Smartphones Take Epic Cat Portraits

Faint Cat on a coloured background

Taking cat pictures you will be really happy with on a smartphone as never been easier and one of the most effective tools on your smartphone is ‘portrait mode’.

Thankful Thursday Graphic at Dash Kitten

You can use this mode to take gorgeous and fun cat portraits and you only need to know one setting to confidently ace your own cat portraits. So, let’s talk about this easy and effective setting available on every modern smartphone!

What is Portrait Mode?

Portrait mode is a camera setting that artificially blurs the background of your photos, creating a bokeh (soft focus) effect around the cat.

Injured cat sat up in a crate
MIRANDA RECOVERY PORTRAIT

Find the Portrait Mode/Tool on your Smartphone

On my iPhone the portrait mode is part of the camera and yours may operate in a similar way. To move between camera options I slide my finger across the bottom of the screen.

Once you navigate to your portrait option you may find a series of different options available. Mine includes ‘Stage Light’ ‘ ‘Contour Light’ and two different ‘Key Light’ options. You can try these out to see what a difference they make. Each option is worth trying to push the ‘limits’ of your smartphone camera.

Smartphone iPhone Modes

Lighting is Key

Natural light is best, if you can get it, but, if your room or flat struggles to get the kind of light you need, remember the one awesome thing your smartphone can do.

It works amazingly well in low light.

So well that you might drop your smartphone in surprise. OK I’m kidding but so many people are genuinely taken aback by the superb quality of images like this one of Toulouse. One cat, one small lamp (off camera) nothing else.

Cat posing in dim light
SMARTPHONE LOW LIGHT
Smartphone photo Toulouse Blackwing Pencil Dark 2
‘STAGE LIGHT’ OPTION

Distance Matters

Each smartphone is different and your distance from your cat is something you will be able to experiment with so you can find the most successful distance for taking a good cat photo.

My iPhone 12 lets me know if I need to step further away. Usually it prefers me to be about 60 cms (2 feet) or so from my cat subject. Your Android or iPhone may be more versatile and work at closer distances. Most smartphone lenses work out when you are too close and display a reminder to step back.

Composition is Crucial

First, remember that you need to have an uncluttered background. Even with portrait mode, a clear background  makes the out of focus area look smoother and less busy. This image of Taz works really well and only uses portrait mode with no other editing.

Taz also breaks the rule of not placing your subject in the centre of the frame. He is a strong enough colour and has such presence it works. Remember that this indefinable ‘presence‘ is something your cat has, if you are lucky enough to capture the moment.

black cat sat on a rug draped on a bannister
CENTRE POSE

While you can successfully pose your cat front and centre like this; using the Rule of Thirds is a second option you can try. For some reason the human eye finds a cat placed one third of the way across the image field looks pleasing. So, try this while you have your model in position (and before they move away with the bored meowdel strut).

RULE OF THIRDS

Focus on the Eyes

Even though your smartphone doesn’t have the state of the art ‘eye focusing’ tech. of a mirrorless camera keeping your focus on your cat is easy. Tap your smartphone screen.

This works for almost every ‘phone out there and helps you to focus on your cat’s face. Even if you move slightly, your cat’s face should remain in focus while you shoot.

Samsung Smartphone Lenses Photograph
SAMSUNG LENSES

Practice Makes Perfect

Keep practising your Portrait Mode skills on your cats. The more cat photos you take, the better you will get a judging what works, and going it with confidence. 

If all else fails, you can incorporate a touch of bokeh (soft focus) from an app like Snapseed. But, getting it right ‘in your smartphone’ saves so much time.

Now go and try it and let me know how you do!

Do Something on Remember Me Thursday

Photographs to celebrate the shelter pets we lose every year.

What is Remember Me Thursday? The honest truth is that it is meant to remember the millions of animals who die in shelters unloved, dumped and cast off by owners. So, what can we do? Now and afterwards?

We can stop this! We will stop this! Because it is up to people like you and I to take action.

Closeup of a tortie kitten in a pastel pink frame.
SUNNY
  • Helen Woodward Animal Center has human and absolutely amazing animal luminaries helping publicise the plight of shelter pets. Join them.
  1. Affordable spay and neutering and TNR for colonies and low budget families is essential. Lack of spay and neuter services is why you need to advocate for your local rescue, and help those on low budgets find vouchers, or low-cost options if you can.
  2. Contact shelters like Apple Valley who do NOT publicise their cats so they all die (and they obstruct adoptions). The volunteers (not shelter affiliated just REALLY wanting to help) share like demons for them. The volunteers are on IG and welcome shares @applevalleysheltercatnetwork Get these cats in front of CA people NOW!
  3. Support local rescues. Mine here in the Hutt Valley, New Zealand are:
    Rachel’s Kitty Cat Rescue (FB) Our foster fail Sunny is from Rachel.
    Feral Nation (FB)
    Wainoui Whiskers (FB)
  4. Our local cat cafe Neko Ngeru also has cats for adoption from these rescues and you can visit the cafe (check for opening times etc.,)
  5. One of my favourite US Shelters is the compassionate and loving PAWS in Norwalk, CT whose cats are featured on Animal Shelter Volunteer Life.
  6. My favourite foster network is Place for Cats, run by hard working and committed Mia Lancaster. She welcomes donations as she is hosting Persians from the streets of Egypt where they are dumped after their time as a cute plaything is over. As well as cats and kittens pulled from New York’s ACC.

One special cat I want to share is Vern from Lincoln Park Michigan.

Vern is a special boy that lived his life up until recently in pain. He is at Stay Pawsitive Animal Rescue (Wagtopia). Read some of his story and if you can share his FB post it would be lovely:

Vern was lucky to have crossed paths with his foster momma who saw past his hisses to the sweet boy he could be. He was in pain so others mistook his feral like behavior as a warning to leave him alone but when evaluated we realized he was living with double eye entropion.  Both of his eyes the eye lashed scratched his eyes 24/7 with no relief. 

He needed surgery to correct that.  Which he had and is all healed up now. He does take a little time to trust you but if you were him you would be leary of people too.  Vern needs a quiet home to live out the rest of his life in a cat tree in front of a window.  He needs someone who will be patient with him.  He is cat selective, some he likes some he doesn’t. He wants his space.  

Neutered, UTD on vaccines, dewormed and microchipped 

https://www.wagtopia.com/search/pet?id=1997564&name=Vern

Snoozing Cat on Remember Me Thursday

REMEMBER ME THURSDAY CONTEST NOTICE FOR U.S. FRIENDS:
From August 20 to October 4, you can enter your rescue pet’s story to win pet food and money for your favorite shelter or rescue. Remember to nominate your favorite rescue or shelter to win!

HWAC
tabby cat looking at the camera
PEANUT OUR FIRST RESCUE
Miranda Victrix Cat recovering from arrow attack sits on a wooden railing
MIRANDA ARROW ATTACK SURVIVOR

Dia de Muertos Black Cat Photo Fun

Pale banner with curly text and smartphone image

Today’s Dia de Muertos kitties are an unusual selection taken in a hurry with my smartphone. My DLSR data card threw a wobbly and doesn’t work (neither does the backup) so I had to rush out and grab some quick garden shots and it was soooo windy!

Join me for some Dia de Muertos Black Cat fun!

Kindle of black hand painted kittens in a basket at a craft fair.
READY FOR DISPLAY

Here is a selection of the hand-painted cats ready to be arranged for the local Pinehaven Gallery Craft Show. The annual gallery is a fundraiser for the school and people from all over New Zealand show their handmade art and crafts.

Day of the Dead Hand Painted Black Cat
SITTING DIA DE MUERTOS CAT

With the building work across the back I struggled a bit to find something to lift my spirits and find something cat lovers would love.

Then, I came across the pattern Laura Lunsford created. Her models are predominantly fabric with stitched faces and elements but I knew my way forward was to paint the all the unique Dia de Muertos features myself! It was a lot of fun.

Day of the Dead Hand Painted Black Cat
STANDING FABRIC CAT

Yes, I sold some of my Dia de Muertos CATS at the Gallery which was exciting! The fun thing is that the handmade and hand-painted look means that each cat is different. No one will have a cat exactly like the others! The colours look wonderful against the black fabric background too.

Day of the Dead Hand Painted Black Cat

The ‘sitting’ cat looks really charming but the ‘stood up’ cat looks lively and ready for action. I am not sure which I like best, how about you?

I aim to grab a new data card for my camera this coming week and challenge myself to process the photos in a new software package I am reviewing soon. Until then, have a good week everyone.

Late Addition: I am including a link to Etsy if you want to try Laura’s pattern!

Low Light Cat Photos Work With a Phone

Text and outline of a smartphone.

What started out as a ‘let’s take a photo of Toulouse’s shaved butt’ cat photoshoot, turned into a hunt to find some fun photos in evening low light with a smartphone and one adventurous tabby cat.

My ‘phone is an iPhone 12 not the latest model, so your iOS or Android camera may do even better in low light.

Your smartphone can do the work of a DSLR/Mirrorless camera without much of the heavy lifting (settings) for a fun and fast capture.

Never dismiss your powerhouse smartphone and its lenses

A Tabby Cat stands on top of a fence in changing light

The terrible noise of the cement mixers had gone for the day so Toulouse and I went to check our newly planted ‘Five Finger’ (Pseudopanax arboreus) and Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis) which are located on our side of the fence.

A Tabby Cat stands on top of a fence in changing light

Smartphones are fantastic as the light fades, as I hope these cat photos show. And subtle changes in pose can make a difference to how successful you feel your shots are.

I have done very little editing in this series except a small amount of cropping to ensure consistency and touch of dodging to ensure clarity.

A Tabby Cat stands on top of a fence in changing light

Cat Camera View

Remember the direction you point your camera matters too. Our fence is nearly two metres (6 feet) high and my fearless tabby cat leaped up using the supports, then the wooden pillar before he began to explore. Don’t just point downwards!

I pointed the smartphone camera upwards which gives Toulouse the dominant pose of a confident tabby cat. I then stepped in towards him between the third and fourth photos which changes the light and look.

A Tabby Cat stands on top of a fence in changing light

Smartphone Feline Focus

Your smartphone camera can be relied on to help you keep your images sharp too.

TOP TIP: If your lens does not appear to be focusing on your cat, tap the screen to guide its focus. You may find a yellow square dancing around on the screen trying to focus. Tap your cat’s position on the screen and it will focus there. Take several images (or a burst) to ensure you catch your pose.

Be Brave With Light

Not every photo needs to be perfectly lit. This gathering dusk image of Toulouse works really well as a dynamic silhouette. A quiet moment looking out over the high fence.

A Tabby Cat stands on top of a fence in changing light

Take A Good Cat Photo

Blue banner showing smartphone outlines

People always say your blog title has to be ‘relevant’ and ‘appealing’ and not use the name of a cat because they cross the Bridge.

This was obviously formulated by someone aiming at profit not someone who is committed to cats, their care, health and how they are photographed. This blog is called Dash Kitten for a reason. That reason was taken from us on 6th September 2013.

Dash Portrait with rainblow lens flare
Founder Cat – Dash

The blog started out as a fun way to keep in touch with cat friends and developed into a way to encourage those friends to take wonderful photographs of their own and maybe understand enough basics to take pride in their images. Smartphones, compacts and DLSR/mirrorless cameras are all tools for us to capture memories.

Image of Peanut from DashKitten.com
Peanut

Taking a better photo allows you to honour your cat even more. That is why Dash Kitten is here.

I miss Peanut, our first and best cat (5 September) and, I miss Harvey Button(6th June) who inspired my first story and I miss Dash Kitten.

Senior pets make great photographic models.
Harvey Button

When you visit a blog and you love the photo, please say so. I always enjoy visiting Animal Shelter Volunteer Life because the lovely images capture the hearts of potential adopters.

Your photo might just capture your heart which is just the best thing ever. Use your camera, use your phone, take pictures, print some off, and treasure them. Memories matter.

Cheese At the Cat Cafe? Please!

Camera outline on a brown background

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks with a lot of nose across the back fence (builders) but the bright light on the horizon was a trip to Neko Ngeru Cat Cafe for a cheese tasting evening! I was sooo looking forward to cheese at the cat cafe!

A company called The Cheese Wheel discover and showcase New Zealand’s best artisan handmade cheese. They showcase it to customers in monthly boxes delivered to the door. It’s a human version of the cat lady box and we were were invited for a tasting.

As you can see Neko Ngeru resident cat Delilah had her eye on the tasting plates of customers!

The presenters took us through four different and constrasting cheeses from Brie to Blue with tasting tips, and questions about what we, as tasters, could actually taste, from words like nutty, smooth, creamy, woody and so on. Smell, texture, colour and taste all matter with cheese.

Of course….

The cats kept stealing the show as you can see but, we were very interested in the new world of artisan cheese makers.

The supermarkets in New Zealand stock a wide range of cheeses that taste of nothing in particular (just creamy, or cheddar-y etc.,) so it was really awesome to discover some people really do care about the cheese New Zealand can make and the future of NZ cheese.

My eye was caught by a gorgeous black cat with golden eyes called Kohl. I admit my two photos are not very good (I was too busy enjoying the cheese) but I want to point out how essential LIGHT is to show off Kohl’s fur. See how the light gives him shape and texture?

There was a lot of clear ambient light, nothing too bright or fussy, and do you see how much the gloss of his well kept fur shows? Light!

Of course everyone wanted his photograph!

Zoolatry Animal Crackers R Us

Celebration Banner with Champagne bottle and streamers

Today is a review and recommendation as Miranda, our arrow survivor, is featured in the Zoolatry August celebration ‘Animal Crackers’. We showcase some favourite images of Miranda here.

Healing Hero Tabby on the Move

Text and outline of a camera

After a long recovery from major perineal uresothomy surgery, our hero tabby Toulouse is finally exploring the great outdoors again! I could not resist capturing some of his first adventures with my DSLR, including a playful butt shot (at the end of the post!)

Toulouse spent almost an hour exploring close to home, rediscovering his favourite haunts before coming indoors again and crashing in one of the window cat beds.

Tabby on a wooden fence

From his vantage point Toulouse can see the layout of the houses marked on the other side of the fence. They are extremely close which is why the new trees I was checking on are so important to us. He jumped down to take a look so I walked away (a trick that usually has him scampering back to my side) and he did.

Tabby butt on a wooden fence

Okay, so I was slightly frantic trying to get the shots, and the photos ended up a little unfocused. I think that, like many of us, I need to work on my eye focus skills! I’m dreaming of the day when my Canon camera can magically lock onto eyes using eye-control autofocus. Until then, practice makes perfect and I keep trying. (Sadly I can’t afford a mirrorless eye autofocus camera as they run into thousands of dollars!)

I know Pete Cusack, of Timmy Tomcat blog enjoyed my camera reports and he would have loved to see the development of a camera finding and focusing on cat’s eye eye without human help. Funny how these thoughts come to you.

Tabby butt on a wooden fence

Saving the best until last, I was happy a got a shot of Toulouse’s bare butt disappearing over the fence and one of him back inside ready to nap.

Tabby cat on a bed by a window
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