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Black Cat
Black Cat
timfythetoo


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Black and White in Color (Advanced Editing IV*)
Camera: Canon EOS-300D Rebel
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Location: Columbus
Date: Jul 19, 2006
Aperture: 3.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/30
Galleries: Animals, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Jul 19, 2006

 We have three cats ranging in age from 7 to 14. I have great pics of two of my cats (hairball and little one) but only deent snapshots of the third (black cat - real creative names I know). The other two are just more photogenic. The morning of this challenge being announced I was about to set up a shot using on of my table lamps as the subject when I looked out on our back porch. Black cat was lying on our bench and it just hit me right there. I took a piece of black velvet outisde and had him sit on it. He then proceeded to clean himself for the next 5 minutes as I tried to take his picture. Most every shot shot came out blurry with a poor perspective. He wasnt very cooperative. This was basically the only shot that came out even close to being interesting and clean. And huge thanks to Jemison and the Flight picture and thread on how that was edited. Had I not read that thread and seen the original there is no way I would have spent anytime on this shot in postprocess. I would have chucked it along with all the rest. (This is not saying that my black cat picture is anywhere near the quality of "Flight" - just that I am starting to see what might actually be in a picture before processing). This is now probably my favorite picture that I have of any of our cats - and with him being the 14yr old you just never know how much longer you may have them for.

Post process - crop, levels, lightening, minor cloning, dodging and burning around whiskers and eyes, USM, saturated eyes, crop, border, save for web. Note - I can still see a reddish tint in both the right ear and on his back.
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Post Challenge - You have no idea how happy I am about this score and placing. Many o fthe shots I have taken for these challenges have been fun but there would be no reason for me to ever take any of them let alone coming up with the idea. This one is not one of them. It is this site that has taught me what I know to allow me to take and process a shot like this. This is my favorite cat of the three we have and he now rests as my fifth highest rated pic in my portfolio and the fifth place means I will see his name in my profile forever and ever. Thank you everyone for your votes and comments.

Oh yeah - The only pic in top ten to have significant color - yeah baby!!!

Statistics
Place: 5 out of 263
Avg (all users): 6.5687
Avg (commenters): 7.7500
Avg (participants): 6.2771
Avg (non-participants): 6.7039
Views since voting: 4941
Views during voting: 450
Votes: 262
Comments: 45
Favorites: 4 (view)

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AuthorThread
 09/11/2007 07:50:00 PM
wow awesome picture. I also have a black cat who is very impossible to get a good picture of.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/14/2007 12:06:08 PM
My cat looks exactly the same as this one :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/21/2007 11:46:40 AM
I can NOT photograph my black cat...at all!!!!!!!! He won't pose and he's so black, all contrast is GONE! This is GREAT! LOVE IT! Guess I need to get some back velvet!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/29/2006 07:07:22 PM
Great shot. I have a black cat also (named Zeus) but have yet to get a photo of him that I like.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/05/2006 12:25:46 PM
This is and excellent capture!! His eyes really jump out at you. It makes me miss our tuxedo kitty...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/04/2006 07:27:55 AM
This is just amazing and would be one of the very best cat images I have ever seen.....
The lighting is just perfect..... I also love the cats gold shiny eyes.....

Message edited by author 2006-08-04 07:28:32.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2006 07:01:52 PM
This is really awesome.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/03/2006 09:14:52 AM
Trading post...
Congrats on the 5th place. Beautiful processing, gorgeous cat!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 04:48:47 PM
Great job Tim!!! Congratulations on your 5th place! Go Untouchables!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 11:54:01 AM
5th place with a cat photo is especially impressive. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 09:02:05 AM
This deserved a ribbon. Absolutely brilliant!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 08:29:43 AM
Congrats on your 5th, Tim! Looks just like my (15yo) cat, smae arrogant look... Like the lighting and the eyes color.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 07:34:01 AM
Awwww. ..I used to have a cat that looked just like her!!! I love this photo. Isn't it awesome to know a photo that means so much to you is going to be smiling at you every time you go to your profile? Congratulations. This is an awesome image!!!!!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 06:39:08 AM
Yay! Congratulations on 5th sweetie. I promise I won't tell the other cats that he is your favorite (as long as you do everything I say of course!).
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:28:26 AM
Congrats, especially after reading the story on black cat :D
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:19:37 AM
There's something about this photo that shows that the photographer loves this cat very much :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:19:27 AM
Tim "Outta of the Park!" you and Qart on fire! Congrats!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:19:06 AM
Dynamite visual. Congratulations on your 5th place finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:16:48 AM
Great picture, Tim. I was fond of this in the challenge for obvious reasons (I'm a cat person who also likes dogs) but this one has a particular sweetness to it. Congrats on the pic, and the placing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:16:46 AM
Well done Tim! WTG Untouchables! ;-) Keep up the good work. Mighty fine job...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/02/2006 12:13:16 AM
Congrats Partner. Think our team average will look pretty good this week. Well Done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/01/2006 11:08:43 PM
Pretty tuxedo and good shot - I have one with the same facial markings. Good lighting too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2006 10:10:49 PM
excellent use of highlights. a feast for the eyes, and an exhilirating mix of simplicity and complexity. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2006 12:21:31 PM
I just love this shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2006 10:28:24 AM
One of my favorites, bumping up. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/01/2006 02:19:05 AM
Great texture & lighting. Saturation may be a bit overdone, but the image stopped me in my tracks. First time comment. Cats are not easy subjects, especially black cats. Congrats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2006 02:37:56 PM
one of the very few cat photos I've liked in my whole life.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/31/2006 05:11:43 AM
gl 8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/30/2006 09:48:10 PM
good lighting on this shot
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/29/2006 04:39:52 PM
A nice photo. I'm a kitty kat fan. Others may disagree. Have you seen this link with rule #38? Guide to DPC
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/29/2006 12:54:46 AM
fabulous work! the eyes really pop
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/28/2006 12:38:08 PM
What a great portrait. the lighting is just right and his/her eyes are beautiful! Winner
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 10:05:56 PM
Love this photo! 10 !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 07:17:33 PM
I'm not very big on cats shots but this is a good picture! Here kitty kitty!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 04:11:07 PM
This is fantastic. Unlike those other horrible people, I love cats and cat pictures. I'm also a big fan of high contrast images. Such a pretty kitty! Very nice composition as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 03:42:25 PM
awesome!! loved her eyes... I m not a professional photographer, so cant really comment much on lighting or anything, but the subject and composition is astounding!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 03:09:57 PM
Lovely
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 12:46:13 PM
great portrait, i like the lighting and the contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 10:12:55 AM
it's missing depth to me ... the cat seems flat ...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/27/2006 01:25:42 AM
ok - I love your black cat on black! The lighting outlining it is subtle and effective.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2006 03:24:21 PM
This is a good photo. But why did you call it black cat when the cat is black and white?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2006 12:20:45 PM
for this challenge i had wished that my cat was black and white instead of yellow. beautiful job!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2006 10:57:39 AM
WOW BRAVO This is absolutely perfect. Love the use of neg. space. I have such a soft spot for tuxedo kitties. I miss my Zoe.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 07/26/2006 08:45:48 AM
Very nice attempt at animal portraiture. The lighting would have been better with maybe a stronger light around the upper edge where the ears are. Without knowing the best light set up I can't say how you could have gotten a stronger rim around the edge of the cats body, but I am sure somebody here knows what you need to do.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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