When the Boot Fits!
I couldn't stage this nor can I herd cats, lol! These barn kittens are just in love with the grooms' boots :-)
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I couldn't stage this nor can I herd cats, lol! These barn kittens are just in love with the grooms' boots :-)
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May, 2020Views
1005
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Awards
Top Shot Award 21
Winner in Cat portrait Photo Challenge
Winner in Fun Feline Foto Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Magnificent Capture
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Happy
Top Ranks
Top 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Top 20 rank week 1Top 20 rank week 1
Categories
PRO+
kennyhimes
August 22, 2020
Congratulaations on winning the Fun Feline Foto Challenge! Excellent capture at all levels.
Platinum
Platinum
mcampi
August 22, 2020
Congrats on a great fun feline challenge win. Love this shot and the creative edit... Well done..
Platinum
BARoland
August 22, 2020
Thanks much! It was fun to shoot and I couldn't have done it without the kitties!😸
PRO+
Platinum
vsoare2001
March 16, 2021
Congratulations Barb on winning Cat Portrait challenge! It's a piece of art, but you already know it!
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
![A Thoroughbred broodmare and her newborn [about 3 hours old] foal as they begin their journey together.....](https://cdnpt01.viewbug.com/media/mediafiles/2020/05/22/89427974_widepreview400.webp)
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in the foaling barn of a Thoroughbred breeding farm just outside of Lexington, Kentucky. More specifically, it was taken in the barn's tackroom.Time
It was approximately 1:30am. I'm employed by this farm. As a veterinary technician with a strong background in equine neonatal, one of my main duties is that I'm the one who foals out the broodmares. Mares typically foal at night. Consequently, during foaling season, I tend to keep the same hours as those followed by characters in an Anne Rice novel :)Lighting
The lighting wasn't very good, especially under a bench! The ceiling is very high with a limited number of florescent lights. There really wasn't time to set up anything so I opened a closet door that was across the room from the bench and turned on that light. Soft and diffused but better than nothing! It helped and so did shooting wide open.Equipment
Just my Nikon D3500 with a Nikkor 35mm, f/1.8 prime. That's it.Inspiration
On this particular night, I had just finished a routine check of the broodmares and walked into the tackroom for a cuppa. Because of the cold weather, we had a mama cat and her litter living in the room. Now, the grooms typically leave their work boots in the tackroom when they're done for the day. Somewhere along the line, the kittens decided that the boots were actually left there for their entertainment. When I saw two kittens playing in a pair of boots under the bench, I knew I had to get a shot. It was just too cute! I ran outside to my Jeep, grabbed my Nikon (it tends to live in the Jeep) and ran back. Can't pass up an opportunity like that!Editing
A bit of cropping eliminated some distracting clutter and dodge n burn smoothed the background under the bench. Played with curves but wanted to keep that soft feel so avoided any sharp contrasts.In my camera bag
Nikon DSLR with a prime (35mm, f/1.8 or 40mm, f/2.8, just depends on which one I'm currently in love with). A Nikkor 70-300mm or 55-200mm for reach or filling the frame. Extra battery. A soft bit of cloth to clean the lens filter when a horse snorts on it or a foal decides to lick it. Extra filters for when the previously mentioned reasons are extreme.Feedback
A handler can pose a horse for a conformation shot or put a dog on sit/stay. Those are great images but, to me, the spontaneous ones are usually the best captures. So, relax, be comfortable around animals (they know when you're not) and watch for that moment. When it comes, try to focus on/be level with the eyes, have fun and don't be afraid to crawl around on dirty floors ;)
