Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments. I put significant time, effort, and patience (and sometimes luck, of course) into getting some of these shots.
Just a quick summary of my deeper thoughts below: I like to use slightly wide to tele lenses at apertures F2.8 and below, up to ISO400, bounced flash power at 1/4 or 1/8 power. Generally manual focus for action shots, requiring anticipation. And some AF for relatively stationary subject to make my life easier.
First, a word about what lenses I like to use for most of these shots. Depending on my mood, I will usually shoot anywhere from 28mm - 135mm (and occasionally down to 20mm and up to 300mm, but those are rare occasions where I just want to have fun...20mm provide nice perspecitive but requires me to be uncomfortably close to sharp curious cat claws). I like to use fast lenses (F2 or below) because it makes composition and focusing (both MF and AF) easier under the dim conditions. F2.8 is fine for longer lenses, since anything faster is ridiculously expensive. I generally will shoot with apertures ranging from wide open to F2.8 and occasionally F4. I generally don't stop down more than F2.8 to prevent needing to use higher ISOs or use high flash power (which also keeps the flash cycle time down).
Ok, so a word about the lighting. One thing I learned quickly. Indoors shots of animals with only normal lighting (1 - 4, 75ish Watt, incandescent bulbs) in a medium sized room does not provide sufficient lighting for any moving or non-cooperative subject. If the subjects are sleeping, good shots can be made without additional lighting, but otherwise you are mainly pushing your luck hoping for a sharp shot. If you are willing to shoot into ISO 800+ and have an F2 lens, you can increase your hit rate, but manually focusing in that amount of light can prove challenging, and AF on dark objects in that amount of light is also hit or miss. Personally, I don't like shooting above ISO800 with my cameras (K200D & K-7), mainly due to the loss of good color detail, particularly under dim tungsten lighting.
I do take full advantage of large windows, sliding glass doors, etc, when available. I work a full time job during the day, so on weekdays I generally don't get to see my cats in much natural light. On the weekends, however, I will try to catch some shots of the cats either in direct sunlight through a window, or through diffused light near the window or caused by overcast conditions. That generally gives me some relief from night shooting with the flash indoors.
Anyways, to handle the normal dim indoors conditions, I turned to my trusty flash, AF540FGZ, in bounce flash setting. I generally point the flash up and angled slightly behind me, so the bounced light will mostly come into the subjects front side (e.g. face), rather than from directly above. I prefer shooting in Manual power mode, usually 1/8 or 1/4, sometimes more or less, depending on my chosen aperture, the height of the ceiling, and size of the room. I will sometimes use P-TTL if my lens have the 'A' setting, usually dialing in some positive flash compensation because it has a tendency to underexpose to my liking. As mentioned above, I don't like using flash at full or 1/2 power because it takes too long to recycle the capacitors or whatever, and plus it just makes me feel bad for my flash :).
To capture the moments, I generally have to be on the floor (prone style, laying down, supported by elbows) to get down to the cat level and make the shots feel more personal. You really need to be able to see eye to eye with an animal to really get consistent impact in the images. Different perspectives can be good for a change, but I find getting down there with the cats provides the best opportunities time and time again. Trying to capture fast action can be difficult, and it really does take some patience. I've accumulated countless hours laying on the floor, half of the time playing with the cats, the other half waiting for good photo ops. Maybe it makes me seem crazy, but it's fun and photographically challenging. To get the really interesting shots, you really have to be able to predict exciting moments, knowing exactly when to trip the shutter in order to get the cats in mid-air. This is what takes time and patience, and maybe a little bit of swearing as you miss a few awesome opportunities...but don't worry, you will be better prepared next time!
Focusing indoors is always a chore, particularly for moving animals. I have done a lot of shots of the cats walking toward the camera, and for this, I mainly get ready on the floor, and pre-focus on a spot on the floor that I can recognized easily (eg, transfer from kitchen to carpet, or door threshold, debris on the floor :), etc) and wait until the animal is just coming into the focus spot, then snap the shutter. Of course to do this right, you have to get used to your shutter delay, and account for differences in animal velocity so that you get the exposure at just the right time.
I hope these comments on my techniques are helpful. I'll be glad to describe some more if anyone wants to know more.
I will continue to share more of my cat shots over time, and there are some very interesting ones that I'm sure you guys will enjoy!
Oh! And a photo for your pleasure. Here is Belle, being chased by Ivy (hidden behind Belle and blurred way OOF). Shots like this are very difficult to time properly. I shot with with SMC Pentax 135mm F2.5 (probably shot at F2.5) and bounce flash. Excuse the debris that is blocking Belle's legs, the house was a mess at the time :).
 |
