Cat Eyes

Posted by Twelvebit (Victoria, United States) on 27 July 2008 in Animal & Insect.

Macro Filter Test 1

Wasn't able to post this image until late. This will start a series of a few images --I haven't done the processing so I'm not sure how many at this point-- taken with macro filters. I didn't want to cough up the money at this point for a macro lens, plus, I want to minimize lens changes, so I ordered a cheapo set of macro filters --a set of +2, +4, +6, and +10 in their own nifty little case for $25.

I shot this at whatever the exif data says for focal length, with the +10 filter, using a flash at 1/500 and the aperture set to f32. I was sitting on the sidewalk and the cat was just a couple inches from my lens. I was surprised at the dof given how limited it was with the lens zoomed in to 135mm, but one virtue I can see for these filters is that as here, you can get pretty close to a moving subject.

BTW, even though this was shot with a macro filter, I don't consider it to be a true macro image because the ratio of subject to size on the image plane is not close to 1:1.

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Comments (17)

Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States

12b - You're off to a terrific start with this image. The catch light in the eyes along with that luscious detail make this one a winner. The tilt of the head adds much to the interest of your composition. Really good.

27 Jul 2008 5:31pm

@Stephen Phillips: Thanks. I was trying to take photos of something else but the cat made that impossible so I just started taking his photo instead.

bm from Budapest, Hungary

great closeup...well-done with the flash :)

27 Jul 2008 7:25pm

@bm: Thanks.

Stewart Bywater from Peterborough, United Kingdom

Great shot! Made me laugh!!

27 Jul 2008 8:11pm

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

12b, the filters appear to work quite well, and although you say it is not a true macro, it is by any measure a superb close-up, the detail is first rate.

27 Jul 2008 8:59pm

@Observing: Thanks.

Joy from Ahmedabad, India

the description is more interesting than the pic...

27 Jul 2008 9:32pm

@Joy: Thanks. Ideally for me, the written part would be as interesting or more interesting than then image, but often I'm either too lazy or too pressed for time to give enough effort to the written portion.

Daryl from Amagasaki, Japan

Seems very curious about your new lens!

27 Jul 2008 10:18pm

danthro from Suburbia, United States

interesting shot. it's a strange combination of cute and creepy

27 Jul 2008 10:41pm

One from Açores, Portugal

Truly a beautiful portrait, excellent shot.

27 Jul 2008 11:25pm

@One: Thank you.

dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, United States

a beautiful - strange capture! something quite eerie is present here -- but it adds a marvelous intrigue!

28 Jul 2008 1:06am

Sandy from Ontario, United States

Oh there's your kitty cat....very beautiful eyes this one has...I love it when there eyes match their coat...marvy!

28 Jul 2008 2:50am

@Sandy: Well, not really mine. I don't know what my dog would do if he caught a cat, but when I walk him I hold his leash extra tight when we see one. This is a neighborhood cat --I don't think he has a particular owner.

Barbara from Florida, United States

I think this is a great image. I like the angle and close up. The light in the cats face and dark background make the shot.
Your commentary about the filters are interesting. I have been wanting a macro lens for sometime but these filters might work out fine.
Hope to see more images with your new filters.

28 Jul 2008 3:36am

@Barbara: Thanks. You probably need to get something better than the cheap set I bought for $25 --or a set of extension tubes (though once you get to that price you might be able to pick up a lens). I'm going to try the $40 set from B&H Photo next.

MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany

That looks okay for me. Colours are vivid, details sharp and clear.

28 Jul 2008 12:11pm

Sandrine from Cincinnati, United States

Fun shot! :)

28 Jul 2008 1:04pm

@Sandrine: thanks.

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

You need to make no apologies for the after-fit lenses with results like this! Love the visual distortion you have got while retaining focus and DoF. Great!!

28 Jul 2008 9:56pm

@Ronnie 2¢: I think the kit was worth the money --$25, barely more than an evening of fast food. But if I'm going to do any serious macro work I think I'm going to have to cough up more money.

Persian King from Tehran, Iran

This looks like those plush toys of dogs and cats with over sized heads sold in supermarkets. I has fish eye lens effect

30 Jul 2008 7:36pm

Pavla from Saint James City, United States

cat nose!

30 Jul 2008 8:07pm

Shawna Goodman from Regina, Canada

Love this. I have always wanted to do this shot with a Cow or something like that

31 Jul 2008 10:05pm

@Shawna Goodman: There's lots of cows around here. They're funny animals. I stopped once to take some flower pics and a bunch of cows, mamas, daddies, babies close to the fence all backed way off and stared at me like I was not to be trusted. I got involved taking pics and wasn't paying them any attention. Suddenly, I looked up, and they were all right there at the fence trying to see what I was up to. They're a little flighty but also very nosy.

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1/500 second
F/25.0
ISO 800
22 mm