Giovanni

[Matt Kneale]

One of the few photos I took when I possessed a Nikon F55. Due to the arising digital age I gave it back to my uncle.

This is a cat that lives across the road from us, and seems to have taken it into his daily scheduel to sit next to our window and outside our door. I took the oppertunity to snap this seemingly sad soul one day, and this was the result.



Critique is appreciated.
Matt Kneale

[coupekid]

Re: Giovanni

Critique is appreciated.
Matt Kneale

Hi Matt,

As you have asked for critique, I shall oblige!

One of the most helpful tips I was given for taking wildlife shots (applying to domestic animals as well) is eye contact.

As a photographer, all of my jeans suffer one problem, and that is the right knee always wearing. This is because I always get down on one knee to take most of my photographs of cats, dogs, wolves and other beasties.

More direct eye contact with the cat would have been much more desirable.

In this picture, I just cant relate to the cat, its a little cold. I am also a little distracted by the blown out area, however, its particularly difficult to get a nice balance when you have a black and white subject, particularly if it was sunny.


If I could refer you back to your other cat photo, which in my opinion is a belter!:

You can see that you were at eye level, and as such it makes for a much more personal image, even though the cats eyes are closed.

Hope that helps, and as a cat lover, I would love to see you have another go and post the result.

Cheers,
Ben

[Matt Kneale]

Re: Giovanni

Thanks for your advice, Ben.
Under this title, this piece may not appear quite what it is supposed to be. On my deviantART account I submitted this piece as 'Stare into the oblivious', and that was literally the intention when I took the photo.

The cats lack of eye contact is because he is staring 'into the oblivious', in other words, the blown out area. Hopefully, this will change your POV slightly, if not, fair does and i'll give it another try

Regards,
Matt