This is a portrait of a Dalmatian with a whimsical expression, caught with a tennis ball in its mouth. The dog has the breed's signature short coat with black spots distributed across its head and visible part of its body. One ear is flopped down while the other is partially lifted, contributing to the image's playful tone. The Dalmatian is positioned against a stark white background, which creates a strong contrast with the dog's spots and the vibrant yellow of the tennis ball. The lighting is even and soft, illuminating the dog's face without harsh shadows, suggesting the use of diffused studio lighting. There's a catchlight visible in the dog's eyes, which is commonly seen with studio lighting setups, possibly a softbox or an umbrella reflector positioned in front of the dog. Given the sharp detail on the dog's face and the fuzz on the tennis ball, a moderate to narrow aperture might have been used; perhaps something in the f/8 to f/11 range to maintain sharpness across the subject's features. The ISO was likely set to a low value to ensure the image remained noise-free, capitalizing on the controlled lighting of a studio environment. A Hasselblad X2D 100C with a prime portrait lens might have been used to capture this shot, due to the sharpness and the detail. The focal length was likely in the 85mm to 135mm range, which is typical for portrait photography, to help isolate the subject from the background and provide a flattering perspective. The shutter speed would not have needed to be particularly fast, given the controlled environment and the stillness of the pose, but it would have been sufficient to freeze any slight movement, maintaining the clarity of the dog's spotted coat and the texture of the tennis ball. This is a playful and engaging studio portrait that showcases the dog's character and the photographer's skill in capturing pet portraits.