Lydia and Lincoln in the bathroom window

Thanks for looking!

Another shot from this series. I played around with three layers with masks (from the original raw file) to darken the background and highlights, and lighten their bodies.

Superb and artistic photo mi piace molto bravo...........

ciao alex da milano.italy

The whole-body shot of predominantly white cats backlight doesn't work - has average blown-out areas. Nothing here is 'punchy', nothing remarkable.

 

To be honest, this looks like one of bazillions of 'well these are my cats' snapshots. Very ho-hum.

 

I do like the way the ears lit up from the back lighting. Maybe a tighter crop with the focus on the faces and some different PP would have an interesting result. I know cat people who are so into their cats they find it difficult to isolate and communicate their vision as a photo. What are you tryig to say here? Maybe a tight crop emphasizing their "expressions"...

 

I'm no expert, but that's what I think. Given what's in your portfolio (which I liked, BTW), this is a below-average effort for you. Maybe think about what you want the image to communicate first...

Thanks for all the responses!

 

DB, I agree this isn't very "punchy," but on the other hand, I was going for a softer look overall. I also agree, there are gazillions of cat photos just like this one, but these guys are mine! Every time I look at them I am amazed at how elegant and perfect they are. I wish I had gotten them to look straight at me this time, but they always have their own ideas. Maybe next time.

I respectfully disagree with your wish to have the cats looking into the lens. Having these two look straight into the camera and engage the viewer would be very un-catlike. The fact that they don't give a rats ass about you and the camera is perfect. I am not usually a fan of pushing the film or sensor beyond its intended range and blowing highlights or blocking shadows but the blown highlights are to be expected when back lighting white cats in a window and as such they do not detract in the least. These two look to be litter mates ? I am not really a cat person I have two Great Pyrenees dogs but this is a lovely photo handled with charm and wit.

Thanks again, for your comments, Ian. I do like this photo quite a bit. They are indeed littermates, and are quite bonded. Curiously, in all my photos of them together, Lydia appears on Lincoln's right.

" Curiously, in all my photos of them together, Lydia appears on Lincoln's right. "

 

My two dogs who are also litter mates tend to have a preferred side to stay on in relation to each other. When they go for a walk Maggie is most times on the left and alway has to be ahead of Darwin, if only by a few inches.

 

Equally curious that my name has change to Ian ? :)

Ha! So sorry Gordon. A fellow named Ian had commented on a couple photos just before I ran across your comment and his name was still in my mind. Thank you for your comments!

I think that this image is significantly under-rated and the medicore ratings are a result of PN's flawed rating system. If you rated more PN images, your ratings would be higher, regardless of the image's quality. The subject is very appealing and the composition, lighting, and detail is very good. Congrats on a very good image.

Ken, thanks for your kind comments. About the ratings on PN. I gave up on them years ago: too many ratings based on inexpert, cliche'd standards. I just don't expect ratings and never look at them. I do, however, much appreciate comments such as yours and I try to comment on the photos that really strike me.

Pretty cats! Nice exposure - nothing too blown out in the whites and still detail in the black. Working in layers worked well for you.