robertsijka
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Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in My Favorite Pet Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Friendly Pets Photo Contest
Runner Up in Kittens vs Puppies Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Kittens vs Puppies Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in We Love Animals Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Featured
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 21 Photo Contest
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Magnificent Capture
All Star
Outstanding Creativity
Superior Skill
Genius
Virtuoso
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Categories
Hippiechic
June 04, 2016
Wow what a stunning photo and stunning cat , what breed is this , just gorgeous !!
janetredknap
March 06, 2017
Amazing how you capture such good photos. I wish my cats would be so obedient
F_Rosado_CMP_2016
September 29, 2017
He/she have that face that reads, what kind of trouble I can create? Kudos for this amazing capture.
debbiereynoldswinn
August 31, 2018
Oh my goodness! This little baby is absolutely precious. What a perfect capture.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
90% of my photos are taken in my home studio, this photo too. I like to have control over everything, that's why the studio is my favorite place to work.Time
I generally work with cats, mostly with my own. Probably most people know that cats are animals most active after dusk. That is why very often I start a photo session around midnight and finish at 4 - 5am.Lighting
Generally, in my portraits and use Butterfly Lighting with two types of modifier depending on the effect I want to achieve. For soft light I use 90 cm octagon softbox or if I want more dramatic, edgy light I use beauty dish. This photo was taken with softbox. I always use modeling lamp, the cat's eye is more interesting for me. Pupils are decreasing and shows the whole universe contained in the iris of the eye. I believe also that with modeling light the flash is less harmful for very sensitive cat's eyes.Equipment
I use Nikon D800 with Nikkor lens 16-35mm 1.4G ED. I love to go a little wide in my portraits, it gives me more room to maneuver and very natural look. I use High Speed Sync Studio Flash with 300W modeling lamp.Inspiration
This may trivial answer but my inspiration was a cat itself. Look at him, is a little masterpiece of Mother Nature. This is innocent and defiant look at the same time push you to immediately take him and hug with all your love. I think that's why people love pictures of animals, looking at them wake up most wonderfully feelings in us, we often forget this feelings on a daily basis.Editing
Of course, first, a base such as sharpening, color correction and cleaning. With cat you have hairs everywhere, it is so small thing and so destructive. Then I'm working on my interpretation, I work a lot with layers cloning and blending them to achieve my specific look.In my camera bag
I don't use bag often, I usually work in the studio. But if I have to go somewhere I take with me my lenses 16-35mm 1.4, 50mm prime 1,4 and 105 macro 2.8. Two speedlights with umbrellas. A few extra batteries and memory cards.Feedback
Be patient and keep it simple. Working with animals is not easy, you have your idea about session and they have their own completely different idea. Sometimes you have to wait a very long time until the two sides meet in the same place. If you are the most talented and creative photographer and you don't have enough patience to spend a couple of hours for a single image, success is a big question mark. Keep it simple, cat is a cat and don't need to become someone else to look great one the picture. Try to discover his personality more then make it through the complicated environment. And clean the hairs from your photo, always.