Capturing The Cat

“We’re very sorry, Mr. Schrödinger, but the cat simply refuses to go in the box.”

“Cooper” [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D300, ISO 200, f/22 at 1/125 sec., 50mm
You can buy a print here.

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Pet Portrait: Cleo the Cat

I love to photograph cats. It can take a tremendous amount of patience, but most often just requires a desire to get to know the cat before getting out the camera.

Cleo loves her cat tree; she spends the majority of her sleeping and awake hours in the security and comfort of its carpet-padded shelves. It was the perfect place to photograph and interact with her. I think the shallow depth of field works well here to draw the viewer into Cleo’s eyes.

“Cleo” [Click on image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 2500, f/1.8 at 1/125 sec., 85 mm

As an aside, I would like to extend a special greeting to my readers in beautiful and diverse Australia. Blog statistics show that I have recently gained a steady following of readers from Down Under and I think that’s cool. This isn’t to overlook the steady traffic coming from India, the UK and other lands distant to Central Florida, but as the jump in Australian readers has been fairly recent and significant, it presents the opportunity to welcome those visiting from a place I dream of seeing and photographing one day.

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Perhaps It’s Not Your Most Flattering Look

One of the things I really love about photographing cats is their unpredictability. They can go from nervous to calm faster than your top flash sync speed, but more often it’s the other direction they’re traveling. Cats – at least house cats, anyway – tend to flick their tongues in and out quite a bit when they are nervous. Often it is this action that lets me know I need to spend more time with the animal, ensuring we are comfortable together so I can get the shot I want.

As a result of my volunteer work photographing cats for the Humane Society of Utah, I have dozens of photos of cats with their tongues sticking out. I’m thinking that one day I’ll create a rather large collage out of them.

Nikon D200, ISO 200, 1/60 sec at f/2.8, 50 mm

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Rather than stick your tongue out, please let me know
what you think about this photo by using one of the convenient
options available below.

Take Me Home

My regular readers know that I try to volunteer once a week taking photos of the cats at the Humane Society of Utah. I’m always so impressed by the beautiful animals available for adoption. In tandem, I tend to devote a blog post to the cats, featuring photos of some of those currently waiting for loving, forever homes. I hope you enjoy viewing them.

Warm and friendly “Georgie” – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.8

“Sasha” the loving lap cat – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.2

Personable “Auri” – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/1.8

Curious “Tommy” – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.2

Playful “Finn” – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.2

Sweet little “Luna” – Nikon D200, ISO 100, 1/60 sec at f/2.5

Contact me for information about in-home pet portraiture in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas.

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DJ, The English Bulldog

I had the pleasure of photographing DJ yesterday, an English bulldog who is about a year old. DJ has a great face. He was a real trooper for the shoot, putting up with my flash and requests to please perk up his ears; look this way; look that way; look up; look down; stay; sit; ignore the camera; and so forth. (Fortunately, DJ’s upright companion, Logan, has worked out the communication key, which smelled a bit like jerky.)

Logan asked specifically that something fun and different be included among the photos she’d get. She mentioned she liked some of the artistic effects she had seen applied using Photoshop. The image below is among those Logan will receive today. I have to admit that I’m pretty much a purest at this point in my photography; I don’t use a lot of “out of camera” effects or Photoshop filters.

Do you think she will like it? Please let me know your honest thoughts.

[Curious about my Lightsphere hack? Just ask.]

Nikon D300, SB700 fill-flash with hacked Gary Fong Lightsphere, ISO 200, 1/400 sec at f/1.8. Brush stroke obtained using the Adobe Photoshop CS5 Artistic >;;; Dry Brush filter.

Looking for a pet? Please save a life: choose the shelter adoption option.

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