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Nelson

Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Michael,

I think you might agree your cats looks better centered as the stars of the show.

This one is my favorite. I like the rendering of the detail from nose and fur to eyes and expression.





Asher
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Asher,

In the first one, I also wanted to express the cat feeling of superiority (cats know that they are superior ;) ). This is the reason why I chose the different angle and favored the higher position of his face.

Here is one more, taken a few seconds before your above favorite:

Abwartend - click for large version.​

Best regards,
Michael
 
T

Tom Robbins

Member
Michael, these are wonderful photos of a wonderful animal. I think you have captured the relaxed and confident feline attitude of superiority well.

A lady friend convinced me years ago that my life would be better if it included a cat, so she rounded up a stray and voila, I was scooping litter the next day. Amazing. The lady and I eventually went our separate ways, but the cat remained in my house for twelve years and was a great companion.
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Tom, thanks. Yes, cats are wonderful companions. But there are always two sides - they can be sweet, but beneath the soft surface you find that the predator is well present.

Best regards,
Michael
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
I would not mess with him. When he does not like to be touched or carried, he will warn you (audibly) once. When you do not act accordingly, there will be a simulated attack. You will feel it, it will hurt, but not harm you. I never tried beyond that point...

He did not have an easy life in his early years, so this is understandable. He already softened a bit. Before he skipped step one and the simulated attack was pretty rough.

This is an older picture of him. Just look at the eyes...



A peaceful one for a change:



Best regards,
Michael
 
V

Valerie Buchanon

Banned
Great forum, I like to solve many problems
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Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Michael Nagel said:
Another recent one:




Best regards,
Michael
Click to expand...

Anyone wanted to excel at portraiture would do well to start here! no9t only do these pictures create for us a personality to be respected and admired, but the form is built and delivered with the added expression of the beauty of respect for living things.

Asher
 
Jarmo Juntunen

Jarmo Juntunen

Well-known member
Michael, I'm beginning to think that with cats and kids you get the best results without planning, just following their flow and trying to keep up (formal studio portraits for the mantelpiece are another thing, of course). I like his eyes in the napping series, how they go from "full alert, not a step closer mister" to "dreamyland, here I come". Nice.
 
P

Paul Abbott

New member
Michael, this last sequence of images of a cat just about to sleep, really engages. Nice one...
I would balance the exposure of the first image in keeping with the rest. It needs a 1/2 stop more, I guess...:)
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Jarmo - thanks. It was good that he did not let himself get too distracted by my presence.

Paul - thanks - I thought of it, but a simple correction would IMHO not have been sufficient as the tablecloth would become bright enough to be really distracting - a little more work is required to avoid this. The fact that his face is darker in the first one has something of hiding behind the corner...

Best regards,
Michael
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Winston,

Thanks! Nelson is not always tolerant - I just have a lot of patience :)
Try - the more often you do, the more used to it your cats might become...

Best regards,
Michael
 
Jarmo Juntunen

Jarmo Juntunen

Well-known member
Thanks, nice to see good old Nelson is doing so well. What do you feed him? Postmen, moose and engine oil? That's one tough looking cat!
 
Asher Kelman

Asher Kelman

OPF Owner/Editor-in-Chief
Michael Nagel said:
Asher,

In the first one, I also wanted to express the cat feeling of superiority (cats know that they are superior ;) ). This is the reason why I chose the different angle and favored the higher position of his face.

Here is one more, taken a few seconds before your above favorite:
Click to expand...


Abwartend - click for large version.​


Michael,

Thanks for this exceptional portrait. A great ambassador for all felines!

Horatio Nelson need brocade, medals and uniform made by many artisans to appear as aristocratic and significant!

Your Nelson, however, does all this and more with just posture, attitude and knowledge of his status in the realm.

I hate to ask about lenses, but this is so beautifully sharp and creamy smooth! This is outstanding portraiture.

A very minor consideration - perhaps the reflection and contrast of Nelson's left eye could be upped a tad. What do you think?

Asher
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Hi Jarmo,
Jarmo Juntunen said:
Thanks, nice to see good old Nelson is doing so well. What do you feed him? Postmen, moose and engine oil? That's one tough looking cat!
Click to expand...
Yes. he is doing well - thanks! Well, it is none of the above, he likes good cat food and he likes also to taste what we eat.

Best regards,
Michael
 
M

Michael Nagel

Well-known member
Asher,
Asher Kelman said:
I hate to ask about lenses, but this is so beautifully sharp and creamy smooth! This is outstanding portraiture.
Click to expand...
Thank you! It is this astonishingly small lens.
Asher Kelman said:
A very minor consideration - perhaps the reflection and contrast of Nelson's left eye could be upped a tad. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Your take - I prefer it this way as a brighter reflection would divert attention from the eye itself...

Best regards,
Michael
 
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