Cat Photo Competition 1 2016 : Results

Judges Comment
What an absolutely fabulous image and an instant fave. Strong blacks and whites make for a rich and crisp presentation; the centered framing completely works, along with the receding lines; the beautiful bokeh allowing the subject to stand out; and the one flipped back ear of the cat, half-listening to the photographer behind him ... all wonderful. A truly standout image. Congrats! ~ illona
Photographers Comment
hi Judge and viewers, certainly my great honor to be given the first prize!! I myself loved this picture quite extensively as well, as it sort of gives a sad yet somewhat warm & hopeful feeling at the same time. It was shot at a Atago Shrine located in Tokyo Japan, with a Sony A7R2 and a 50mm Noctilux f1 at f1.0. Again, thanks for the honor and hope everyone loves it as well : )
https://www.instagram.com/claude77/

Judges Comment
What an absolutely fun image. The framing of the eyes on either side of the lamp's post is perfect, and the kitten's intensity draws us in. I would suggest cloning out the wires coming from the speaker(?) so as to simplify the image and eliminate that distraction. But a super fun image. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
My name is Ronn Tan and I'm a freelance photographer based in New York. I took this photo with my iPhone 6s Plus. This is my cat "Kitty," I picked him up from the streets back when he was a kitten frail with leukemia. Today he survives, opening lampshades for me. ;) Thank you for picking my photo, honored to be here.
www.ronntan.com

Judges Comment
This is an absolutely compelling image. The blend of shadow and reflection is intriguing, and the superb focus on the eyes draws us immediately in. Nicely seen and captured. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank you very much for this distinction. My name is Tytus Grodzicki and I live in Poland. This shot was taken in summer evening at country cottage in Lednogora near Poznan. Photo data: leica M240, summicron-M 35mm f/2 Asph f4.8 1/350sec iso400, LR6, SilverEfexPro2. Thanks for the kind comment and best regards.
tytusgrodzickifotografie.com

Judges Comment
What a fabulous photo. The almost film-like quality (or perhaps it is film?) and the strong blacks and whites give us a truly rich image. Beautifully framed and captured. Nicely done. ~ illona
Photographers Comment
Thank's for the mark of excellence...This image was taken in Montpellier (France) with nikon F3 and Kodak Tri-X film...-Adrien-

Judges Comment
The expert handling of this image -- the shallow depth of field, the framing, the sharp focus, and the clean editing -- allow the sweet subject of this image to truly stand out. Absolutely beautiful photo. Nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
What a fun and creative image. Anyone who is owned by a cat can well appreciate the play going on behind the fabric. Wonderful capture. ~ illona

Judges Comment
This is a fabulous low-key image that embraces the shadows and plays with the light with skill and intent. Wonderful detail and an intense expression captured. Nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
What a wonderful capture of a gorgeous animal. The low angle and the shallow depth of field work beautifully. Nicely done. ~ illona

Judges Comment
This low-key image with its single, upward light-source works wonderfully to keep things simple, drawing our eye to the details in this kitten's sweet face. Nicely seen and framed. ~ illona