C&C portrait

[4nR]

Just wondering what I can do either with this photo or in future photos. Subject is our family cat.

[midnitejam]

Great capture. Focus and exposure is superb. Compositioin is probably the weakest element. You did good.

[Radtech1]

I like it a lot. If it were mine, I would to three things - first, crop out most of the carpet. It is not helping the shot. Second, I would crop just at little closer to the ear. Third, I would adjust the white balance. It looks a little bit to the cyan on the cat's fur.

Rad

[4nR]

Thanks for the cc guys. I'll implement your suggestions.

midnitejam: what about the comp would you say is weak?
rad: If I crop the carpet, are you saying that I shouldnt maintain the aspect ratio?

[Radtech1]

Originally Posted by 4nR

rad: If I crop the carpet, are you saying that I shouldnt maintain the aspect ratio?

Yeah, it is hard for me, too. When I was printing film, I used one of these:



A Four Blade Easel, which meant that I would print the area where the interest was, without regard to aspect ratio. I always viewed the negative as containing the image plus periphery. Unless I had a specific need (assignment, to fit a certain frame, etc) I don't think I EVER printed in a 3:2 aspect ratio. Or any other even numbered aspect ratio for that matter.

Now with digital, for some reason, it is SO HARD for me to crop. I don't know why. Once I open the shot in Photoshop, it seems as though every pixel is sacred. So now, it is with a conscious effort that I break free of the 3:2 boundaries.

But your shot would make it easier to do. That out of focus foreground really needs to go. So you end up with 5:2, so what?

I would if it were mine.

Rad

[gkuenning]

Kudos for getting right down on the floor at the cat's level.

There's no separation between the fur and the background. If you could pop a flash from above (a hair light...) or bounce the flash, or maybe have some kind of background light, any of those things might help.

Not clear the cat would hold still while you set that up, of course...

[4nR]

rad: that makes perfect sense. I feel exactly the same way when I work with digital as well, and its hard for me to crop out of ratio.

gkeunning: This shot was actually taken from under a bed, where my cat was sleeping. so a flash from above was out of the question (but next time when she's out in the open I'll try it). and there's no way she would move when she finds a comfortable spot to nap, so I'll have all the time in the world to set something up.

[4nR]

Ok, I tried to implement the suggestions. please let me know what you guys think.

[litwinphotography]

i personally LIKED the carpet in there. I have had a little play with in in Photoshop. Here is what I would do to it. I softened the fur and sharpened the finer details like the eyes, nose and whiskers. I added a vignette type burn to the carpet and made the colors pop just a tad by adjusting the curves/saturation