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The Cat's (Not) Out of the Bag



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My cat doing what cats do.

My cat doing what cats do.
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Awards

Top Shot Award 21
Contest Finalist in My Favorite Pet Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Cats Or Dogs Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Feline Fancy Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Pampered Pets Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Sharpness Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Pets With Character Photo Contest
Featured
SanDisk Extreme Card
Contest Finalist in Cats Being Cats Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Animal Eyes Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Pet Friendly Photo Contest
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Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
jhweeks95 Jqueen54 jonnadeanbarrier vickyse jak7smith Antoniobarrios handrixstyle +69
All Star
marvan DMilestogo nadezhdagribanova_0336 amber29 Reebee NOuserHere hafeedz +31
Magnificent Capture
philipdrispin robbyticknor allisonfaustbranson domjdel schnetzky Water123 Hippiechic +29
Superior Skill
russellgaughen tredyh llowzz Simonekaren TrillaPhotography CROMA DebZ +19
Love it
Albert-Serra-Photography Kimie PeterEvans23 fealinsugortiz Jrcphotoz
Genius
Stacey_drechsler olimiha brnycamera
Virtuoso
akphotographystudio

Emotions

Impressed
rijaljhoo Leksus ninaininiwiiskwew MjBain russellgaughen PhotographyByColleen MacroSagar +3
Happy
manh marysorberdye

Top Ranks

Fill The Frame Photo Contest 2023Top 20 rank
Animal Faces Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animal Faces Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Chasing Cats Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Chasing Cats Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Inspired By The World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Favorite Pet Photo ContestTop 10 rank
My Favorite Pet Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Anything Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Anything Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Friendly Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Feline Beauty Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Feline Beauty Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Shallow Depth Of Field Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Shallow Depth Of Field Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Shallow Depth Of Field Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Low Vantage Point Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Low Vantage Point Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Low Vantage Point Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Isolating The Subject Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Textures In Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Textures In Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Puppies vs Kittens Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Textures In Animals Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Puppies vs Kittens Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 2
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Puppies vs Kittens Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Tenderness Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Tenderness Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Tenderness Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Your Point Of View Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Animal Eye Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Animal Eye Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Your Point Of View Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
The Animal Eye Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Your Point Of View Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Animals And Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animals And Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Animals And Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Cats Or Dogs Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Living Creatures Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Living Creatures Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 3
Feline Fancy Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Feline Fancy Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Living Creatures Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Portraits with Props Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unedited Photo Contest vol 2Top 10 rank
Innocence Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Unedited Photo Contest vol 2Top 10 rank week 2
Unedited Photo Contest vol 2Top 10 rank week 1
Clever Angles Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Clever Angles Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 2
Pampered Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pampered Pets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Clever Angles Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Disrupting Depth Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Disrupting Depth Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Sharpness Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Below My Knees Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Isolate And Simplify Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Below My Knees Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 3
Covers Photo Contest Vol 27Top 10 rank
Covers Photo Contest Vol 27Top 30 rank week 1
Pets With Character Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pets With Character Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Cats Being Cats Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Cats Being Cats Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Pet Me Please Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pet Me Please Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Cuteness Overload Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pretty Everyday Things Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Cuteness Overload Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Pretty Everyday Things Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Pretty Everyday Things Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Pretty Everyday Things Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Basic Edits Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Basic Edits Photo ContestTop 30 rank
Basic Edits Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Animals Are Beautiful Photo Contest Top 20 rank
Basic Edits Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Animals Are Beautiful Photo Contest Top 10 rank week 2
Animals Are Beautiful Photo Contest Top 10 rank week 1
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Pushing Limits Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Animal Eyes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Creative Props Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Creative Props Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Pet Friendly Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pet Friendly Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Best Shot Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Best Shot Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Low Angle Perspectives Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Low Angle Perspectives Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
ViewBug HQ Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Indoors Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Indoors Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Low Angle Perspectives Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1

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37 Comments | Report
roccochiara
 
roccochiara April 26, 2015
magnifico!!!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto April 26, 2015
Thank you!
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots May 03, 2015
Beautiful cat and capture. Voted,Indoors.
mxcphoto
mxcphoto May 06, 2015
Thanks!
pamramseycorey PRO+
 
pamramseycorey June 24, 2015
Awww, reminds me of my kitty who recently died after 21.5 years. So beautiful!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto June 24, 2015
Thank you! I'm sorry about your cat, but wow, 21.5 years!
reni
 
reni July 26, 2015
Fantastic eye contact...great shot
mxcphoto
mxcphoto July 26, 2015
Thank you, reni!
reflectionsbyrenee
 
reflectionsbyrenee August 11, 2015
congrats on your newest finalist win, this is so stunning, you have captured the true essence of this beautiful cat
mxcphoto
mxcphoto August 11, 2015
Thanks!
Kimbrat
 
Kimbrat November 26, 2015
Fantastic capture.
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 26, 2015
Thanks!
RhondaMcD
 
RhondaMcD November 29, 2015
Stunning capture. Congratulations
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 29, 2015
Thank you, Rhonda!
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots November 29, 2015
Congrats!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 29, 2015
Thanks!
sharonmeyers
 
sharonmeyers November 29, 2015
Great photo - congratulations.
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 29, 2015
Thanks, Sharon!
Mother_Nature
 
Mother_Nature November 29, 2015
Congratulations, excellent Capture (well shot image)" Angel Eyes" was my finalist image --Love this cat so wonderful
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 29, 2015
Thank you! And congrats on the Finalist selection as well!
joycealicesmith
 
joycealicesmith November 29, 2015
Congratulations on your win!! What a fantastic capture! Love the eyes!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 29, 2015
Thank you, Joyce!
Jillybean56
 
Jillybean56 November 30, 2015
Congratulations on your win!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto November 30, 2015
Thanks!
alexjevon
 
alexjevon December 02, 2015
What a beautiful cat. Oddly I nearly entered a similar image with a calico! :D
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 02, 2015
Thanks, Alex! Your cat on the tree branch is super cute.
Kimbrat
 
Kimbrat December 05, 2015
Congratulations on your win! !!!Bravo!!!!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 05, 2015
Thanks, Kim!
rach_who
 
rach_who December 07, 2015
What beautiful eyes
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 07, 2015
Thank you!
rach_who
 
rach_who December 07, 2015
tpremo
 
tpremo December 07, 2015
Beautiful!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 07, 2015
Thanks!
SnowbunnyPhotography Platinum
 
SnowbunnyPhotography December 07, 2015
Such an elegant kitty! Looks like my Bailey. Blue Russian? :-) Adorbs!!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 07, 2015
Thank you! This one is just your run of the mill bag-loving domestic shorthair.
nandicmb
 
nandicmb December 08, 2015
Congratulations on all your Awards!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 09, 2015
Thank you!
vojce
 
vojce December 11, 2015
fantastic congrats
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 11, 2015
Thanks!
loralarabee
 
loralarabee January 11, 2016
Congratulations!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto January 11, 2016
Thank you!
ChrisHPhotos
 
ChrisHPhotos May 14, 2016
Lovely composition and focus, excellent image.
mxcphoto
mxcphoto May 14, 2016
Thanks, Chris!
HelenaMiasPhotography
 
HelenaMiasPhotography May 14, 2016
British Shorthair? :)
mxcphoto
mxcphoto May 14, 2016
She's a domestic short hair. :)
iluv2shoot
 
iluv2shoot May 16, 2016
Fantastic capture; gorgeous cat!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto May 16, 2016
Thank you, Julianne!
suecondon
 
suecondon May 17, 2016
Beautiful cat, great cat-ture!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto May 18, 2016
Thanks, Sue!
dbasic
 
dbasic June 09, 2016
beautiful :)
mxcphoto
mxcphoto June 09, 2016
Thank you!
Anastasia_Kulkova
 
Anastasia_Kulkova June 13, 2016
Beauty!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto June 13, 2016
Thanks!
donnaboyle
 
donnaboyle October 09, 2016
Wonderful photo, gorgeous cat!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto October 09, 2016
Thank you, Donna!
jennay510
 
jennay510 December 06, 2016
That's adorable! Beautiful capture and colors.
mxcphoto
mxcphoto December 06, 2016
Thanks!
Jamesmazzuca
 
Jamesmazzuca February 01, 2017
??
mihrt PRO+
 
mihrt January 28, 2018
fabulous capture......amazing eyes on this lovely cat....great timing ! Congrats on all your awards - well deserved!
mxcphoto
mxcphoto January 31, 2018
Thank you!
VisualAspen
 
VisualAspen April 19, 2018
Great caption, awesome photo !
mxcphoto
mxcphoto April 25, 2018
Thank you!
marykovich Ultimate
 
marykovich September 28, 2018
Beautiful picture!
mypStudio7
 
mypStudio7 November 08, 2018
Absolutely masterful. You had great model.
kerrimarielawson
 
kerrimarielawson April 12, 2019
💕 this
dewood62
 
dewood62 July 18, 2019
My cat Nino could be your cats twin!
PhotographyByColleen
 
PhotographyByColleen June 06, 2020
Would love to see this photograph in my new challenge viewbug.com/challenge/show-me-your-cats-photo-challenge-by-photographybycolleen
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in my apartment near Washington DC. I get a lot of natural window light coming in because I have a lot of windows, including part of a wall that's floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to a balcony.

Time

This was taken in the afternoon, around 3pm.

Lighting

My apartment has a fairly long balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to it, so I get a lot of great natural window lighting. My place can be messy sometimes because I will purposefully leave package boxes and shopping bags out for a couple days for my cat to play in. I do this because my cat is generally pretty camera shy. She seems to now know the noises associated with my camera, like the click from when I turn my camera on and the sound the lens cap makes. I can't count the number of times I've seen my cat doing something cute, and went to get the camera, but as soon as she hears it, she stops what she's doing or runs off. However, when she's in a bag or box, she tends to stay put more often. In this particular instance, the paper shopping bag happened to be open facing my balcony, so I couldn't have asked for better lighting. Most people who see this photo ask what type of lighting equipment I used, and are always surprised when I tell them it was 100% natural window light. All I did was lay down on the ground in front of her and take the photo.

Equipment

For this particular picture, I used a Canon REBEL T3i with a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. The aperture was set to f/2. No lighting equipment was used. All I had was my camera, lens and that brown paper bag.

Inspiration

I don't get too many opportunities to take photos of my cat. She's a bit camera shy and the camera tends to distract her from whatever she was doing that was photo worthy. She either stops what she's doing or runs off when she hears or sees the camera. Anytime I can get her to stay put, often with the assistance from shopping bags or UPS package boxes, I try to take advantage and take some photos of her. This was simply one of those times she cooperated with me.

Editing

I shoot all my photos in RAW, so I always do some amount of post-processing. However, for this shot, with the lighting already being perfect, I didn't have to do very much. Basically modified the contrast a little and did some color correction.

In my camera bag

I shot this was a Canon REBEL T3i. I've since upgraded and switched to a Nikon D750. Having switched manufacturers, I need to rebuild my lens collection, so right now my gear is pretty simple. I have my D750 body and my single Nikon lens, which is a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8. Right now, if there is a need for another lens, I will rent it. Outside of that, the rest is on an as needed basis (flashes, tripods, filters, etc).

Feedback

I worked with cats who are much more camera-friendly than mine. I'd say if you have a bag or box, let your cat go to town on them and see what you can capture. I don't know how easy it would be to reproduce the lighting from this photo, as I think it contributed a lot to how the final photo turned out, but you can certain try something similar if you've got a lot of windows, or even with some lighting equipment. Having taken a decent amount of pet photos, one thing I've learned is that you often get the best photos when you just let the pets do their thing. I've never truly tried to "pose" a pet, but I have to imagine it's not only difficult, but I don't feel the result would be much better than capturing candid moments.

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