lonely cat

[veggie1215]

I saw this cat at a zoo, and you could get quite close so I took this photo of it. I then played with the colors to make it a little darker. Any suggestions on cropping or lighting?

[windrider86]

Can ypu post your exif information? Please and thank you

[sk66]

What was the purpose of the picture?

Although I'd guess it's a bobcat or ocelot, to me it comes across as a sad picture of a tabby cat in a kennel.

[veggie1215]

it was supposed to be a kind of sad shot, but i didn't post it so people would ask me what the purpose was, i clearly said i wanted critique on the lighting and cropping and anything would be helpful!
please answer my questions!

[windrider86]

Part of taking a successful photo is that it will tell a story all on its own. I thought by asking you a couple of question that played right into offering you a critique on composition.
With that being said. I'm not totally sold on the photo. The cats face is hidden a bit too much by the stuff in front of the cage. and is a bit too dark, the eyes especially. For me it would have made a much stronger impact if the cat had been looking at you thru the cage.That might have said a more "I'm stuck in here let me out" than the way it is facing

[sk66]

Originally Posted by veggie1215

it was supposed to be a kind of sad shot, but i didn't post it so people would ask me what the purpose was, i clearly said i wanted critique on the lighting and cropping and anything would be helpful!
please answer my questions!

The lighting and cropping has very much to do with what the image conveys, and conveying what you wanted to convey is the point of taking a picture in the first place.

[veggie1215]

Originally Posted by windrider86

Part of taking a successful photo is that it will tell a story all on its own. I thought by asking you a couple of question that played right into offering you a critique on composition.
With that being said. I'm not totally sold on the photo. The cats face is hidden a bit too much by the stuff in front of the cage. and is a bit too dark, the eyes especially. For me it would have made a much stronger impact if the cat had been looking at you thru the cage.That might have said a more "I'm stuck in here let me out" than the way it is facing

thank you for the lighting suggestion. i can't really do much about the stuff at the bottom (i was at the best angle i could reach) and i couldnt get the cat to look at me unfortunately, but that would have added a lot.

[sk66]

I think the lighting is fine (better when viewed full size) for the intended feel.
I think the crop is off a bit.

I would have shifted it to the left, probably just behind the cat's ear, removing the dark area to the right (cat's body) and leaving more cage that the cat is looking at. Probably up a bit just to avoid clipping the rt ear tip.

I can see you nailed "the rule of thirds" with the cat's eye being pretty close to bottom left 2/3 corner, but this might be a case where straying a bit would be better, and probably a case where more room for the cat to be "looking into" the picture would be better.