Photographing cats in low light with the lovely Coco kitty as my model.
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Photographing Cats
I was walking through the house getting ready to go upstairs and take a shower, when I noticed Coco sitting on the dining room table. There was soft evening light coming in through the dining room window.
I quickly grabbed my camera. I love how the light reflected off of her white fur, but then dropped away to darkness on the other side. I wish that I could have removed the newspaper on the table behind her, but then I wouldn't have been able to get the shot.
Photographing Cats in Low Light
Some of you have asked about my cat photos in low light. The secret is to meter off the cat. Metering is when you place the focus point or where ever your camera meters on what you want properly exposed. In this case I metered off of Coco's eyes and a little bit of her white fur. For this photo I used my Fuji camera which meters off the focus point, if I had used my Canon camera, it would have metered off the center point.
The steps that I use to meter are: Set my shutter speed - usually 250th because I have shaky hands. Set my aperture, inside I set it as low as my lens will go to let in as much light as possible, in this case it was f4.2. Then I place my focus point (or the center point depending on the camera) on the part of the cat I want exposed correctly and press the shutter button down halfway. I look to see if my meter scale shows too dark or too light and then adjust my ISO until I get it perfectly metered at 0 or slightly above 0.
Does that answer your questions? Let me know if it helps!
For my artsy photo, I used the Topaz Labs Plugin.
Colehaus Cats says
So beautiful! And we liked the newspaper in the background because, for us, it adds a touch of everyday life.
Pam Greer says
That's a good point!
Kathe W. says
great photos! Have a good day!
Pam Greer says
Thank you!
stevebethere says
What lovely photos, Coco is getting to be an expert poser heheh!
I like the artsy photo makes it seem totally different 🙂
Have an artistictastic weekend 🙂
Pam Greer says
Thanks, I liked this artsy photo a lot too!
Michelle Miller says
Coco is such a beauty. How could you not want to photograph her. Wonderful shots. I wish I still had my good camera. Maybe some day I'll get a good one again. 🙂
Pam Greer says
Iphones do so good now, you almost don't need a better camera!
Valentine says
Ooh, so-o pretty! Dad has tried to explain to Mom how to use the aperture settings on her camera and how to take photos in different light levels, but is still a bit confusing for Mom. She keeps practicing. Maybe one day it will "click" in her mind. Tee hee hee.
Pam Greer says
I love a good pun!
caren gittleman says
I use my iPhone 😉 I took a photography class in high school so the terminology isn't alien to me...it is just that I find hunting for a camera to take a photo to be annoying when my phone is always nearby. Thanks for the tips though!
Pam Greer says
The iPhones are so crazy good now. On vacation, I took as many photos with my phone as I did my camera!
Darla M Sands says
What a doll! Thank you for sharing.
Pam Greer says
Thank you for stopping by!
Roby Sweet says
Beautiful photo! And the arty version is divine. Thanks for the tips too. I need to practice more with my camera so I don't always have to stop and think about how to set the shutter speed and aperture. It was easy as pie on my clunky old SLR; not so much with the digital.
Pam Greer says
Yes, sometimes it's tricky when you have to go through all the menus!
Scylla, Fenris, Tuiren, YinYang & Chimera (ATCAD) says
Wonderful photo and thanks for explaining how you did it. It's sort of Greek to us, but Mommy says that she has a vague (very vague) idea what you are talking about and she is going to try it with Chimera or Scylla.
Pam Greer says
Oh good, I can't wait to see what she comes up with!
The Island Cats says
One of these days, I'm going to learn how to take great photos. Right now, it's just point and shoot for me.
Pam Greer says
Point and shoots can take great pictures!
Cheryl Crotty says
Thank Pam...it is always nice to see how others set up their shots. I use the Fuji XT-2 also so I will keep your advice in mind but I'm pretty sure that is the way I do it. On the Canon (5dMk111) I back button focus and there is no half way but my meteroring seems o.k.
I hope you and Coco are enjoying this lovely weekend.
Pam Greer says
I back button focus on the canon too! I wish I could figure out how to do it on the Fuji!
Marie Symeou says
Lovely photo!
Thanks for the photography tips 🙂
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Pam Greer says
You're welcome!
Ellen Pilch says
Coco is so beautiful.
Pam Greer says
Thank you!
Mary (cactus catz) says
very cool photos, love the arty one the best
Pam Greer says
Me too!
Ida P. Krause says
Thanks for the information on the Low Light cat shots. Your kitty is just so pretty.
Pam Greer says
You're welcome!
XmasDolly says
The last picture looks like a painting to me! It's purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect!
Pam Greer says
Thank you!
Comedy Plus says
Coco is a beautiful cat and these photographs are pawsome.
Have a purrfect Feline Friday and weekend, Coco. My best to your mom. ♥
Pam Greer says
Thank you!