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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Pet Portrait III (Advanced Editing VII)
Collection: Challenges 2008
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS
Location: Home
Date: Feb 23, 2008
Aperture: f/4.5
ISO: 320
Shutter: 1/200
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: Feb 24, 2008

 Those of you who know me know this is the beautiful Miss Emma. She's a bear to photograph, though. Bring out the camera and she'll refuse to look at you. It's very annoying! Anyway, I locked her in the bathroom with me, threw a sheer curtain over the toilet, and used my big frosted window as a giant diffused light source. May not be the best pose in the world, but it's the way she sits a lot, so it's quite indicative of this particular cat.

Post processing - duplicate layer, soft light blending mode reduced a bit. Selective color to remove black from the blues to brighten her eyes (thanks for the tip on that, Catherine). A bit of dodging and burning but not a lot. A bump is saturation both in blues and overall. Crops - tried a lot of different ones. Sharpen, resize, sharpen a bit more, save for web.


The crop I prefer:

Statistics
Place: 23 out of 261
Avg (all users): 6.6066
Avg (commenters): 8.0476
Avg (participants): 6.4404
Avg (non-participants): 6.7843
Views since voting: 1760
Views during voting: 375
Votes: 211
Comments: 45
Favorites: 1 (view)

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AuthorThread
 03/09/2008 09:43:47 PM
This is such a beautiful photo. I love how those blue eyes pop out against all the neutrally blended colors in the photo. The diffused lighting really worked well here.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/07/2008 06:29:23 PM
I love it - a toilet as a portrait seat! Those eyes are amazing, and I especially like the repetition of the heart shapes - fantastic shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/06/2008 03:16:18 PM
Beauty of a shot Deb. The contrast is amazing and the blue...wow. Looks like a very sweet kitty. Congrats on the wonderful placement.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 10:43:34 PM
Beautiful cat and well shot! Love those kitty blue eyes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 01:09:01 PM
Lovely shot Deb, and lovely looking cat :- )
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 09:57:15 AM
I didn't vote in this one it was to sad for me to do, but as all ways you rock.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 08:39:25 AM
Way to go , Deb ! I wanted this to ribbon- really, really LOVE Miss Emma :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 08:06:41 AM
I loved that one Deb. Thought it was crisp, clear and indeed a portrait worthy of a frame. ;~)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 07:39:04 AM
And this is the shot you wanted people to talk you OUT of entering?! Poor Miss Emma would have been denied all this extra attention. Congrats on the great finish :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 07:36:06 AM
Well Deb, so much for thinking you wouldn't do well in this challenge! What a great finish for a beautiful cat!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 05:10:52 AM
Congrats on your great score! Beautiful eyes and typical pose...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 04:30:42 AM
Well done on getting such a great shot of a recalcigent poseur

Actually he looking away really adds to the haugtiness and regality of the breed

Super sharpness

You would have got bonus marks if you had entitled it

'Mildly annoyed kitty ready for a totally ignore your lens'

Terrific H&S on the eyes

Great job

Jon

  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 03:23:18 AM
Pretty cat! I gotta remember that bathroom trick.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:51:49 AM
Congrats, Deb! Just love those eyes. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:49:49 AM
Lovely detail in the fur, I can feel it without touching. An the eyes are beautifully clear.

eta: I was so intent on the photo, that I missed that impressive score. Nice!

Message edited by author 2008-03-03 00:51:11.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:27:19 AM
I knew that was Emma! Oh how I love it that she got to be in the challenge since you are home with her and Sir Thomas again :) This is a beautiful portrait of her, and I think she deserves an extra treat for getting such a great score here :)

Man, her eyes are BEEEEEAUUUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:13:58 AM
Beautiful pose, beautiful cat and a beautiful image..... Just lovely Deb.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:12:58 AM
Love that heart shaped pose, and congrats on your placing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:12:26 AM
Really really lovely Deb. Best toilet shot ever.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:07:54 AM
Beautiful eyes, Deb. Beautiful cat.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/03/2008 12:06:02 AM
way to go Deb, congrats on a great shot and score
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
03/02/2008 11:39:44 PM
Very nice pose.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/02/2008 05:31:06 AM
Beautiful cat. Eyes are gorgeous, nice pose, great detail and texture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 03/01/2008 11:57:59 AM
Beautiful cat. Oh, and the shot's good, too.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/29/2008 09:34:07 PM
A stunning cat I just love those eyes
Nice detail in the fur 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/29/2008 12:06:59 PM
Very well done, the crease to the bottom left seems to take a little away from the overall photo, BUT the texture and soft colors really make up for it!! 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 11:20:18 PM
Lovely blue-eyed lady. I like how she has her paws neatly tucked under her. Nice, soft light suits her.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 07:51:44 PM
Nice color, like the sharpness on the face. Don't care for the way the rear of the cat kinda of gets lost in the background
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 05:21:44 PM
I am really drawn to the heart-shape of the body. The angle on this is really nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/27/2008 09:53:17 AM
I think I recognize that blue-eyed beauty ??? She is a most exquisite looking model in her elegant pose :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 07:02:46 PM
good focus on subject, I think a different background color would have made it better
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 03:33:06 PM
awsome 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 08:41:23 AM
aaah, a siamese! They have a wonderful character, fantastic eyes and they are sooo crazy.....
Is it a blue-point?
Love to see so great textures, the white background works well. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 03:36:41 AM
great eyes!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 02:28:46 AM
Exposure is well executed. I would have really liked to see her eyes focused more forward though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/26/2008 12:33:14 AM
WOW her eyes are amazing. I want your cat. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 10:15:51 PM
s
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 09:06:09 PM
Beautiful shot. Great lighting, colors, focus...Good Luck
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 06:29:46 PM
Beautiful! She does look like the 'lady of the house'
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 01:55:15 PM
nice eyes kitty cat!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 12:42:05 PM
This is absolutely stunning-10 !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 11:15:18 AM
Deb, she looks awesome! I think you did up the sat on the eyes a little. They are just mesmerizing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 08:35:42 AM
Lovely lighting and focus. Bermese?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 01:35:31 AM
Really nice Tonkinese (I believe). We have two Siamese and a Tonkinese. I love their blue eyes.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 02/25/2008 01:03:34 AM
Great pose, and careful processing to retain the delicacy of her tones. What a doll.
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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