Pain in the a$$ to focus..

bobfowler · Apr 17, 2005

I just thought I'd share this evenings nightmare. I was supposed to go to Massachusetts with my wife this weekend, but our travel plans changed at the last minute so I'm "Bachelor Bob" here in NJ until Tuesday.

Since I have so much time to myself, and a boatload of cameras... I decided to do some portraits of one of our cats -Guinevere - using the Century 4a.

Hint - NEVER, repeat NEVER try to do portraits by yourself of a white persian cat with an 8X10 studio camera in your living room unless the cat is glued in place. After 3 aborted attempts to get that f/8 lens focused before the cat took off for parts unknown, I gave up and decided to soup some film that's been waiting for me for a few days.

As luck would have it, one of the sheets was from a session I did when my wife was around to hold her in position while I focused and got the holder in the camera.

Take a look at the picture and you'll see why focusing on this critter is a royal pain in the posterior...

It's NOT my best work, but I'll live with it until Liz gets home

Dave Parker · Apr 17, 2005

Very expresive in the eyes Bob, and I know exactly what she is thinking........

'Why you.............. if I ever get my paws on you, your A$$ is mine!!!! '

LMFAO

Dave

MattCarey · Apr 17, 2005

I was finally able to get an in-focus 4x5 shot of my son.

I waited for him to take a nap...

Matt

jimgalli · Apr 17, 2005

Ohh! That cat looks pissed. I think I'll make some 4" prints and put them on the cove moulding for mice control Jim

rjs003 · Apr 17, 2005

All of the above post are some of the reasons that I do landscapes.

Mongo · Apr 17, 2005

Every cat has a favorite resting place or two...if you set up and focus the camera ahead of time you might get lucky and get the shot. It may take hours...but if you are owned by cats then you know that hours are small slices of time to cats so you just have to live within that limitation.

My cat hates cameras. I have so few pictures of her from the last eleven years that I'm stunned. (Just like your cat and everyone elses cat, mine's the most beautiful cat in the world so I want those pictures.) Every time I pull out a camera, from a Holga to an 8x10, she gets up and leaves.

My girlfriend's cat, on the other hand, would probably sit still for an 8x10 shoot. She shows no interest in cameras at all, so I've been able to shoot pictures of her since she was a kitten and I've probably used her for at least two dozen test rolls. In fact, soon I'll be honing my skills focusing a Crown Graphic and I expect her to be the perfect test subject.

Ole · Apr 17, 2005

I have three cats. Pull out a csamera, and one gives it a look which is acidic enough to etch glass, the second bumps his nose on the lens to say "hello", and when you've cleaned the cat-snot off the lens you're just in time to catch a glimpse of the tail of number three who has been sitting quite still when all this was happening. But now that you're ready, he's gone.

rbarker · Apr 17, 2005

I hate to be critical, Bob, but I don't think you are challenging yourself enough. Have you considered indoor pinhole?

My congratulations to your cat's hair stylist, though.

Claire Senft · Apr 17, 2005

It looks to me as if your are lucky that cat can not use firearms.

mark · Apr 17, 2005

The 8x10 has really captured that "embodiement of evil" stare. Guinevere seems to have as much attitude as she does hair.

brimc76 · Apr 17, 2005

Bob, the only thing missing (from the look on your cat's face) is one tiny paw in front with the middle claw extended upwards.

TPPhotog · Apr 17, 2005

Bob it's so cute plus I love those eyes and whiskers. Come on admit it, you love the challenge really

bobfowler · Apr 17, 2005

TPPhotog said:
Bob it's so cute plus I love those eyes and whiskers. Come on admit it, you love the challenge really

Hell, if I wanted a challenge, I'd try skydiving without a parachute...

TPPhotog · Apr 17, 2005

bobfowler said:
Hell, if I wanted a challenge, I'd try skydiving without a parachute...

But that "8X10 studio camera" would leave a very large unexplainable crater in the landscape

John McCallum · Apr 17, 2005

That's a marvellous image Bob. Very well done and congratulations. Must be satisfying to have an image of that quality of a much loved pet.
http://www.rachaelhale.com/gallery_101_cataclysms.html

colrehogan · Apr 17, 2005

bobfowler said:
Hell, if I wanted a challenge, I'd try skydiving without a parachute...

With your 8x10 ready to shoot, right?

bobfowler · Apr 17, 2005

colrehogan said:
With your 8x10 ready to shoot, right?

You inspired me...

I just took the bathroom scale out to the living room where the Century lives. I weighed myself... (damn, am I REALLY that heavy?) then picked up the camera and stood on the scale again...

20.5 pounds! (no holder loaded either...)

Nope, I don't think I'll be using it for skydiving pix any time soon...

argus · Apr 18, 2005

Bob,

I don't think you'll ever get a model release from the cat :-D

G

atenlaugh · Apr 18, 2005

Bob:

That's where the 300-point autofocus system comes in handy. Consult the manual.

-Nate

bobfowler said:
I just thought I'd share this evenings nightmare. I was supposed to go to Massachusetts with my wife this weekend, but our travel plans changed at the last minute so I'm "Bachelor Bob" here in NJ until Tuesday.

Since I have so much time to myself, and a boatload of cameras... I decided to do some portraits of one of our cats -Guinevere - using the Century 4a.

Hint - NEVER, repeat NEVER try to do portraits by yourself of a white persian cat with an 8X10 studio camera in your living room unless the cat is glued in place. After 3 aborted attempts to get that f/8 lens focused before the cat took off for parts unknown, I gave up and decided to soup some film that's been waiting for me for a few days.

As luck would have it, one of the sheets was from a session I did when my wife was around to hold her in position while I focused and got the holder in the camera.

Take a look at the picture and you'll see why focusing on this critter is a royal pain in the posterior...

It's NOT my best work, but I'll live with it until Liz gets home

Joe Lipka · Apr 18, 2005

Some of the last images Edward Weston made were of the many cats that lived on his (appropriately named) wildcat hill home. Yes, he used an 8X10, too. He also used flash. So, Bob, you do have precedent and a role model, although I do think the pepper in a funnel thing would have been easier.

eclarke · Apr 18, 2005

It is just amazing that they know when you are trying to shoot them. My cat was a beautiful long haired tricolor who lived until 18 and made marvelous still poses..until it was time to push the shutter. She would look away from the camera, hang her head, and close her eyes!!..EC

Donald Qualls · Apr 19, 2005

bobfowler said:
You inspired me...

I just took the bathroom scale out to the living room where the Century lives. I weighed myself... (damn, am I REALLY that heavy?) then picked up the camera and stood on the scale again...

20.5 pounds! (no holder loaded either...)

Nope, I don't think I'll be using it for skydiving pix any time soon...

Oh, come on, Bob -- it won't weigh anything in free fall (though manipulating dark slides or changing holders at 80-120 mph might be, um, interesting).

bobfowler · Apr 19, 2005

Donald Qualls said:
Oh, come on, Bob -- it won't weigh anything in free fall (though manipulating dark slides or changing holders at 80-120 mph might be, um, interesting).

It's not the fall, it's the sudden stop...

elitephotolv · Apr 19, 2005

Shooting cats

I guess this is why I have owned dogs for the past 16 years...

Best to all of you who are owned by feline creatures,
Randy

Emile de Leon · Apr 19, 2005

I once took a photo of my wifes cat for which she sat stock still indoors on a summer day for the entire 10 second exposure looking directly into the camera lens. I was sure she would move. She didnt even blink an eye. I'll never get one like that again. Came out tack sharp. Emile/www.deleon-ulf.com.

Pain in the a$$ to focus..

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