Not Technically my pet, take two

[Barbara Ponder]

Tony, no exposure compensation. I did brighten in PP. I also always use Aperture softwares auto enhance as my starting point for PP which I am thinking might not be the best thing to do. So much to learn.........

[revi]

This is already an enormous improvement over the previous one with the two cats.

I do wonder if the image is a crop from the full captured image. If that's the case, it means you are too far away from the subject (that said, trying to get closer might mean you'll get no image at all, as the animal runs off...).

Cropping doesn't increase the noise, but it does mean you'll see it more in the final image (as reducing the image size has the effect of 'averaging out' the noise, making it less visible).

Something else you might want to try: take 3-5 bracketed images with 1-1.5 EV difference between them (your camera has a function for that), and get the best image from each of these in post production. Then compare them. I know the result surprised me. (Do try it on a subject like this one, though, with limited contrast)

[rpcrowe]

I like your advice on Message #12 Richard. I think I will try that too. I have quite a few coloured soft toys around here to try in my little studio...and I also like the edit you did on Barbara's cat shot. So Barbara all is not lost yet...your image is editable as
Richard has shown here... I would have tried On One first now that I have a go around with the RAW files from my camera...

I am sure that this could be done as well in Photoshop. However, the NIK Software Dfine module is a simple one-click fix...

[IzzieK]

'Must find a video for that... as I have not used that at all...too many things to learn this year...but I will persevere...I hope.

[Mike Buckley]

However, the NIK Software Dfine module is a simple one-click fix...

Sorry, Richard, but occasionally we come across a photo that can't be adequately fixed, much less fixed in one simple click. This photo is certainly an example of the latter if not the former.