Pic of my cat, please critique lighting and DOF

[Matt91]

Hi guys,

First post here. I've only had my DSLR a few weeks and am still getting my head around it. This is a picture of my cat, Natasha, under some concrete blocks that form a makeshift staircase in my back yard (don't worry, she's not stuck, she just likes squeezing into small places). I was hoping for some critique on the DOF and exposure, I tried several ISO/aperture/shutter speed combinations but couldn't get her face light enough to see properly without over-exposing the concrete blocks. I haven't done any PP because I don't have the software or know-how to do so (yet!). All advice and critique gratefully accepted.



EXIF data:
Camera Model Name
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XS
Shooting Date/Time
30/12/2009 17:26:57
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/60Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F3.5
Metering Modes
-
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
400
Lens
Canon EFS 18-55 IS
Focal Length
18.0 mm
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF mode
One-Shot AF


Thanks,

Matt

[tingeliM]

Hello Matt. Welcome to DPS! ^__^

You have the same problem here that I had with my dog last year; a black dog and the sky in the same photo. The camera adjusted the whitebalance according to the black dog and the sky got over-exposed majorly
I don't think there's a way to get this photo succesfull from this point of view other than to get two photos: one exposed according to the cat and other exposed to the bricks and then combine the two in post-processing. But that's way too complicated when I think there are better ways. I don't think the angle is the best possible anyways.
If you have a chance to re-shoot this when your cat goes under there again, maybe try to put your camera in that gap we can see with the leaves? On ground level. I don't know if you can do that, but if it's possible then I would do that.

[Matt91]

Thanks for the reply I'll try a few different angles next time I see her back under there. Look at that, first post and I've learnt something already, I like it here

Cheers

Matt

[tingeliM]

Originally Posted by Matt91

Look at that, first post and I've learnt something already, I like it here

That's what this place does to you

[sybren]

Originally Posted by Matt91

First post here. I've only had my DSLR a few weeks and am still getting my head around it.

Welcome to the DPS forum! This is a great place to study and learn

don't worry, she's not stuck, she just likes squeezing into small places

Are there any cats that don't? ;-)

I was hoping for some critique on the DOF and exposure, I tried several ISO/aperture/shutter speed combinations but couldn't get her face light enough to see properly without over-exposing the concrete blocks.

The problem stems from the different amount of light reflected off your cat and off the brick. No amount of tweaking the shutter speed, aperture or ISO is going to make that difference go away. In such a case you can either use a restricted flash or a reflector to light up your cat, or use a graduated neutral density (ND-grad) filter to block light coming from the brick.

I haven't done any PP because I don't have the software or know-how to do so

Good, and keep it that way. You want to make photos, right? Then you should focus on photography first. IMO post processing should be used to make a beautiful image even more so, and not to rescue a bad shot. Photography first

Originally Posted by tingeliM

a black dog and the sky in the same photo. The camera adjusted the whitebalance according to the black dog and the sky got over-exposed majorly

White balance has very little to do with over-exposure. Your camera exposed for the dog, and thus over-exposed the sky. Please don't confuse our latest member ;-)

[tingeliM]

Originally Posted by sybren

White balance has very little to do with over-exposure. Your camera exposed for the dog, and thus over-exposed the sky. Please don't confuse our latest member ;-)

Sorry! Who wouldn't get confused with the terminology sometimes, huh?