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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Kitties, Doggies and Flowers
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08/04/2005 11:15:59 AM · #1
I've read a whole lot of criticism of people who take pictures of their beloved pets and gardens for the challenges. I even had a photography teacher who would rip up pictures of pets and flowers and refuse to grade them.

After spending an hour trying to get the family cat to pose for me I can tell you that it was among one of the hardest photographs to acquire. Cats (and a lot of dogs) do not sit still. You must treat them as any wild creature or you just won't get the shot. And then even sometimes it's just a matter of luck.

Now flowers on the other hand don't move very fast, but I can tell you that often even the slightest breeze will mess up the shot. The light changes quickly on them and shadows are often difficult to eliminate. It can be quite difficult to frame the perfect backlighting on a well structured flower while eliminating things like house parts, sprinklers, fences etc.

Next time you are tempted to downgrade a picture because of these subjects just remember it can take as much prep time and planning to get these as any other subject.

08/04/2005 11:21:33 AM · #2
Oh I'm so glad you're a happy person! Way to not be a drunk! :-P
(Cats really are hard to photograph!)
08/04/2005 11:23:44 AM · #3
Oh Deb where were you when I did my Wooden entry LOL. Didnt do as well as I hoped but it was my first challenge and I had fun doing it but you are right about how hard it is to get animals to do your will!!! We had a heat index of 110 F the day I shot this on top of it!



08/04/2005 11:26:54 AM · #4
"After spending an hour trying to get the family cat to pose for me I can tell you that it was among one of the hardest photographs to acquire. Cats (and a lot of dogs) do not sit still. You must treat them as any wild creature or you just won't get the shot. And then even sometimes it's just a matter of luck."

...therein lies the problem...why would you try to pose your cat? I would never dream of doing that...I like my creatures in their natural state...



..all in all things are more interesting in their natural behavior...this includes children too...but I guess it all depends on what someone's bent is...JMO
08/04/2005 11:30:15 AM · #5
Rktdesign I know what you mean about natural shots, I cn spend hours in the pasture waiting for my horses to do something that it photo worthy LOL my husband thinks I am crazy but I enjoy it especialy when you capture that special shot. We breed a couple of babies each year and this year was the first in a while that we didnt have any because we had to sell a few first and I have to say I am having withdrawal symptoms, the foals make beautiful subjects.

08/04/2005 11:36:13 AM · #6
Originally posted by loriprophoto:

Oh Deb where were you when I did my Wooden entry LOL. Didnt do as well as I hoped but it was my first challenge and I had fun doing it but you are right about how hard it is to get animals to do your will!!! We had a heat index of 110 F the day I shot this on top of it!



I thought this was so cute...when I first saw I thought " How in the world did they do this?!" I would most likely have to have a pile of food as big as the cats, I have 3, to get them to stay put in the same place all at the same time...or maybe a massive pile of cat nip...that's it...I'll dope them up... : }

Message edited by author 2005-08-04 11:37:00.
08/04/2005 11:42:40 AM · #7
LOL ... these are barn cats ... I have 13!!! I am a sucker for animals and cant turn any away and they know it. I didnt have food, the black and white one loves being the center of attention so just sat there but the other one wasnt so co-operative, I happened to have a mop out on the deck drying and grabbed it and waved it in front of their noses and snapped a few quick shots, I also had a third cat that kept getting in front of them so had to hold it at bay and keep putting the orange cat back and trying to keeps its attention and press the shutter at the same time, a three ringed circus LOL. My neigbors must have thought I was mad. Oh well.

08/04/2005 11:42:50 AM · #8
Catnip is good.....


08/04/2005 12:30:57 PM · #9
Or a bird feeder out the window! ;^) Cat TV.


08/04/2005 12:35:25 PM · #10
... or... don't let them in when they ask.

I had to snap my fingers to get her to look the way I wanted.


08/05/2005 07:11:21 PM · #11
This works for me.

Better than catnip

no animals were hurt in this photo-teehee
08/05/2005 07:16:15 PM · #12


One shot in a zillion attempts. The damn dog wants to lick the lens all the time.
Don't let his sad look fool you, razor sharp teeth and fast as lightning.
08/05/2005 07:28:04 PM · #13
Originally posted by DebN2003:

...Next time you are tempted to downgrade a picture because of these subjects just remember it can take as much prep time and planning to get these as any other subject.


Not if you have a big fat lazy dumb dog.... he's real easy to photograph ;)

08/06/2005 05:18:19 PM · #14
Originally posted by loriprophoto:

Oh Deb where were you when I did my Wooden entry LOL.


Sorry I missed it. It's now on my favorites so I won't miss it again.
08/06/2005 05:23:31 PM · #15
Originally posted by rktdesign:

...therein lies the problem...why would you try to pose your cat? I would never dream of doing that...I like my creatures in their natural state...


i finally realized that after chasing him while he was chasing whatever moved. The result is on my profile page Deb's Profile
08/06/2005 05:31:56 PM · #16
Originally posted by loriprophoto:

I happened to have a mop out on the deck drying and grabbed it and waved it in front of their noses and snapped a few quick shots, I also had a third cat that kept getting in front of them so had to hold it at bay and keep putting the orange cat back and trying to keeps its attention and press the shutter at the same time, a three ringed circus LOL.


sounds like you had your hands full -- or you're an octopus -- either one. One of the cats here *has* to be in front of the computer screen. Whenever I'm busy I have to shut him out of the room then listen to him scratch on the door and cry.
08/06/2005 05:32:48 PM · #17
Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Catnip is good..... [


LOL! for them or me????
08/06/2005 05:35:08 PM · #18
Originally posted by pixieland:

This works for me. no animals were hurt in this photo-teehee


Bud??? The cat has *no* taste. ;-)
08/06/2005 05:36:21 PM · #19
Originally posted by glad2badad:

Or a bird feeder out the window! ;^) Cat TV.


I suppose you're the one who bought that video tape of birds for your cat...
08/06/2005 05:36:59 PM · #20
Originally posted by DebN2003:

Originally posted by rktdesign:

...therein lies the problem...why would you try to pose your cat? I would never dream of doing that...I like my creatures in their natural state...


i finally realized that after chasing him while he was chasing whatever moved. The result is on my profile page Deb's Profile


That's a really nice pic Deb... I got thinking again...the critters are somewhat more pliable when snoozing : } ...that's how I got this:



I kept swooshing him around a bit in the tub on that towel and he didn't budge, I even moved his legs around a bit...Perhaps the lazier the animal is, the simpler the portrait...I don't think I have one single portrait of Henry standing up! I guess that's a different challenge...animating the "lazy" cat or dog! : }

Message edited by author 2005-08-06 17:38:27.
08/06/2005 05:37:24 PM · #21
Originally posted by cpanaioti:

I had to snap my fingers to get her to look the way I wanted.


I snapped my fingers. He bit them! D'oh!
08/06/2005 05:40:21 PM · #22
Originally posted by Azrifel:

One shot in a zillion attempts. The damn dog wants to lick the lens all the time.


LOL!!! sounds like home. When ours was young you didn't dare open your mouth around him....
08/06/2005 05:41:29 PM · #23
Originally posted by ldowse:


Not if you have a big fat lazy dumb dog.... he's real easy to photograph ;)


I'll keep that in mind. Ours is fat and lazy, but she's ugly too....
08/06/2005 05:45:07 PM · #24
Originally posted by rktdesign:



That's a really nice pic Deb... the critters are somewhat more pliable when snoozing : }


Thank you. :-)

Yours is good too. The way it's oriented I thought the cat was floating in something. Cool affect.

I bet the cat was just laying there thinking "Wheee! Free rides!"
08/06/2005 05:45:29 PM · #25
... ... talk about fat (15 lbs) and lazy (sleeps 18-20 hours per day)... Coco just needs a beer to complete his relaxing TV time :)... Oh the life!

Message edited by author 2005-08-06 17:46:16.
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