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I'm watching you


I'm watching you
Photo Information
Copyright: Rob Stanley (stanwax) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 14 W: 1 N: 24] (216)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2001-11
Categories: Pets
Camera: Kodak DC 280
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-15 19:27
Viewed: 2225
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I promise i won't upload lots of cat pictures to TL - though i could! This one has been chosen for two reasons. Firstly and most apparently its a cute pic of my other cat Chester. She loves to sit in the bath - it's anyones guess as to why this is a nice place to sit but she likes it and im not going to argue! So seeing her there I just had to shoot.
Secondly and more importantly for TL, this shot was taken using a great little cheat that I used with my Kodak DC280 - a digital compact if you didn't know. What I used to do was place a small rectangular mirror in front of the flash set at as near to 45 degrees as i could get. It would be held in place by some blu tac (a kind of re-useable sticky putty for putting up pictures if our overseas readers don't know what im talking about). This mirror would then bounce the flash off the celing and create a lovely natural light, rather like a swivel head flash gun. Its a simple thing to do that produces great results. If you want to see what the pic was like without this little cheat visit http://www.stanwax.plus.com/chesterbath.jpg
you may have to copy and paste the link but you will see how awfull the standard head on flash made the same picture.
hope someone can make use of this idea.
And just for information the shot was taken during a winters evening so the only light in the room appart from flash was a single incandecent lamp.
chiaraluna, Ah_Thong, cloverstar, JohnTurton has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

what an adorable shot Rob! Chester looks like a little spy here :-)) i know what you mean.. any cat lover has to restrain themselves from constantly wanting to show the world every impossibly cute angle of their kitties!! it's very hard for me to resist posting many more of my beautiful Bodmin ^_^ i guess it's quite lucky he's black and therefore quite hard to photograph otherwise... i'd never stop!!

and thanks for that great trick with the mirror! what a cool idea.. must try that sometime :-) this is a wonderful, sharp and really well composed shot Rob and as long as you're being creative i don't think anyone here (with a heart!) could ever get fed up with such fab kitty pics.. although i'm no judge as i'm certifiably cat mad! :D

great photo, great cat and great tip!

Ayda

hi ROB!! chester looks very very cute here.. i am a cat lover too.. and i really like this shot very much.. looks like those cartoon cats inside those cartoons... and the pose is reallyfunny... hahaha... and thanks for sharing with us the tricks you use.. i must try it out soon.. have a nice day
-thong-

  • Great 
  • mukesh Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 735 W: 95 N: 448] (4422)
  • [2005-05-15 23:36]

What a cat - her eyes really stare you out. I entirely agree with your point that direct flash kills the photograph. I have been using swivel head flash gun and I would hate to point it straight ever.

Boy, I wouldn't want to be a mouse in range of those eyes! A unique shot that really captures the essence of being a cat!

Soooo cute just peering over the edge like that! Chester appears to be like my cat Tinka who also loves to sit in the bath like this.
A big thanks for the instructions how to use the mirror. I looked at your link and I see what you mean. Good thinking.
Keep those cat pics coming. I for one, don't mind at all.

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