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Day 15: Don't hate me because I'm beautiful
Day 15: Don't hate me because I'm beautiful
cgino


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Nikon D80
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Nikon
Location: Polvadera, New Mexico
Date: Oct 15, 2007
Aperture: f/5
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/320
Galleries: Animals, Black and White
Date Uploaded: Oct 16, 2007

Viewed: 542
Comments: 18
Favorites: 4 (view)

Yup, back to cats! This is Lily, basking in the morning sun. She and four other girls got fixed last Wednesday. Only seven more to go... :-) I've got an appointment this Thursday for two to four, depending on who I can catch. I'm definitely aiming to get the girls done first, since the mean and nasty stray tom cats in the neighborhood are sniffing around.

PP: (assume layer blend mode normal and opacity 100% unless otherwise stated)
- crop and slightly rotate image
- create duplicate background layer, apply shadow/highlight at default values
- create duplicate layer, apply LucisArt Whyeth at 25%
- mask out sky in Whyeth layer (skies look very funky with whyeth)
- create duplicate layer, use clone tool at about 30% opacity to fill in the high glare areas on wooden fence and bricks
- select background shed and paste as new layer then apply gaussian blur at about 2 pixel radius; set layer opacity to 73%
- select eyes and paste into new layer, blending mode screen, layer opacity 43%
- channel mixer layer, R-100, G-0, B-50; very light masking on nose, eyes, ears and a bit of face; layer opacity 91%
- create another copy of eyes, blending mode overlay, layer opacity 36%
- crop again
- resize
- flatten
- create duplicate layer and apply unsharp mask at radius 0.7, amount 70%, threshold 0; then erase sky and background
- save for web

Here's the original


edited to add a QUESTION:
Lily's eyes look freaky in the thumb, do you think they look okay in the full-sized image? Thanks for all opinions!

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AuthorThread
10/25/2007 06:37:38 PM
Gorgeous! I have got to get myself the lucis art thingy. :) I love your processing. Amazing stuff you have.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/23/2007 06:17:34 PM
That is just plain beautiful, and i dont even like cats.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/20/2007 09:36:43 PM
Oh, I think her eyes look perfect. Striking and ever-so-glamorous. What a perfect title for that elegant pose. I love this one!

  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2007 08:39:32 PM
Just perfect, and I love your cat shots.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2007 10:00:01 AM
I don't think her eyes are freaky at all. The perspective is "freaky", but that's fine. She looks like the cat that took over New Mexico. 8)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2007 09:40:59 AM
excellent composition, the processing is great, and i don't think the eyes look freaky at all.

...but, 11 cats?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/17/2007 03:14:42 AM
Her eyes look awesome - the tones are awesome. I need to find that LucisArt stuff and learn to use it - I'm assuming that's part of how you get that lovely silvery/bluish/gray tone thing going on here. In fact, if you don't mind, I want to "borrow" your original and see if I can do to it what you did. Seriously great shot to begin with (love that wide angle!) and really really good post processing to give it a whole new life.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 10:27:46 PM
Super image of the Super Cat, Lily. What lucky cats, to have you as their owner getting them all fixed up!! You take the best cat images I've seen. You've got the editing down purrfect. Wish I could do the same! Love her eyes, btw.

  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 09:46:52 PM
this is superb .. another fantastic cat photograph .. love your processing .. love how lily is on top of the pole with her leg dangling down ... brilliant photograph ... excellent result .. she seems like such a poser & looks like she loves having her picture taken . .. lucky you !!! :)

Message edited by author 2007-10-16 21:48:20.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 06:37:42 PM
The eyes look good. You probably just looked at them too long. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 05:59:26 PM
Just love her pose - her eyes are fine - staring cat eyes thats all !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 05:23:14 PM
I really feel like I know your kitties. I like the long stretch of his arm.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 03:57:28 PM
Wonderful editing. You made something special. The eyes looks still a little freaky in full-size. Probably because the pupils are almost stripes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 02:08:38 PM
Wowe what a massive improvement on the original nice to see your cat photos back again :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 01:46:22 PM
Oh yay! Back to the kitties! You are most definitely turning me into a cat lover with these shots. :) Your processing has become very recognizable as yours. Thanks for posting the original to compare so that we can really appreciate all your work.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 12:47:46 PM
Brilliant processing.. kitty got style!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 12:30:14 PM
It's a great shot to begin with - I love the pose but wow, what an excellent job you've done with the post processing! I love this shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
10/16/2007 11:57:27 AM
Looks like she's posing just for you. I like the b&w, and the processing nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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