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July, 2025

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Cats as Subjects

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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373
I have been a volunteer at a shelter for the past year and a half and started to do some photography for them.
I had never experimented with those subjects before.
Way different then action sports ! haha
Let me know what you think and or advices ?






























Thanks
11 years ago
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jfxphoto
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 2,346
This is awesome, you're awesome!!


I need to go offer to take pics at my local shelter!!!
11 years ago
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bess.
Posts: 700 - Karma: 62
11 years ago
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gravel
Posts: 5524 - Karma: 42,381
These are pretty good but they would be really good if there was more context to their environment. Cats on carpets and inside is pretty mediocre, if you changed up the surroundings it would be much more intriguing.

To the post above me, don't watermark like that! If you're going to watermark, make it low profile, ideally in the corner, and a professional looking font, not a goofy handwritten style. All fonts have their uses, but that's not the right one for that style.
11 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
40% of my pictures are off my cats.

Then again they are purrrrrrfect.

11 years ago
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
GSPhotography


D'awwwwww :')
11 years ago
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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373
I understand what you are saying. Except we arent allowed to show the shelter... its at the owners request since not all the cats are healthy unfortunately and dont live in the cleanest places.
These pictures are also used on Petfinder.com and other adds for the cats to get adopted
11 years ago
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[tk]
Posts: 3863 - Karma: 1,906
There was a photography tutorial video on one of the multi-page threads somewhere that someone posted and said that they have watched over 50 times cause it's such a good video. The dude had his cats as subjects so that would be perfect. Wish I could find it for ya sorry
11 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
omnidata40% of my pictures are off my cats.

Then again they are purrrrrrfect.


Such a diva.

11 years ago
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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373
omnidataSuch a diva.



Love this
11 years ago
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
These are fantastic, but watch the white cats and their hair, don't let it get blown out.


#noedit haha. All those remind me of when I first got my tele lens and shot this.
11 years ago
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Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 503
Threads
11 years ago
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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373
Yes, same thing with black cats , so hard to shoot . Any tips ?
11 years ago
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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373

newest pic
11 years ago
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gravel
Posts: 5524 - Karma: 42,381
Crop out the candle and lights that clutter the right side, otherwise I really like the lighting. Again, background could be better altogether, but it'd be a really nice image in a better context.
11 years ago
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Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 503
GSPhotographyI have been a volunteer at a shelter for the past year and a half and started to do some photography for them.


That's such a good thing to have on your resume...

Just btw, also nice cat pics
11 years ago
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GSPhotography
Posts: 838 - Karma: 1,373
gavinrudyCrop out the candle and lights that clutter the right side, otherwise I really like the lighting. Again, background could be better altogether, but it'd be a really nice image in a better context.


Taking under concideration that this cat was literally a nightmare to take a picture of, running around the house, and that this was taken while she jumped on the kitchen table , I am fairly happy with the background. I will try the crop tho, I agree the lights are taking away from the subject
11 years ago
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rtl32
Posts: 679 - Karma: 1,161
GSPhotographyYes, same thing with black cats , so hard to shoot . Any tips ?


Bounce a speedlight from the side against a wall or hood if available, if you do it right you won't need to edit.

If you are willing to lose the consistency of your exposure use spot metering on the cat and that will usually help a lot. Again, above is the best way though.

If you can't do those straight off camera, increase exposure for black cats while you are shooting and then edit later to brighten shadows, then darken overall exposure and highlights to bring it back to normal. Removing a little contrast can help a lot. Make sure you are paying attention to your histogram and don't lose the shadows or highlights to the edge, or else none of that will help. Do the opposite with white cats. I recommend lightroom.

Sharpen if necessary to bring the hair out if it still is being fussy after you edit it.

Good luck.
11 years ago
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