Laydees and Gentlecats – the whole Dash Kitten Crew are PROUD to preeeesent…..
………. * WAIT FOR DA DRUM ROLL……. (iffen the video works)*
The ONE
The ONLY…
SUNNY
OK, OK….. what is so super special about Sunny I hear you ask? Apart from the fact she is a tortie?
She is a Foster Fail for the Dash Kitten Crew as of 18th of June 2023. She is chipped, up-to-date on her shots and formally adopted.
In true tortie fashion she is proving impossible to photograph well (for now) but I did manage some shots of her lurking in her favourite bed by using my small Vijim light fitted to the top of my DSLR. The environment is just a bit too dim and a high ISO would make it really grainy.
So, we hope you will welcome our special girl to the Crew!
Whether you’re an experienced photographer or a beginner, there will come a time when you capture a photo that you know has the potential to be transformed into a stunning portrait with the help of your favorite software program. Let me show you how (in less than five minutes!)
Choose Your Cat Photo
Your photo will often be a simple shot, like this one of Toulouse; caught as he steps up into view on our deck railing, intent on something beyond the edge of the frame.
A simple shot of a cat (or cats) in the centre of the image gives you room to darken the area around them as well as make your adjustments like the black and white filter I add to Toulouse.
Make a copy of your digital cat photo. This is essential. Never use the original, always work on a copy. If your filters or layers are a success you can save the second photo with a different name and your original is preserved.
Toulouse (Original) – ISO 400 124 mm f5 1/100
It’s all about what the layers add to the image, both in terms of visual interest and in helping to convey the story of subject(s) and scene within the frame.
Select a photo from your digital library – this can be from your smartphone, DSLR or compact camera.
Open it in your photo editing software such as GIMP, Photoshop Elements or Affinity Photo
If you want to add an overlay there are lots of free overlays online. Search ‘Overlays for Photos‘
Exploring Photo Adjustments
Import your photo then give yourself permission to explore and have fun!
For Toulouse’s shot I first selected the Black and White option in Affinity Photo. Most software has a similar colour removal function and you can adjust coloured sliders to change the tone. These can make a real difference without any further adjustments and is a good first step to try.
Then if you want to take your adjustments further look for your Layers panel or Menu. This may be along the top or the side depending on your software. The menu is usually a drop down selection with strange names like Colour Dodge, Darken, Saturation and Difference.
Duplicate your image Cmd/Ctrl J then click on the duplicate layer and select your Layers menu. Scroll down to active the different effects. I used the ‘Vivid Light’ layer in Affinity Photo which is stunning. Try this, or a similar adjustment on your own cat photo, I know you will be pleased with the results.
Add Fun To Your Masterpiece
Finally, I could not resist adding this fun layer to Toulouse’s photo. Instead of leaping into the frame with a dramatic filter flourish, he jumps up surounded by bubbles! This effect is simple to achieve with an overlay. I use Luxe Lens overlays (not expensive)where you are spoiled for choice from bubbles to sunsets, lens flares to stars but you can use any photo you like. Keep it simple so it doesn’t overshadow your cat who is the star!
Open your cat photo
Open an overlay
Copy overlay onto photo
Adjust overlays transparency to show the photo
Click the overlay layer and using your ‘eraser’ tool rub out the effect from your cat.
Those of you who are kind enough to subscribe to Dash Kitten’s newsletter (which you can do at the bottom of this post!) will have seen a preview of this portrait of Jack. He is a ginger and when I spoke about using camera RAW in the newsletter I was not sure how to show it effectively, so, of course, I had to go and tinker.
The result was this lovely portrait of Jack. It was originally a colour portrait and borderline overexposed (too bright) so by using the power of the RAW format I was able to darken the chest hair and enhance Jack’s features so he had depth and character. His thoughtful face is framed by darkness so there is nothing to distract you from his portrait.
Jack’s Monochrome Portrait
So you have something to judge it against, here is a smaller version of the original in colour. Do you prefer one or the other?
Are you a cat photography enthusiast who sometimes struggles with terms and jargon you don’t understand? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! I encountered a camera adjustment I was not familiar with recently and I want to share because it’s a bit of an eye-opener and it can make a difference to your cat (or dog!) photos when you use it on your mirrorless or DSLR camera.
I am going to try this one out over the coming weeks and I think other DSLR/Mirrorless camera users will too so let’s look at Exposure Compensation and see how it works in practice.
As a bonus I am including my FREE photography glossary as a download (see the bottom of the post)! The free eList includes a lot of photography terms for beginners.
Exposure Compensation Examples
Here are two samples of the difference the change can make ‘in the camera’ and save you endless fussing and tinkering with your cat’s photo in a photo editor. Toulouse (tabby), and his best friend Wyatt are my models to show very simply how using plus or minus makes a difference. The impact on a photo can be a lot more dramatic but this shows you what that simple dial or button can do.
Meet Exposure Compensation
What is Exposure Compensation a.k.a. Exposure Control? It is a sneaky and simple way of slightly adjusting the exposure from the settings the camera decides are good for your shot. It works while you use the Modes (see quote) and lets you change the exposure just a little bit. Why would you do this? Because our camera’s aren’t perfect and can misjudge the light so you can step in and make a small change.
To use exposure priority, your camera must be in a setting that uses the camera meter. This can be Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Program Mode, or other Scene Modes. The only time it will not work is when you have your setting in Manual or Automatic Mode.
I admit that I am not big on ‘manual‘ mode as it does not work well for my kind of cat photography, although some photographers swear its the best.
I take photographs of cats in repose, cats moving or fierce cats often within five minutes of each other. So, I prefer to use Aperture Priority (Nikon A) and Shutter Priority (S/Tv). Still, sometimes the light isn’t quite right and it needs the small tweak this tool can provide.
Look for the plus/minus symbol
TIP If you are familiar with your camera’s histogram a small adjustment to your exposure can help you remove the dreaded ‘blinkies’ which point out areas you have over exposed. Anything that helps you avoid that is a good thing – right?
Where do I find Exposure Compensation
It is different on each camera so check your manual or a tutorial video online. It can be a button, a dial or part of your menu but there will be a symbol similar to this, a plus and minus.
Plus – Use this to draw out details in the shadows scroll towards the +. Details in a cat face become more visible for example.
Minus – Use this to underexpose your image and draw out details in the highlights of your photo.
As part of May’s National Photography Month I created a fun cat photo tips infographic for beginner or nervous photographers. I find myself thinking about these simple ideas whenever I lose focus.
Sometimes I take terrible photos and they all end up in the digital rubbish bin so I have to take a breath, just like all of you, and try again. If you can’t see the whole infographic please let me know. I have made it into a download at the bottom of the post, if you would like a copy.
It’s useful to remind ourselves that just doing one thing differently can transform cat photos into amazing photos we can be proud of.
Here’s the infographic list in text form as I know some people will find it helpful:
Focus on your cat’s eye(s). If one eye is closer to you, focus on that one for best results.
Try a new angle. Look up further than you might usually, get down lower than you might usually!
Use Burst (smartphone) or Continuous (lots of shots) so your camera is prepared to keep shooting. Note do not use RAW with Continuous mode tas he camera cannot process the huge amounts of data fast enough and will stop taking photos.
Be Patient. You know your cat and when is the best time to take photos. This doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a surprise shot when your model doesn’t expect it. Needless to say there is usually a modelling fee involved……
Toulouse demonstrates No. 2. I am looking up at him from about a meter (3 feet) below.
You are welcome to download a FREE copy of the Infographic
