Sleepy cats!

Robstar1619 · Aug 17, 2008

Again the condition for taking pics was very bad and the light was bad aswell.
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Overread · Aug 17, 2008

Its a shame about the blurr you are getting - I wonder what your aperture, ISO and shutter speed are - if you are handholding you might be shooting too slow. If you find you need to try getting a monopod or tripod for some support so you can use a slower shutter speed.

Further I think you can get some more light into these shots - as you have no grey sky you can do a bit ;
First stage is a curves edit - you want to raise the line across the whole photo to boost the light - something like this:

Then I would adjust the temperature of the shot by boosting it into the reds by a very small amount - then contrast this increase with a decrease (also very small) in the tint of the shot - that will remove some of the artificial reddyness of the shot and leave you with a sunny appearance.

Finally I boosted saturation in the shot to get some more vibrance into the colours.
Of course you can play around with other settings - light the brightness - to get more light.

your profile does not say not to edit your shots - so here is a quick example I did of yours - if this is a problem say so and I will take down the photo:

Robstar1619 · Aug 17, 2008

Wow..thats awsome..many thanks for that:thumbup:
What program is this?...i must admitt that iam very bad at editing pics:blushing:..so thats why i try to avoid it.
All the pics i have taken was handheld cam.
I can find the settings if you want them.
And yes anybody can edit my pics...as long as they dont copy and use them on other sites.
Many thanks..apreciate it a lot.

Overread · Aug 17, 2008

This was done in photoshop elements 6 - its all I have for editing and its powerfull enough for most work!
Much of editing is just playing around as you learn - though look up levels (I think you have done a levels edit already) curves, sharpening, noise removal and you will start to get a better hang of things

And as I have saved your shot I just realised I have the exif here now -- ahem
shutter speed is 1/8sec, aperture f4.2, ISO 200.
generally its not advisable to go under 1/60sec when hand holding a shot - and with lenes its often best to keep shutter speed as 1/focal length - so say you were using a 300mm lens your min shutter speed should be 1/300sec.
I think in this case boost ISO to 400 to get the shutterspeed up - granted you get more noise, but wildlife needs a good shutter speed as does handheld. Your aperture is fine

Robstar1619 · Aug 17, 2008

Thanks again.
I did do some edit on the pic because it was rather dark.
I dont have any PS programs at all..i only use the photofiltre.
I have a tripod but didn't have it with me when i went for holls to Prague.
Thanks again..i will try some of those settings you said:thumbup:
Btw..the lens i used was the 18-200mm.

Overread · Aug 17, 2008

Idealy then you don't want to shoot under 1/200sec shutterspeed - boost the ISO

Robstar1619 · Aug 17, 2008

Okey..thanks a lot my friend.

Btw..i did try with flash but the pic came out washed!!..not a good pic at all.

Overread · Aug 17, 2008

try a few folds of toilet paper (the soft white sort) and also some elasticbands - use the bands to hold the toilet paper infront of the flash and try again - it acts light a diffuser and breaks up the light - very good for when all you have is the popup

Robstar1619 · Aug 17, 2008

Thanks.
I have used paper tissues before so it works..I didn't think of using something like that at the time.
I have to get myself some PS program i belive.

Overread · Aug 17, 2008

That or you could try GIMP - its freeware so you just download and use - totally free and legal. Some around here use it and most photoediting software is based on the same basic operating criteria - though I admit I have never used GIMP myself