MatthewHark

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Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL

settings

Aperture 80/10 ISO 400 Shutter 1/200 Focal Length 63/1

upload_date

Jul, 2016

Views

335

Likes

+19

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Behind The Lens

Location

This adorable cat just one day turned up out of the blue moon, on my doorstep wide-eyed and happy as can be. He is always staying outside my house with a curious and happy smile with a warm and playful heart. So I just had to take a photograph of his photogenic features.

Time

Like every other day, my family would open the front day and he would rush to us with his little paws to just see us off. I remember running for my Canon 400D for a chance to try something new. The light was fading but just had the time to take the right moment to snap a brilliant picture.

Lighting

Lighting is a major part of any photograph with no exception to this one. Using the camera settings and a little touch up in Photoshop I manage to produce a photograph that still or even my best photograph today. A fast exposure for detail and a high ISO of 400 to set a balance to give that detail in the eyes and the light hit perfectly to shape.

Equipment

It wasn’t a landscape or a macro shot just a simple and basic stand lens that comes with a DLSR. Mine was a Canon 400D with a lens of 18-55mm. No tripod need because he's like every other cat, likes to move when something new enters the frame.

Inspiration

When this photograph was taken I was not even in my first year of photography. Now looking back on it, after just two years so far, I would say that just wanting to expand my knowledge of photography was the key inspiration. I need to expand from just taking macro shots and flower photography to new places like wildlife and landscape photography to become better skilled. To start viewing the world in a different light: seeing all beauty around us. Inspired by the great professionals in the world.

Editing

Once I took the photograph I just had to move it on to Photoshop and see what I could do. So I focused on the composition of the photograph and decided the background had to go. So I took the background from a dull and senseless piece to black background to enhances the subject's appeal. Just adding a gradient map of red and orange colours to produce a glow that hopefully captures your attention. Layering the original image to multiple the colour depth that brought out the eyes.

In my camera bag

When going out on a journey. I would recommend always taking the camera of course but I would take a range of lens. At least a wide angle or panoramic lens, an in-between lens like a 18-55mm and finally a macro lens for those smaller details of life. Take a tripod for avoiding any camera sack but keep in mind weight so get one light and easy to carry. Lastly a lens cleaner and oh some lunch for a nice break inbetween.

Feedback

I’m not the best or the most pro photographer out there but when taking a similar shot to mine I would recommend you have an exposure time of 1/200 or even higher depending on the animal. Be kind to it, focus on the detail and capture the emotions of the animal. And I would recommend not get too close just in case they decide to rest their paws on rest it on the lens or even worst, taste the lens itself. Take multiple shots of the cat or another animal from different angles and expressions to just to see their good side.

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MatthewHark

MatthewHark

Proud

Behind The Lens

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