Kirsti Näntö-Salonen
May 2022 - Chesire Cat
Original
About the Image(s)
Here is "Cheshire Cat". This is from a visit to a wildlife zoo last January on a bitterly cold dull-gray day. The bobcat had retired snugly deep in her tree house den, and I got fascinated by her expression. Fuji X-T4, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 s, ISO 3200. Topaz Denoise, Capture One 22 and a Silver Efex Classic Portrait preset. I felt that any minute I would be left with just the grin hovering in the dark. What do you think?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted
Great job capturing a smile on a feline! I do like the crop from the original. I played around with increasing the contrast a bit and thought that helped bring out more detail in the fur. I do think that cats' eyes are so interesting that having a bobcat image with eyes closed, makes me feel something is missing. Maybe they don't smile when their eyes open! Posted: 05/11/2022 10:57:12
Thanks, Jeff! I think that you are probably right about them not smiling with their eyes open - I have a couple of frames of her mate with rather a nasty stare. I will experiment with the contrast! Posted: 05/11/2022 12:45:28
I particularly like this photo because I just finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and your image is very much like the artist's image in the version of the book I had.
I think for this photo you can get away without the eyes - I think it's more mysterious - the eyes aren't giving anything away - why is this cat smiling remains a mystery.
I agree that some more contrast might help. I think you captured the spirit of the cheshire cat perfectly! Posted: 05/13/2022 08:44:47
I think for this photo you can get away without the eyes - I think it's more mysterious - the eyes aren't giving anything away - why is this cat smiling remains a mystery.
I agree that some more contrast might help. I think you captured the spirit of the cheshire cat perfectly! Posted: 05/13/2022 08:44:47
Thanks, Robert! It is a wonderful book, especially with the original illustrations, and I am glad if I got the likeness!
Posted: 05/13/2022 23:53:01
Posted: 05/13/2022 23:53:01
Hi Kirsti,
I couldn't make up my mind which I liked better. The original needs some cropping of the snow. Both are really good cat pictures. the original--I feel it is about the cat; your final version is about the smile. The first has me wondering, why is the cat lying with its eyes closed? I wouldn't have thought of the smile, but for your final picture. The final just made me smile and never until I read your comment did I wonder why the smile. Posted: 05/19/2022 21:12:43
I couldn't make up my mind which I liked better. The original needs some cropping of the snow. Both are really good cat pictures. the original--I feel it is about the cat; your final version is about the smile. The first has me wondering, why is the cat lying with its eyes closed? I wouldn't have thought of the smile, but for your final picture. The final just made me smile and never until I read your comment did I wonder why the smile. Posted: 05/19/2022 21:12:43
Thank you, Al! I am glad that the feeling gets mediated -it makes me smile, too! Posted: 05/21/2022 09:23:34
A great portrait of the bob cat. I can almost see the thoughts behind the smile - "I am snug and warm and those poor people out there in the bitter cold - tee hee!". The eyes are closed, but I have the feeling of being watched in spite of that - wow!
To my eye a great portrait shot of the cat. The detail and processing of the image are, to my eye, exquisite. I can come up with no constructive thoughts - great catch and great post processing Kristi. Thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 05/20/2022 15:09:57
To my eye a great portrait shot of the cat. The detail and processing of the image are, to my eye, exquisite. I can come up with no constructive thoughts - great catch and great post processing Kristi. Thank you for sharing it with us. Posted: 05/20/2022 15:09:57
Thanks, Ed! These were exactly my feelings when I was standing there half frozen and trying to pres the buttons with numb fingers. Posted: 05/21/2022 09:19:37