Garden Visitor

[Cheryl Flory]

Canon 40D
Canon 28-135 lens
1/100
F8
ISO 800
exposure +.33
135mm

Unfortunately, this was a major crop due to this feral cat being very skittish. But even with its flaws, I still like this image for several reasons. I even like the flaw of something hanging in front of the face of the subject in this image--giving it more of the sense of being a "jungle cat". I do have another image of this cat while it was lying on the ground which has more direct eye contact, but I like the energy in this image better. I think if I were to adjust this image again, I would leave more canvas around the cat, giving it more "jungle" to roam in.

Notice the missing left ear tip. This is a mark that this is a feral cat which has been caught and saw the veterinarian in a trap/neuter/release program. The "tipped" ear ensures that this cat is not traumatized a second time if it is caught again. Could be another reason why it is so skittish around people. lol

well, what do you think? All comments appreciated!

 

[Harold Davis]

black cat framed by colorful flowers!! pretty cool!! looks like he's playing hide and go seek!!

 

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Cheryl,
I like the concept here but kitty cat did not want to come out in the open...thats ok, even though the background and foreground is a bit busy, Lets just say that you captured kitty cat in his natural habitat... See if you like this angle of view better....

 

[Cheryl Flory]

Gus, that was my dilemma, crop in tighter to focus on the cat, or give it more canvas to include its habitat. Since it was such a tight crop and so the eyes were not as sharp as I would have liked, I decided to give it more canvas. lol

 

[Alfred Forns]

Glad there is a way of telling he has been captured !!! Good for him !!!

Do like the Peekaboo look, might clear the right eye of grass? Tighter crop by Gus sure strengthens the image !!! Notice how the eye falls around the intersecting upper left third !!! I like it a lot !!!

 

[Cheryl Flory]

The fur on the cat's back hip, looks harsh, matted, blue. I tried desaturating the blue from the black, but made things much worse. any adjusting suggestions?

 

[Amy DeStefanis]

Hi Cheryl,

Black kitties are so hard to photograph. You did a good job! In this case, I don't mind the strands hanging over his face. He wouldn't be much of a hider otherwise, would he? To me, it looks like a leaf is obstructing his left ear, but it's actually clipped that way? Wow. Poor kitty. (guess that was the least of his worries at the time, huh?).

Amy D.

 

[Oscar Zangroniz]

Great composition, I like it as presented, you captured him where he wanted to be and not where you wanted him to be at, that's why I like your original shot. IMHO
Regards,