owners" knew a "complete stranger" was putting a pic of their dog on the desktop... I am pretty sure they thought I was nuts. :) there was a little Kai look alike at the park this past weekend, and I kept trying to get a closer look, but no luck. ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-02-11T01:40:16.000Z lol, between my three computers I always cycle through Ahi, Loa, Rakka, & Kona, & then Katja's shikas Mike & Kuma <3 ~ ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-02-13T16:17:43.000Z I think this round of pics are some of the best I have taken of Kona... In these pics I was trying to make him look "tough". ---- ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-02-13T17:20:52.000Z Oh, wow! That last one in particular is my fav! Didn't realize Kona had a "mane" lol :) ~ ## lymura · 2009-02-13T17:48:09.000Z He does look tough in those first two pics. I wouldn't want to mess with him. lol. Great pics! ## Romi (admin) · 2009-02-13T21:07:52.000Z wow - nice pics brad! you can really see his features in those pics. He looks so wise...aww..i love kona! ## the_november_rain · 2009-02-13T21:11:22.000Z The first two are awesome! ## shelbysmom · 2009-02-13T21:35:15.000Z He is just so incredibly handsome! He has a muzzle just like Shelby and lips that look oh-so-kissable! Shelby hates it when I kiss her, maybe when I get a Kai someday they won't mind a mom that wants to kiss on them? LOL I just LOVE Kona! Great pics yet again Brad! ## ljowen123 (moderator) · 2009-02-13T21:45:49.000Z I like these as well - you can really see his features in these shots. ## sunyata · 2009-02-13T22:08:34.000Z I think he looks more distinguished than tough. :) He is definitely a handsome dude. ## Sangmort (moderator) · 2009-02-14T01:56:54.000Z btw; He needs his Leather Collar for those pics! ~ ## wliu003 · 2009-02-14T02:18:20.000Z what a confident looking dog! ## lingmorton · 2009-02-14T09:03:58.000Z what a handsome dog :) --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)