Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

[Gina]

Please give me some feedback on this image of Alfie, our 8 week old kitten. Many thanks. Full size is better x

[Patrick]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Please give me some feedback on this image of Alfie, our 8 week old kitten. Many thanks. Full size is better x

Hi Gina

You have captured the kitten beautifully, however I would personally like to see the right side and in particulare that bottom left corner area darkened down to bring out more detail there. The highlights are blown.
If you shot in RAW the detail should be there to bring out and balance the composition better.
It might be worth cropping some of the right side of the picture as well.
You have captured the eyes a treat, and that little pink nose.

I love cats from the smallest domestic to the largest wild tiger.

Patrick

[Josh Bear]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

yay. I get to go first.

So. First, the composition is good because I find my eyes going to the kittens eye and the moving down the body. They eyes are v sharp and the colour is really engaging.

The one area for improvement would be to recover the blown out area underneath the left (As you look at the picture) whiskers.

Apart from that great picture.

Best Regards

Josh

PS blast. Just seen Patrick beat me to it.

[Gina]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

LOL thanks guys. I've still to try shooting in RAW format, in fact it scares me. I think I'm going to have to give it a go though. I can see what you're talking about regarding the bottom left corner being slightly blown, I really appreciate your comments so if you have any simple links to learning about RAW I'd be interested. Alfie is the most adorable kitten and I wanted to show his beautiful eye colour and pink nose. I tried to upload the uncropped image 4 times this evening to show his big beautiful ears but the system wouldn't upload.

Thanks again.

Gina

[coupekid]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

LOL thanks guys. I've still to try shooting in RAW format, in fact it scares me. I think I'm going to have to give it a go though. I can see what you're talking about regarding the bottom left corner being slightly blown, I really appreciate your comments so if you have any simple links to learning about RAW I'd be interested. Alfie is the most adorable kitten and I wanted to show his beautiful eye colour and pink nose. I tried to upload the uncropped image 4 times this evening to show his big beautiful ears but the system wouldn't upload.

Thanks again.

Gina

Hi Gina,

Lovely capture, the kitten looks so innocent

Agree about the area being blown on the left, I know how difficult it is to capture kittens, and indeed cats in general, so it is quite a challenge, especially to have them calm and still.

It looks like Alfie (great name!) is facing the window, and maybe having him side on would produce a better result, and keep those lovely catchlights in the eyes that you have got so succesfully. However as I have said, normally the cat dictates where the photograph will be taken.

Have you considered a mono conversion on this picture, it may lend itself as I find mono can be more fogiving to blown out areas.

Cheers,
Ben

[Barr1e]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Love the eyes Gina.

Regards. Barr1e

[Barr1e]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Hi Gina -

I have just put this link on a thread of Josh's - instant jpeg from RAW images. I have not as yet trialled it myself.

*Link withdrawn.

Regards. Barr1e

[Gina]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Cheers Barr1e x

[Stephen]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Gina, if I remember correctly you use a Canon EOS camera, can't remember exactly which model, but it should have come with a CD containing the Canon Raw converter program. To my mind this should be the place to start using Raw files rather than a piece of software such as the one in the link above. Just my opinion you understand

[Patrick]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Gina, if I remember correctly you use a Canon EOS camera, can't remember exactly which model, but it should have come with a CD containing the Canon Raw converter program. To my mind this should be the place to start using Raw files rather than a piece of software such as the one in the link above. Just my opinion you understand

I totally agree with Stephen on this, in fact I would go further, a RAW to JPG is not the answer. Converted images are best stores as TIFF or PSD. JPG's being a lossy format loose quality with constant opening and closing.
I would also advise for the same reasons if you shoot in JPG saving your keepers as TIFF or PSD.

Patrick

[Gina]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Since I started this thread, I have found the original software that came with my 400D. I've installed the bundled software but the part I need is not functioning. When I try to open the Digital Photo Professional, I get a warning that says "This program requires a display capable of 1024 x 768 resolution or more (screen area), and high color or higher settings", In fact, my resolution is set to 1152 x 720 and I've tried other sizes but it still won't open. The colours are set at highest 32 bit. Before I contact Canon, is there anything else I can do? I've also gone through the process of reinstalling.

Patrick, why is it better to save as TIFF or PSD?

Thanks for your help.

Gina

[Patrick]

Re: Kitten Portrait CC wanted please

Since I started this thread, I have found the original software that came with my 400D. I've installed the bundled software but the part I need is not functioning. When I try to open the Digital Photo Professional, I get a warning that says "This program requires a display capable of 1024 x 768 resolution or more (screen area), and high color or higher settings", In fact, my resolution is set to 1152 x 720 and I've tried other sizes but it still won't open. The colours are set at highest 32 bit. Before I contact Canon, is there anything else I can do? I've also gone through the process of reinstalling.

Patrick, why is it better to save as TIFF or PSD?

Thanks for your help.

Gina

Hi Gina
As I explained JPG's are a lossy file type, this means in order to compress the file to take up less space information is discarded, thrown away. When the file is reopened it is rebuilt, in the process of rebuilding some artefacts will occur, the next time you close and reopen more artefacts occur and so on these artefacts build up reducing the quality of the image.
TIFF or PSD take up more space but always retain the full information of the file so no rebuilding equals no new artefacts.

As to your other problem I think you will find the resolution of 1024X768 is the minimum resolution, you are using slightly more so should not be a problem. Have you rebooted the computer since installing the software that may do the trick.
If that doesn't work there will be other on the forum better able to suggest a solution.

Patrick