Crazy Cat Anatomy Scavenger Hunt

Are you tired of photography projects that ask you to walk here, or hike there, maybe you need to grab a bunch of lenses or hope for the right kind of light? This can be so frustrating if you want to sharpen your cat photography skills but may not be able to move far from home for any reason.

But wait! Not all photography needs a lot of physical effort, sweat and strain! I have a fun cat photography project for you this week and it is indoors based, if you need it to be. Read on for the fun…

The idea is really simple and there is no set time limit. There are no demands for expensive equipment (unless you have some to use) so you can use your smartphone, DSLR/Mirrorless or your compact camera and you build your confidence without realising it, because you will have so much fun.

A Crazy Cat Anatomy Scavenger Hunt!

The idea is to build a collection, a short series of images that you can keep, print off or even display as a photo canvas. If you remember my post about Thomas where I captured him on a high fence (with my smartphone) you will see there is an opportunity to really enjoy yourself, wherever you are.

You are the cat photographer. You are in charge. Are you ready to:

1. Say what you like,
2. Decide what you want,
3. and when you want to take your photos?

Just be conscious of how much light you have, and how much exposure you might need to take your photos. Add in a dash of Burst or Continuous Motion for fast cats on the move and you are ready for anything.

• TIP If you want to keep tabs on your photographs, put them in a separate folder on your drive. You can edit them later, if you want to, and you won’t need to go hunting for single photos here and there.

Here are some ideas for where to focus your attention while you stalk your cat around your home:

Cat Headshot

Take a sharp close-up photo of your cat’s face or whole head. You can capture from the front, or profile from the side. You can also highlight single elements like the eyes, nose, or whiskers. Here I have included an extreme closeup of Toulouse (above), a profile shot, and the head and shoulders shot of Taz.

Close head shots might take a bit of care as not every cat likes you to get too close with the camera so be patient. It took my cats a while to get used to me taking photos but they are more confident when I pick up my DSLR for a shot now.

• You can use digital zoom but keep a firm hold on your camera as digital zoom magnifies camera shake.

Paws of Character

Focus on your cat’s paw or paws.

Furry paws and cute toe beans can give you a shot that will charm people. Everyone loved my image of Teddy’s furry paws when I shared it on social media. Be brave and fill the frame with paw! For a different shot if your cat perches on a glass table or surface, see if you can get underneath the glass as this gives you even more opportunities for fun – like my image of Chenzou.

Cat Side Profile Full Body

Take a full body side shot. This kind of profile allows you to show off a lovely cat coat or glossy fur as well as spotlight their body shape and proportions, or motion. Taz here has short black fur and is almost a silhouette in my shot. Capturing a shot like this means you get some movement as well as your side shot.

Big Stretch

Capture your cat stretching out, either reaching up to catch a wand toy, or laid on the ground enjoying the sun. Even if you don’t get your cat’s full body length you catch the flexibility and those stretched out paws, just like Toulouse here. I was SO pleased with this shot and yes, I did get dusty lying on the ground.

Ear Closeup

Highlight the intricate details of your cat’s ears, including the fur, (which is called ‘furnishings’). you will capture any unusual shapes or kinks or, as you can see here, sunlight shining through Dot Kitten’s ear.

Crazy Cat Anatomy Summary

Be brave, take risks, get close. You as a fearless cat photographer have nothing to lose and some wonderful opportunities to grab new and thrilling images.

You will get plenty of blurry shots but you can capture a fabulously cool photo you can be really happy with, and be excited to share with friends and family, or on social media.

Now, what kind of a shot are you going to try first? Nose? Paw? Profile? Let me know in the comments.