Cat Photo Competition 1 2013 : Results

Judges Comment
this is a standout image. it was an instant fave early on, and continued to be a fave all the way through this contest. a very strong image, expertly framed, and beautifully managed as far as light, color and depth of field. nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thanks Illona! I used a Lensbaby Composer and wasn't sure I'd be able to nail the focus in the amount of time I was going to have so I set a shampoo bottle at the edge of the curtain to focus on ahead of time. I remembered where I'd been standing so I could run back to that spot once I'd placed him on the tub. A tripod would have been a good idea, and saved me some trouble, if I'd thought of it at the time. :) I was thrilled when it all came together.
crazyandlittle.blogspot.com

Judges Comment
there is something extremely engaging about this image ... the wonderful light, colors and tones, and depth of field ... all expertly managed ... but also the intensity of the cat's gaze and the details in his fur and eyes, and the expression in his face. and instant fave for sure! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you so much for the honor! This is my first entry into any I-Shot-It competition, so I am over the top excited about your critique! This was shot with a Sony Alpha500, my first DSLR, with minor color adjustments in Lightroom. I am just starting my photography business in the Houston, Texas area. Julian is one of our personal rescue kids, and his expression here captures his intensity about every single thing he does. Cats are my focus - both in my life and my photography.
coppercatstudios.com

Judges Comment
this is a great black and white image. bright whites and black blacks ... beautifully managed, and wonderful depth of field. an extremely strong image that is an instant fave. nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much for the "Mark of Excellence" and your kind comment. My name is Ulrike and I live in Gelsenkirchen/Germany. I took this photo with a Canon 5 DMark II and a Canon Ef 135mm. The cat was sitting on a wall watching birds.

Judges Comment
what a fun image. love the matching grey tones, the snow coming down, and of course, the grumpy face. nicely done. ~illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you for the mark of excellenc! My name ist Mathias Mosbacher and i am from Austria. The photo was taken with a Canon Eos 5 D II and the Sigma 85 1,4. The cat is called Frida. And she doesnÂ´t like Snow ;-)

Judges Comment
this is a fantastic image , and certainly a memorable one. the colors and tones, the setting, not to mention the situation (i sure hope there was some form of safety involved in this cat's high-rise feat!). the only thing holding this image back from being a sure-fire winner is the lack of focus on the subject. focus seems to be forward of the cat, as seen on the balcony rail. but otherwise, a wonderful image. ~ illona

Judges Comment
lovely black and white conversion of a wonderfully intimate photo. the depth of field lets us focus squarely on the intensity of the cat's stare, and even though there is distraction in the background, it is only enough to make us explore the photo, but always come back to the subject. nicely done! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much for this distinction. My name is Tytus Grodzicki and I live in Poland. This shot was taken at my brother's kitchen table. Photo data: fujifilm x-e1, fujinon 35mm/1.4; f1.4 1/50sec iso1250; LR 4.3, SilverEfexPro2. Thanks for the kind comments and best regards.
tytusgrodzickifotografie.com

Judges Comment
the shallow depth of field in this image lend to its sense of intimacy ... beautiful details and softness, and the expression and contact of the cat's gaze make this a memorable image. ~ illona

Judges Comment
what a wonderful, whimsical image. the colors are magical and the angle of the subject's head make this a very fun photo. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you so much! I am pleased to be recognized with these fantastic photos. My name is Jolyne L. Harris, I live in Southern California. This our family cat Teddy; very often the subject of my photos, as he tends to be rather good-natured and compliant. I shot this in the early evening as the sun was setting, with my Canon 7d. A bit of post processing to increase clarity and color and allow the reflections in the window glass to take on a more rainbow appearance. Thank you for taking notice!
www.facebook.com/PhotOptions

Judges Comment
beautiful light and tones, and wonderful color management. the details in this image -- the drops of water on the glass, the whiskers and the catch light in the cat's eye -- keep us coming back to see more. wonderfully done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thanks so much, illona! Monkey Pants is a frequent model for me even though the white fur of his ruff throws off the white balance on a regular basis.

Judges Comment
what a sweet little cat ... and a wonderful photo . such brilliant colors and deep shadows, and a skillful management of light. nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
a beautiful, simplistic image. the strong lines and shadow are as much a focus as the cat sitting in his bowl. i think a little more space added to the right of the frame would add a little breathing room and strength to this image, but otherwise a very wonderful and memorable image. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Anyone who has cats knows that they cannot be told what to do, but if you understand their behavior you can set up the opportunity for some good photos. With that in mind, I placed a wooden bowl in the warm sun, knowing that my cat would probably come sit in it. She did, and I was able to shoot a series of photos from above while standing on a stool, with this being the best of the bunch when she turned her head just so, creating that perfect shadow.
www.mary-ella.com