Sometimes you can capture great joy in a simple image. Like our report on Puddy Tat the blind cat whose story I told recently. Another treasure I want to share is the grass peeping cat Toulouse.
We have several ornamental grasses in our garden and they are loved by the cats as a place to hide and leap out at other unsuspecting felines that pass by. Or, as is the case here, show off for my zoom lens!
I was pleased with this as the focus is in the middle distance with soft focus close to, and also in the far distance. This means the golden evening light shows Toulouse off perfectly. What do you think of his cheeky pose?
Today’s almost selfie shows how humour and incident can surprise you even as you just turn around.
I was in the garden with my camera and turned as I heard the window open behind me. Natasha was looking speculatively at the ground some 1.5 metres (5 feet) below her. Keeping my fingers crossed I took some shots just in case she decided to be reckless.
She did.
Looking out – ISO 400 f.8 1/320
I was frustrated my settings were not enough to capture her leap downwards except as a flying cat shape. She does look amazing though!
I would have needed at least 1/1000 because Natasha moved at such a fast speed. Maybe an alternative would have been to set my camera to Tv (Canon) or Shutter Priority, or ‘Sport’ mode which is are great modes for fast capture.
Shutter Priority mode: This mode allows you to set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture automatically depending on the exposure compensation, lighting conditions, ISO configurations and the metering mode.
Digital Camera HQ
ISO 400 f.13 1/320
I am happy I caught a crazy moment on camera even though it is not pin sharp. It will make people gasp I know, but I can reassure everyone, she landed on her paws safely and scampered away into the grass.
Welcome to tumble cats central here in New Zealand. The Spring weather is getting warmer here so the cats are getting more garden play time and I am getting more photo opportunities for fun action shots. Grab your camera and get ready to use Sport mode or Burst mode and have some fun.
Here Toulouse is executing the perfect backward shoulder roll with me using Sport mode as I was not sure where the two cats would be going, or where they would end up!
ISO 100 50 mm f 2.8 1/500
How Do I Take Fast Cat Photos?
On a DSLR or mirrorless camera you can use Sport mode as a beginner. For a new camera user this takes a lot of pressure off deciding which shutter speed to use until you get pratice under your belt. Then with confidence you can try manual mode.
When you download your photos, take a look at the shutter speed that sport mode used. I find 1/250 is a good place to start but I can go right up to 1/1000 if the cats are really moving quickly – I suggest you do the same.
Play with your camera and discover which speeds capture your cat.
On a smartphone the camera will judge the settings for you, then use the correct lens. My advice, as each smartphone is different is to do your research, discover what your smartphone can do and use your knowledge to improve your action cat shorts.
Live mode works by taking a rapid series of images before you push the shutter button and another series of images after you press the shutter button. All the photos are then stitched together to create a short video.
Taking a portrait of a fierce and ferocious cat may seem like a challenge but, with some preparation and patience, it can be fun and rewarding. The images here showcase cats tapping into their inner wildness and I know that if I can capture these intense looking portraits, with a few helpful suggestions and some cheeky tricks, you can do it too.
Grab your camera and get ready to capture your own cat’s untamed spirit!
Two Types of Fierce Cat ‘Looks’
The genuine fierce snarl
The sneaky snarl
The first, truly fierce, cat expression can be a challenge to capture as most of us don’t face a truly angry cat very often. The good news is you can grab the shot if you are ready, and you are able to use a combination of your quick reactions and a zoom to get you closer. This can be with your smartphone digital zoom, a DSLR kit lens, or a more expensive zoom/telephoto lens.
The second ‘snarl’ is a sneaky cheat because you capture a cat when it bares its teeth, not with a snarl, but with a totally abandoned yawn! This is much easier but just as effective when you capture your cat captured mid ‘yowl’.
Reduce blur by keeping a firm grip on the camera if you use your digital zoom.
Top Tip
The Almost Fierce Snarl
This is easier to achieve because it is more predictable. You just need to be ready for the moment and you can do this by observing when your cat seems to yawn more – maybe after a meal, or after some frantic playtime.
Here are some of my favourite fearsome yawns captured with a DSLR, and a smartphone.
Jack’s portrait was the winner of a Cat Writers’ Association Certificate of Excellence and you will understand why when you realise that not only is his ferocious yawn expressive, but one of his incisors is missing! I was aiming for a fun ground level shot of a ginger cat basking in the summer sunshine then Jack gave me a perfect Tongue Out Tuesday wrapped in a tremendous yawn. I am glad he did, as the camera and zoom lens were getting heavy and I would have needed my tripod!
DID YOU KNOW? …. a cat’s yawn doesn’t last quite as long as a human’s, which scientists chalk up to brain size and gray matter. The theory is that yawning delivers additional “cooler” blood to the brain as a way to keep the temperature optimally balanced.
This photography of Oscar the ginger tabby from Neko Ngeru Cat Cafe was a lucky shot. He had just risen to his feet from a nap, had a stretch and yawned as he began to move forward. He looks totally ready to chew someone out doesn’t he?
Smartphone Capture Magic
Phoebe is our free spirited longhaired cat who rarely stands still long enough for a good photo, so I only have a few, including this one.
This spectacular mouthful of teeth was taken with an older iPhone 4S. I had time to raise my smartphone, and take one photo as Phoebe yawned right at me. So, no fancy settings just me going ‘This is IT‘ pointing and shooting. My smartphone took the photo using its auto mode wthout my help. I have learned never be afraid to just point and shoot if it’s the only chance of capturing an image. Go for it and hope.
SMARTPHONE TIP: If you use digital zoom like the pinch/slide on your smartphone, keep your camera steady and supported.
The Genuine Snarl
This genuine hissing snarl is of our next door neighbour cat Honey!
Honey is quite cautious and rarely ventures into our garden but she does observe from higher up the slope near her home. In this photograph she had ventured lower and was walking along our high fence when she spotted one of the Dash Kitten cats below her and expressed her displeasure.
Honey was high enough for me to zoom in, and look upwards with my telephoto lens for added drama. I was able to focus on her angry snarl and grabbed a dramatic moment.
Drama at Dusk
My DSLR camera set up for the shot was as follows:
I kept the image sharp by focusing on Honey’s eye and there is enough contrast to show the fierce drama of her expression. I did not have the opportunity to adjust my setting in detail so chosing Aperture Priority mode which works very well for so many cat shots.
It is always worth check your camera manual if you are not sure where to find a setting. Manuals may look boring but they can be a fast way to find camera information if you can’t locate it online.
……..continuous shooting modes and fast shutter speeds (1/125 sec or faster) will let you freeze the moment. If you’re indoors with low light, you may want to use a higher ISO setting so you can shoot with a faster shutter speed.
With some quiet relaxed observation you will find out when is a good photo opportunity for a snarl or yawn of your own.
It may happen after eating a tasty Churu, or Lick-e-Lix or before settling down to post-lunch nap. The stretch, yawn then curl and nap manoeuvre will become familiar and you will find that yawn hunting is a skill you can pick up quickly. The more you observe, the more action you will see and yawns and snarls will be everywhere you look!
Another fun thing is knowing about your cat’s tongue. Check out this cool post about how your cat’s tongue works!
Your next steps
Inspired by my crazy cat shots are you ready to grab your camera, and start stalking your cat ready to grab that fierce moment? I would love to share your gnarly snarly captures with me at Dash Kitten.
I wanted to share this portrait and mini movie because I hope they might inspire you to create your own short video even if you only have still photographs. Potentially, your still photos could be used to make an adoption movie for a rescue, a sponsored post, or a short memorial video for a cat friend.
Many small rescues need people with basic photography and video skills. Video is getting a lot of social media attention. Even a short video can give potential adopters insights into a cat’s personality and character and you do not need to learn difficult skills.
Let me share the fantastic photo of Toulouse high up in a cabbage tree and then show you the short movie made using static images. In this picture, I am using my canon 55-250mm zoom lens, this is why Toulouse looks so close. My iPhone would have been perfect for video but I only had time to lift the camera to frame the shot and snatch the moment. Then he went down the tree like a pocket rocket.
I tell you how I created my short video of Toulouse at the bottom of this post.
Still Photographs Can Be Made Into A Movie
Even with still photographs you are telling a story, so your first task is to sort your images into an order that does this. Keep your story simple.
What do you have available? Work with that as a challenge and learn to be creative as you go. If you have gaps you can’t fill, add short text prompts to provide essential information. Keep transistions between images to a minimum.
A cat up for adoption might use photographs showing its fur colours and face. Maybe add playful shots showing its fun side. A senior cat might look dignified or stately.
A memorial tribute would work at a more dignified slower pace with longer shots.
For my own movie; the story is Toulouse’s rapid scampering 4.25 metres (14 feet) descent from the cabbage tree so the video clips are short. In fact some are under 2 seconds so I can keep keep the pace moving. 3 seconds is a good length to aim for while you learn to edit.
A clear idea of the height Toulouse reaches
I loaded my own still photographs into iMovie and using the Ken Burns* effect for movement. Listed below are some of the software packages use the Ken Burns effect and there are others. This effect is great to help you simulate movement. Your viewer’s eye is led though the photo and it ‘feels’ like a movie.
Let me know what do you think of Toulouse’s adventure?
* Ken Burns Effect The technique is principally used when film or video material is not available. Action is given to still photographs by slowly zooming in on subjects of interest and panning from one subject to another. For example, in a photograph of a baseball team, one might slowly pan across the faces of the players and come to a rest on the player the narrator is discussing. Wikipedia
