kitty warming on cold day

[gail]

http://members.aol.com/gail4ev/kitty.jpg

[Deckyon]

In my opinion...

1. Lighting is way too harsh. I imagine that in looking at the histogram, all white is completly washed out (and blinking on G3)

2. Tip - don't take outdoor photos in direct sun at or around noon. Light is too harsh.

3. Tip - Use a polarizer or ND filter to help with the lighting.

[gail]

In my opinion...

1. Lighting is way too harsh. I imagine that in looking at the histogram, all white is completly washed out (and blinking on G3)

2. Tip - don't take outdoor photos in direct sun at or around noon. Light is too harsh.

3. Tip - Use a polarizer or ND filter to help with the lighting.


Thanks for your comment, I'm still learning the photography world LOL.
I just thought it was neat looking at the cat when I got home it was all snuggle up sunning. Can I use the ND filter on my camera settings? will that help with the lighting? Thanks again I appreciate you all's help. :lol:

[Deckyon]

What camera do you have?

[gail]

What camera do you have?


I have the Canon PowerShot G3,, :lol: :P

[stopbath]

The problem with this kitty shot is the extreme contrast between highlight and shadow.

The latitude is beyond the image capabilities. Best method is to shrink the contast (brighten the shadows).

A simple method actually is to add fill flash or a reflector...

You can also do this by taking two exposures (one for shadows and one for highlights) and combining them, or by exposing for the highlights and editing the shadows up (curves tool) If you can shoot in RAW mode, the editing method will be much better since you have more data to work with.

[Deckyon]

I have the Canon PowerShot G3,, :lol: :P

The Canon G3 has a built in ND filter. You turn it "on" in the Menu. It slides a piece of glass behind the lens elements in front of the shutter (you can actually see it slide in) that will reduce the light by, I believe, 3 stops. Give that a try next time when shooting in that harsh a light. A polarizer will help reduce odd reflections of light from any reflective surface, among other things. It will also help in this shot.

Good luck in trying to keep the cat still enough for experimentation.

[stopbath]

I have the Canon PowerShot G3,, :lol: :P

The Canon G3 has a built in ND filter. You turn it "on" in the Menu. It slides a piece of glass behind the lens elements in front of the shutter (you can actually see it slide in) that will reduce the light by, I believe, 3 stops. Give that a try next time when shooting in that harsh a light. A polarizer will help reduce odd reflections of light from any reflective surface, among other things. It will also help in this shot.

Good luck in trying to keep the cat still enough for experimentation.
When shooting a high contrast range such as this (with strong sunlight, and shadow), adding a ND filter will only shift all the values down. It won't lessen the contrast between highlight and shadow (since the shadow too will have 3 stops less intensity.) A polarizer may work, but since you're not working with reflections here it may not.

The best way to handle high contrast shots is to lower the contast (fill flash or reflector) or by shooting for the highlights and bringing up the shadows with editing.

When shooting digital or slide film, expose for the highlights.
When shooting print film, expose for the shadows.

[Deckyon]

My real solution here (what works for me) is not to shoot in that light. Even using a fill flash would almost completly wash out the entire image. The lighting is just wrong.

[Leighow]

GAIL

It is a lovely cat image. This and so many of your other shots are just lovely.

I agree ... "SHOOT FOR THE HIGHLIGHTS and EDIT the SHADOWS"
I took a close look at the image in PS but with my "visual" eye -- as I am not a tech whiz at this stuff. As your colleagues have pointed out there is a wide range of light here. I can live with this range -- but in this image -- severe as the light itself may be, it washes out the backside of your pet's head (keep the parrrot caged) and that "data" cannot be recovered.

If you had let less light in (Highlights = faster T or smaller A) you might have been able to record that data but (as had been pointed out) at the expense of intruducing darkness in the right side of the body. I think that that is what I would try if only to see if any data in the dark zone can be recovered to give a better overall shot. But even as it is, the image could use a tad more more contrast, saturation, and sharpness and less brightness. This cat is onel beauty. Alternatively (and I see this possibility all the time in the forest) you might wait for the light to soften under some clouds, or maybe have the cat out of the direct sunlight. That said I do love bright light and sun rays over flat light. It invigorates me.

PS: I had the same problem with the attached shot of my prior dog Bailey. Even so, it delivers lighy years of memories! (The clown is one we gave my adult daughter a few decades ago).

http://members.rogers.com/hleigh/BAILY.jpg

[gail]

Thanks everyone for the advice I need all I can get. For as I'm just learning all this. So every little bit of info helps. Howie, love the dog photo, very pretty dog.