A day with the cat

[ChickenWing24]

Hey guys,

This is one of my very first photos. Hoping to get some comments from y'all.



Camera : Canon EOS 60D
Exposure : 1/5 sec
ISO Speed : 6400
F-stop : f/11
Focal Length : 35 mm
Flash : No flash

[Wolfsburg]

Your background is a bit distracting for me, I find myself looking at the chair more than the cat. Maybe adjust your composition?

[ChickenWing24]

Oh ok,

Will do so next time. Much appreciated.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by ChickenWing24

Hey guys,

This is one of my very first photos. Hoping to get some comments from y'all.



Camera : Canon EOS 60D
Exposure : 1/5 sec
ISO Speed : 6400
F-stop : f/11
Focal Length : 35 mm
Flash : No flash

I have to question your camera settings. Your EV was -1.5 on this shot...why? And why f/11 which is the reason so much of your shot is in sharp focus, and exacerbating the cluttered background as noted above by the previous poster. Remember, shooting at a wider aperture would have helped blur that busy background. All you really need in a portrait, and what's most important is that the eyes are sharp. I did a re-crop of your photo and a quick fake blur (that I hate, but it will illustrate how the focus is now on your subject, and not on the background)...much of this could have been accomplished at the time of the shot with selecting a better f/stop and by cropping the shot in the camera. Sorry about being so critical of your first shots...only trying to help. Cute cat though

kitty by vmontalbano, on Flickr

[candidrachel]

That's a very pretty cat wish gorgeous eyes! I agree with autofocus. Why was your camera set to ISO 6400? I think an aperture of between f4 and f5.6 would have been adequate to get the cat's beautiful eyes in focus. Shooting in aperture priority will sort out the shutter speed for you.

If you want to get more practice of taking photos of your kitty get down to her level. Sit down on the ground at chair level or lay on your belly and shoot from that position. You can get some great shots taken from a cat's eye view of the world. It also helps to get a much more compelling shot to really fill the frame like autofocus has done too.

Hope this helps!

[ChickenWing24]

Originally Posted by autofocus

I have to question your camera settings. Your EV was -1.5 on this shot...why? And why f/11 which is the reason so much of your shot is in sharp focus, and exacerbating the cluttered background as noted above by the previous poster. Remember, shooting at a wider aperture would have helped blur that busy background. All you really need in a portrait, and what's most important is that the eyes are sharp. I did a re-crop of your photo and a quick fake blur (that I hate, but it will illustrate how the focus is now on your subject, and not on the background)...much of this could have been accomplished at the time of the shot with selecting a better f/stop and by cropping the shot in the camera. Sorry about being so critical of your first shots...only trying to help. Cute cat though

kitty by vmontalbano, on Flickr

Wow, thanks a lot for your comment. I really appreciate the fact that you took the initiative to do some adjustments to the picture so I can get a general idea of what you are talking about. I don't really mind that you are critical although this is my first shot. I am glad you told me all this so I know how to improve in the future. This picture was actually taken the day I bought my DSLR, hence the outcome being like that. Once again, thanks for all your comments.

[ChickenWing24]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

That's a very pretty cat wish gorgeous eyes! I agree with autofocus. Why was your camera set to ISO 6400? I think an aperture of between f4 and f5.6 would have been adequate to get the cat's beautiful eyes in focus. Shooting in aperture priority will sort out the shutter speed for you.

If you want to get more practice of taking photos of your kitty get down to her level. Sit down on the ground at chair level or lay on your belly and shoot from that position. You can get some great shots taken from a cat's eye view of the world. It also helps to get a much more compelling shot to really fill the frame like autofocus has done too.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your comments. Only after taking this shot, I came across an article in the internet about taking pictures at the cat's level. That might have produced a better shot I guess. Anyway, when I get back, I will definitely start to 'disturb' my cat again and this time with all the suggestions that you all have gave. Thanks.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by ChickenWing24

Wow, thanks a lot for your comment. I really appreciate the fact that you took the initiative to do some adjustments to the picture so I can get a general idea of what you are talking about. I don't really mind that you are critical although this is my first shot. I am glad you told me all this so I know how to improve in the future. This picture was actually taken the day I bought my DSLR, hence the outcome being like that. Once again, thanks for all your comments.

You are very welcome...happy to be able to shed some light (pun intended)

I just posted this video on another thread...it may help you take some of the mystery out of the exposure triangle, and the benefit of shooting in manual mode. It's a real good video for the person new into photography and wanting to learn...get some popcorn, and enjoy the video
Shooting in Manual Mode?AdoramaTV from Adorama Learning Center

[ChickenWing24]

Originally Posted by autofocus

You are very welcome...happy to be able to shed some light (pun intended)

I just posted this video on another thread...it may help you take some of the mystery out of the exposure triangle, and the benefit of shooting in manual mode. It's a real good video for the person new into photography and wanting to learn...get some popcorn, and enjoy the video
Shooting in Manual Mode?AdoramaTV from Adorama Learning Center

The video was really helpful. Thanks a lot for everything.