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Photographing my cat's and dogs starting as a beginner: a long term project.

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Sydney Rester

New member
This was well received on another board,

4039053234_56f9a3eae1_b.jpg

​

but I'd be interested in hearing the opinion here.
 
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S

Sydney Rester

New member
I was trying to improve my technique here and focus right on kitty's eye's.


4014974535_02d1ca481a_b.jpg


Kind of cute! Enjoy. C&C appreciated.
 
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Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Sydney,

You are very energetic and am so impressed with your devotion to your pets. In sports, al the folk on each team are fit, good looking and energetic. However, the photographer wont get anything chosen by the paper that's not a peak action moment or some special composition. The image has to have something with punch, power or magnetism beyond the emotional bonds one has.

So I've been ruthless and killed a lot of your babies here! In doing so, I hope you'll realize that less is so much more as we now can focus on the best you have to show.



Always give your love the best flower, with the most memorable scent and you wont be forgotten.


That's true of snaps one shows. I have done it for you. See if you can now do the same yourself!

Asher
 
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K

Ken Tanaka

pro member
THese are some nice shots of your pets. I agree with Bart about the applied sepia toning, which I think is among the worst applied styles ever invented. The image is charming in it's own domain and needs no artificial sweeteners.

What is it about cats and sinks, anyway? Ours dives into the basin and begs for a drink, too.
 
S

Sydney Rester

New member
Ken Tanaka said:
THese are some nice shots of your pets. I agree with Bart about the applied sepia toning, which I think is among the worst applied styles ever invented. The image is charming in it's own domain and needs no artificial sweeteners.

What is it about cats and sinks, anyway? Ours dives into the basin and begs for a drink, too.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken for the kind words about the actual shots. That's the part that really matters isn't it. Well if you hate the sepia here, you;re really going to hate a portrait Asher suggested I post in Still Photo :)

I will be interested to hear your opinion because IMO, either B&W or sepia makes the photo much more powerful.
 
B

Bart_van_der_Wolf

pro member
Sydney Rester said:
Thanks Ken for the kind words about the actual shots. That's the part that really matters isn't it. Well if you hate the sepia here, you;re really going to hate a portrait Asher suggested I post in Still Photo :)

I will be interested to hear your opinion because IMO, either B&W or sepia makes the photo much more powerful.
Click to expand...

Color is a powerful instrument to use in a composition. An image without color has to depend on light and shadow as the main structure modulator. It can lend a sense of dimensionality to a scene, but the composition also needs to be strong. B&W is harder to do than Color, because there are fewer elements to use and guide the eye. Monochrome images add the single color as a mood making element, but the same requirements as for a good B&W still apply.

Cheers,
Bart
 
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StuartRae

New member
Hi Sydney,

In general pictures of pets are winners, chocolate box and calendar shots, and yours are no exception.

I agree with the others about the sepia cat. Number 4, cat in colour, is so much nicer and you've got the eyes very well, with little catch lights.

In #2 the drops of water (?) are untidy. Not much you could have done about it though.

In #3 I can't take my eyes off the stream of water coming from the scruffy one's ears. It looks more in focus than the dogs and is a real distraction. Still a nice shot though.

BTW, it would be useful if you could post shooting info. with the pics - aperture, shutter speed, focal length, etc.

Regards,

Stuart
 
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Sydney Rester

New member
Hello, everyone. It's been a few weeks since I posted, but I have a couple of new shots. In both I wanted to really focus on the eyes. I did a close crop on this one. Does it work? I think she looks like she has something to say.

4080503342_b16303489a.jpg


Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 200
 
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Sydney Rester

New member
I'd appreciate C&C on this one. It's looking too dark on my netbook, but it looked fine on my other computer. Argh. Would it be better to blur the background or leave it so it's clear this is a picture of a cat in a sink? I love the way the eyes turned out. They look like jewels.

I will say the picture really captures this cat's personality. She barely tolerates us living in her house :)

4096445913_d352daa4c6.jpg


Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Sydney,

Try sharpening or changing the contrast of the bowl rim as a start. I wonder whether that might do it for you?

The eyes do it! Yes that cat does seem rather self-assured and independent-minded!

Asher
 
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Sydney Rester

New member
Bart - love that shot!! I love kitty yawns :)

Another of that cat that "hates" us, looking out the window, plotting her escape. I really like the look on her face in this shot, the longing to go outside.

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, parts of this shot are really sharp, and it was taken with the kit lens that came with my T1i of all things.

Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On, Fired
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

4123656148_cf5048c762.jpg
 
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Sydney Rester

New member
Maggie in the backyard

One of my favorite shots of Maggie. I love the expression in her eyes and the sun coming through the ear.


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Sydney Rester

New member
Sweet Pea ready to pounce

4226078431_1d41a57ac6.jpg


Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
4226078431_1d41a57ac6.jpg


Sydney Rester: Kitten on Pillow: Ready to Pounce​

I like this composition with the soft pillow but having a sense of formality, yet still playful. Charming!

Asher


It's a good idea to also try a low point of view: drop down a tad lower so one shooting at or below eye level of the pet.
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
4150662594_cf3b5e1eb6.jpg


Sydney Rester: Cat between chair legs​

Sydney,

I cannot believe that I'm even interested in cat pictures, LOL! there was a time when it wasn't even allowed as some avid lens hoarders just use the whiskers to prove their glass is the best! It was as if resolution charts had not been thought of!

There's an element here of hiding and revealing which is a well used tool in portraits. If the background was unlit so the picture would be simplified, this is a nice motif to work on. I like the idea since it's a different way of looking at the pet you love living in your home.

Asher
 
J

janet Smith

pro member
4226078431_1d41a57ac6.jpg


Sydney Rester: Kitten on Pillow: Ready to Pounce​



This is lovely Sydney, well done. Just a suggestion - have you considered cloning out the vertical lines in the top RHS of the background, they are slightly distracting to my eye, just a minor point....
 
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Sydney Rester

New member
Great suggestion and something I would have done if I knew Photoshop. I'm taking a class this spring. I am still very very new to the DSLR world. Thanks!
 
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