Princess Mia in color C&C welcomed

[KimC]

I have been making an effort to become better friends with my flash. Last week I purchased a Rogue Diffuser for my Flash Bender. Since it's winter, my poor cats are once again the subjects. Since someone on this forum shared some input from a Cat Whisper about Mia (Mia felt her eyes were her greatest asset and were hidden in B&W), I wanted to share a color shot with all of you to show just how lovely they are.

ISO 159; 1/100; F16; 62mm

[deetheturk]

Lovely cat Kim, well captured

[jcuknz]

One of the traps of shooting digital with its near square format rather than the 2:3 of the SLR is a reluctance to turn the camera for subjects that are naturally vertical as most portraits are and with the beautiful eyes one is not interested in the large amount of fur on the right. I sometime wonder if people simply do not know how and that they can hold cameras vertically. As a left eyed person cameras neatly snug into my face for vertical images so perhaps I am lucky in this respect.

I must admit I catch myself falling into this trap despite everything. One can of course crop in editing but I try to capture the final product 'in-camera' for IQ reasons.

[KimC]

Thanks for viewing and commenting David.

Lovely cat Kim, well captured

[KimC]

Thanks for commenting John. This image was not appropriate for a vertical shot, as Mia was sitting in her raised window cat-bed -- so what was behind her, and below her, was not image worthy. She's a fur ball, so as her mother, I like seeing her little furry body, and with those eyes, they are the first thing I see. I may not know a lot about photography at this point, but I do know how to turn my camera vertically as many of my images have displayed. I am a left eyed person as well.

One of the traps of shooting digital with its near square format rather than the 2:3 of the SLR is a reluctance to turn the camera for subjects that are naturally vertical as most portraits are and with the beautiful eyes one is not interested in the large amount of fur on the right. I sometime wonder if people simply do not know how and that they can hold cameras vertically. As a left eyed person cameras neatly snug into my face for vertical images so perhaps I am lucky in this respect.

I must admit I catch myself falling into this trap despite everything. One can of course crop in editing but I try to capture the final product 'in-camera' for IQ reasons.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[KimC]

Thanks for viewing and commenting John.

Nicely captured.

[Rebel]

She does have great eyes, she looks like a bit of a diva as well? Nice shot

[Mike Buckley]

Very pleasing use of flash and composition. I gather that you're using an external flash on-camera rather than the built-in flash. Your camera will control your external flash off-camera, so that will surely be one of your uses as you and your flash become better friends.

[Mike Buckley]

One of the traps of shooting digital with its near square format rather than the 2:3 of the SLR

I'm confused by your comment, John. The sensor in most if not all digital SLRs has a 2:3 aspect ratio. Kim's camera sensor is no exception.

[selig1656]

Nice, the eyes are well captured and a beautiful cat.

[NorthernFocus]

No wonder Mia was upset by being rendered in B/W. Those are lovely eyes indeed. Interestingly when viewed large in the light box, the eyes dominate the image IMO. Likely because they are the stand out color. The technical aspects of the image are really nicely handled. I'm no expert on flash but the results look good to me. My only suggestion is that the composition may have been improved had Mia's nose been aligned with the verticle 1/3 line in the right side of frame rather than the left side as presented. At least for this viewer.

Overall a well executed image of the Princess. I'm off work today but will share with the whisperer tomorrow and get her read on Mia's opinion.

[KimC]

Thanks for commenting Mike; I appreciate it. Yes, I was using my speed lite with a diffuser. I hope at some point we do become friends as right now our relationship is a cold one ;-)

Very pleasing use of flash and composition. I gather that you're using an external flash on-camera rather than the built-in flash. Your camera will control your external flash off-camera, so that will surely be one of your uses as you and your flash become better friends.

[KimC]

Thank you Raymond.

Nice, the eyes are well captured and a beautiful cat.

[KimC]

Thanks Dan. Appreciate your feedback. I agree about the composition. Wish you could pose cats - think dogs are sometimes easier. Puppy coming to our house this spring. .

Interested to hear what the Whisper has to say. :-)

No wonder Mia was upset by being rendered in B/W. Those are lovely eyes indeed. Interestingly when viewed large in the light box, the eyes dominate the image IMO. Likely because they are the stand out color. The technical aspects of the image are really nicely handled. I'm no expert on flash but the results look good to me. My only suggestion is that the composition may have been improved had Mia's nose been aligned with the verticle 1/3 line in the right side of frame rather than the left side as presented. At least for this viewer.

Overall a well executed image of the Princess. I'm off work today but will share with the whisperer tomorrow and get her read on Mia's opinion.

[jcuknz]

I'm confused by your comment, John. The sensor in most if not all digital SLRs has a 2:3 aspect ratio. Kim's camera sensor is no exception.

I am and was aware of that fact when I wrote my comment. With the inherent IQ of the DSLR and MFT it is tempting to always shoot in landscape mode/format and the problem is that it appears to lock people into displaying their work as a landscape when the subject. The comment about the unsuitability of the background above and below the cat is pure nonsense and indicates an unwillingness to either use a zoom / longer lens or crop in PP .... or come in closer. The inability of the SLR/DSLR to work close for tight compositions was one of the limitations the bridge camera freed me from. This is less a problem these days I know so don't try to pick me up on this point ... but the inherent style of "shoot wide in case" persists.

As one much more successful photographer than me has said "If in doubt then crop". I try to 'crop' with the camera and have adjusted to various formats over the years .... but we come back to the concept of portraits and landscapes and this photo is a portrait of the lady.
As this one of the boss in my life until a couple of years ago ...

Originally "Snow Princess" she became known as "Smudge" when she took me in hand because she was not pure white all over which sadly didn't stop her becoming blind and serious stomach problems towards the end of her 14 years ....her ashes remain with me in the garden.

[Stagecoach]

Great image of a beautiful cat Kim.

It's all about the eyes and that look, we see enough of the 'fur-ball' aspect so do not to have the need to see more.

If you have any tips on getting a rather nasty cat with anger management problems to pose please pass on

[NorthernFocus]

I touched base with the cat whisperer. She says Mia is well pleased that the world can finally appreciate her lovely eyes. But the scheduling of photo shoots doesn't suit her and don't even bring up the pay. She may just have to give someone a good clawing to be adequately recognized for.... well for being HER.

[IzzieK]

Very nice eyes...you got that very well, Kim...I am with Grahame about taming a cat. Mine has a mind of her own but very sweet. And at 16 years of age, she has lived well. Take good care of yours.

[KimC]

Thanks Grahame. My only tip is you have to get a sleepy cat ;-)

Great image of a beautiful cat Kim.

It's all about the eyes and that look, we see enough of the 'fur-ball' aspect so do not to have the need to see more.

If you have any tips on getting a rather nasty cat with anger management problems to pose please pass on