Find what you are looking for

or search by

Topics

Article
Article

Article

e-Book
e-Book

e-Book

Video
Video

Video

Campaigns
Campaigns

Campaigns

Architecture
Compact Cameras

Compact Cameras

Architecture
DSLRs

DSLRs

Architecture
Videography

Videography

Architecture
Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Architecture
Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Architecture Photography

Architecture Photography

Architecture
Canon Technologies

Canon Technologies

Architecture
Low Light Photography

Low Light Photography

Architecture
Photographer Interviews

Photographer Interviews

Architecture
Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography

Architecture
Macro Photography

Macro Photography

Architecture
Sports Photography

Sports Photography

Architecture
Travel Photography

Travel Photography

Architecture
Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography

Architecture
Photography Concepts & Application

Photography Concepts & Application

Architecture
Street Photography

Street Photography

Architecture
Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Architecture
Lenses & Accessories

Lenses & Accessories

Architecture
Nature & Wildlife Photography

Nature & Wildlife Photography

Architecture
Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography

Architecture
Night Photography

Night Photography

Architecture
Pet Photography

Pet Photography

Architecture
Printing Solutions

Printing Solutions

Architecture
Product Reviews

Product Reviews

Architecture
Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography

Tips & Tutorials >> All Tips & Tutorials

3 Ideas for Cute Cat Photos

2016-07-21
257
63.48 k
In this article:

Don’t these cats look cute with their lovely gestures? However, when you wish to take a picture, very often you will find that the picture does not turn out the way you want it. Introducing 3 techniques to shoot cats, and make them look cute. (Reported by: Akiyo Ogawa, Yusuke Yuzawa).

 

Method 1: Get a close up of their large eyes

Take care to capture the cat’s eyes in a bright place. In a dark place, the eyes would become round and large. However, you have to be careful since unless you use a mode that allows you to set the shutter speed manually, the latter will become slower when the surroundings are dark. You will have to set your shutter speed to at least 1/60 sec. and increase your ISO settings to prevent the occurrence of motion blur. Your aim is to capture the big round eyes of the cat. A good time to capture those are when the cat is playing excitedly with its favorite toy, in the daylight or in brightly lit places. Those moments when the cat looks straight up at the toy and stops right there are easy to capture.

EOS 7D/ EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM/ FL: 150mm (240mm equivalent) / Aperture-priority AE (f/2.8, 1/640 sec, EV+0.7) / ISO 3200/ WB: Auto

 

Tip: Make good use of a cat tower

EOS 7D/ FL: 40mm/ f/2.8/ 1/1250sec/ EV+0.3/ ISO 6400
The holes of a cat tower are the best places to capture the large eyes of cats. Since the inside of the holes are dark, the eyes will look big. Capture them when their heads pop out of those holes.

 

Method 2: Aim to capture that adorable pose

One of the charms of a cat is its flexible body. You will not get tired of looking at it washing its face, curling up, and stretching its body or legs. Observe it carefully, and capture it using continuous shooting once it starts its adorable poses. Even if it moves a bit, you can rest assured that with a shutter speed of 1/200 sec. or more, you can prevent motion blur and even take clear photos easily. Take note of the angle to capture that cute pose.

EOS-1D X/ EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM/ FL: 70mm/ Manual exposure (f/4.5, 1/200 sec.)/ ISO 2000/ WB: Auto

 

Photo A EOS-1D X/ EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM/ FL: 70mm/ Manual Exposure (f/3.2, 1/200 sec.)/ ISO 160/ WB: Preset

 

Tip: Tickle the cat’s belly with one hand, and shoot with the other

When you touch the kitten and it exposes its belly, rub its belly to tickle it with one hand, and take a shot with the other. It is difficult to secure the right timing, but if it goes well, you will successfully capture a cute moment just like in Photo A.

 

Method 3: Get a close up of parts of their body

One of the reasons people love cats is for their soft, cute, and round bodies. Do not miss the chance to take close up shots of parts of their bodies. When they are moving, it will be difficult to take photos of parts of their bodies, so the best way would be to capture them when they are relaxing or sleeping. The subject may not be in focus if you are too close, so you will have to check the closest focusing distance of your lens.

EOS 60D/ EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM/ FL: 100mm (160mm equivalent) / Aperture priority AE (f/4, 1/50 sec., EV±0) / ISO 640/ WB: Auto

 

EOS 7D/ EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM/ FL: 100mm (160mm equivalent)/ Aperture-priority AE (f/2.8, 1/80 sec., EV±0) / ISO 1250 / WB: Auto

 

Tip: Capture parts of the subject’s body using a macro lens

When you use a macro lens to shoot a close up of the cat, it is possible  to make it appear as a lovely ball of fur. It is critical to ensure that the image that appears through the macro lens is in focus before taking a shot, so it is advisable to take photos of the cat only when it is not active.

 

EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Click here for more details

 

EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Click here for more details

 

EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Click here for more details

 

Akiyo Ogawa

 

Born in Saitama Prefecture in 1980. Akiyo is a pet photographer who has obtained many animal-related qualifications, including those for a trimmer and dog trainer. She is currently a lecturer giving photography classes, chief editor of a pet magazine, and the director of a pet program.

 

Yusuke Yuzawa

 

Born in Tokyo in 1980. Yusuke is a pet photographer who takes photos of more than 500 pets per month. He is currently a pet photography lecturer and pet magazine cover and gravure photographer. He is also involved in scriptwriting and making appearances in pet programs.

 

Digital Camera Magazine

 

A monthly magazine that believes that enjoyment of photography will increase the more one learns about camera functions. It delivers news on the latest cameras and features and regularly introduces various photography techniques.
Published by Impress Corporation

Share your photos on My Canon Story & stand a chance to be featured on our social media platforms