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Location
This photo was taken in the ancient town of Arles, in the South of France, during an Easter holiday with my family.
Time
I can't remember the time exactly, but it was definitely the afternoon My family and I had had lunch and we went for a little walk around the town looking for a place to have a coffee. It was a warm, spring afternoon but this photo was taken on a narrow street which was quite shaded, but with enough light for the shutter to go down fast and the photo to come sufficiently sharp.
Lighting
I was very lucky that this cat was standing there in a narrow street protected from the afternoon sun. This meant that objects didn't create shadows but there was enough light for the shutter to go down quickly and produce a sharp image.
Equipment
This was shot on a Nikon D-40 with a 18-55 mm lense. No flash. No other equipment was used
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Inspiration
I had never travelled to the South of France before and I found a place bursting with history and colour. It was like travelling to Cuba- every corner, every place is a photo opportunity. I was walking around the town of Arles with my wife and children when I saw this cat on the window sill. I am not hugely fond of animals but this one caught my eye immediately. It looked almost as if it was posing for the passing tourists. It was standing there completely unbothered by the bustle. There was an arrogance, a "frenchness" about the animal which I found irresistible.
Editing
I have a piece of software installed on my laptop called "Photoscape" which I use to do some post-processing. In the case of this photo, I used it to boost the contrast and the sharpness a little bit, and to enhance the colour. The texture and the colour of the window shutter behind the cat benefited from that I think. Photoscape is very basic, but it's very easy to navigate. For beginners like me it's ideal.
In my camera bag
I am a very amateur photographer and I like travelling light. I have my Nikon D40 and 3 lenses: A Nikon 18-55mm, a Nikon 18-200 and a Sigma 18-300, which I was given as a birthday present recently and I am enjoying using very much.
Feedback
I think the secret is, wherever you go, always have your eyes very open and camera in hand, ready to shoot at the smallest opportunity. There will always be something around the corner waiting to be photographed. This might sound like an obvious piece of advice but if you are a beginner like me, it's the most valuable one I can offer you.
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