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mbarrick

A new bit of gear I won on eBay arrived today, just in time for the Red Chair shoot:

It's a cable that allows me to use the flash up to five feet away from the camera. This gives me all sorts of improved lighting possibilities.

Of course the cats were conscripted as test subjects:

Meep.

We are not amused.

Wazzat?

I'm getting bored of this.

I'll eat your head!

Whatever.

Current Mood: excited

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sebastian6.livejournal.com

Wow. That first close-up is stunning. I can't get my cat to stay still long enough for a shot. Then again, I have digital camera which seems to add an extra half second to everything. What do you recommend for taking digital photo shots that don't use onboard flash (which washes everything out and gives it the picture a cold look) but aren't blurry?

I can't seem to get a setting on my camera that can achieve this except in rather well lit rooms or directly under other lights. Guess digital doesn't pick up low light the way some film cameras can.

-s6

From:

mbarrick.livejournal.com

These are all digital, but a digital SRL - ready speed was one of the deciding factors in moving up to the digital SLR. But there is a lot you can do with the compacts. Start by cranking the ISO setting to the highest value the camera will allow. If the camera has an apeture-priority mode, set the apeture as wide as you can as well. With the ISO and the apeture wide open you'll get the fastest possible shutter speed. If you are chasing down a moving subject like a cat try using the continuous focus mode (if you have one). Follow the cat around with and watch through the screen with the camera focussed on the cat - most cameras you keep the camera focussing and "ready" by half-depressing the sutter release. With the cat in focus already, snap your fingers or wave your hand around to get the cat to look off camera for a distinguished "thoughtful" look. If you want the cat to look directly into the camera, make weird noises and wiggle your fingers under the camera. Basically, forfeit dignity for the shot ;-)

Never try to take a flash photo of a cat with an on-board flash unless he is looking away. Because cats' eyes are reflective there is no way to not get red-eye (or worse, glowing orbs of doom) with an on-board flash and the cat even close to looking in your direction.