December 30th 2018 – this was an attempt to introduce people to cat photographer via a Yahoo Group as I recall. It didn’t really work out as I couldn’t devote enough time to it and this page is now archived. The Yahoo Group is still there though!
| Cat-photo-technique – any budding photographers, amateur or professional cat join the group, of course. You’ll be in the best company. The company of Helmi Flick, probably the world’s best cat photographer. |
This page on cat photography technique is in association with a Yahoo Group I started called cat-photo-technique (new window).
| If you’d like to submit a photo + description on this page please use the form – it will be published as a page on this website. Update Oct 2012 – form closed – sorry. This is due to moving the site to a new host…Michael |
So, what’s it all about? Well, this is why I formed the Yahoo Group:
- There are a lot of photographs of cats on the internet and on the Flickr website. Some are excellent, some are not. I thought if there is an interest in cats and photography there could be an interest in the technique of cat photography, a specialized form of photography. Which leads me nicely to the next reason:
- The best cat photographer, Helmi Flick, has given permission to use her photographs on this website. I have had the opportunity to see Helmi and Ken work in America. I have worked with them. The gives an insight into the best cat photography technique.
- I used to be a photographer in the early 1970s. Although not cat photography I still have an interest in photography and getting to know Helmi and Ken Flick I also have an interest in cat-photo-technique.
- In the interests of trying to create quality content on the internet this page and the Yahoo Group are my small contribution.
The cat-photo-technique group is evolving as they all do so things will change as the months go by. At Jan 2009, I have decided to post the following photographs that have also been posted to the Yahoo Group webpage. These images can also be seen in the slide show feed from the Flickr website that heads this page. The feed, of course, updates automatically. The photos I select will also be updated (but less regularly!).
Photo by jewdan_jorcobs
Cat-photo-technique employed in the words of the photographer:
“My camera syncs at 1/200’th of a second and I needed every little bit of it to catch this shot. To say Tomcat is “fast” is to say that the universe is “big”. Sometimes it seems he just walks around on the floor because the walls and ceiling don’t have anything fun up there.
Strobist Info: One 285HV behind camera-left with a shoot through umbrella on 1/4 power. Rim-light is a snooted 285HV deep camera right also 1/4 power. Triggered with PW.”
Nice cat-photo-technique
photograph by Wesley Oostvogels (link broken)
Wesley says this about the photograph above – I have quoted him verbatim for accuracy. If he wants a summary, please say.:
| Camera: Nikon D40 Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 50 mm ISO Speed: 360 This is a perfect example of what cat photography makes it so interesting and worth the time. Personally I love the window on its left and the blurred couch on its right. It makes me very much think of people’s portraits. In fact when you notice a certain scene in your house or garden, try to get the cat there and you can get great results. |
photograph by Wesley Oostvogels
| The photo above – the photographer’s comments: A cute little cat I found in Ghent. I followed it all around the garden to shoot photos. Eventually this photo I liked best. It was drinking from this ceramic pot filled with rainwater. Personally I like the DOF which makes the foreground look so touchable and intimite. It fits the look in his eyes. Camera: Nikon D200 Because the cat was running around all the time I used aperture priority so I could make sure the DOF was the way I wanted it. I used Continuous-Servo AF settings to keep up with him. |
I love the elegant simplicity of these images.
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| photo by JoeZeppi — Camera: Fuji 20D, lens 50mm f1.8. |
I think that this picture shows good cat-photo-technique; nice lighting, excellent expression.
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| photo by JoeZeppi |
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| by GillianSpring Gillian Spring lives in Indianapolis, U.S.A. and is gaining experience in photography. |
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| by tracey morgan illustrations Tracey lives in Redditch, England (2008). Drawing is my Tracey’s passion |
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| by 1409972710244 |
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| by electricapril |
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| by kerrie. |
This photo was criticized a bit by other Flickr members but I disagree. Firstly it is different and that is hard to achieve. Secondly it has a nice luminous feel and the expression is other worldly too making the picture stand out. I don’t know if Kerrie employed good cat-photo-technique but if not good fortune played a role.
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page…
White Cat Reaching Out
This is a fine cat picture that quietly roars disapproval of the abusive practice of declawing cats – one of my pet hates. The photograph was not taken …
Cat Photography Texture and Color Not rated yet
This isn’t a Helmi Flick special but then it is an informal photograph of a cat rolling contentedly on the ground and yawning. Nothing special there but …
