Cat's Name, Gender, and Age
Dude Male, 4 years or so
Was Photo Staged or Caught in the Act?
Not at all! He was caught in the act. Every time Dude wakes up he yawns. He was asleep on a chair next to the pillow."If You Want the Best Seat In The House . . . . I called his name and He yawned.
A Little Background on my Cat
Dude is an Ocicat and was the runt of the litter. I picked him out wanting to nurture him. He wasn't the most affectionate cat, but he liked being in the same room. He did not like a lot of massages and being nurtured. Dude when he was a kitten loved playing with me and we even went on walks. As he got older he got grumpier and became more of a bully with the younger cat. He ended up becoming a "Barn Cat" because he kept running away whenever he got outside.
What Were the Circumstances of the Photo?
I have a cat that yawns every time he wakes up. After the yawns he stretches. Dude happened to be asleep in my mothers chair near the window. What was so funny about this was he was right next to a really funny pillow . . . You could read the entire pillow, and it said: "If You Want The Best Seat In The House, You'll Have To Move The Cat." Knowing how he yawns when he wakes up, I thought that would be a hilarious photo. I decided to get the camera, and have the flash charged and ready to go off. If he heard the flash charging, it may have woke him up, ruining the opportunity. I then called out: "Dude. Hey Dude, Hi Guy." He woke up, looked at me, then let out a big yawn.
Dude at an early age had many photos taken. He didn't mind me doing that, but when the flash went off it stresed him out. I tried many times to let him know it is OK, and that it would not hurt him, but with no avail. Luckily this photo was taken in the early afternoon, and the sunlight was bright enough I didn't need the flash.
I found that in order to take photos like this, and capture the moment, I have to take advantage of knowing my subject as best as possible. Do they respond to certain sounds, words etc. Are they doing something that is funny? If so, compose the photo and get everything in place, then do what it takes to get that desired response.
Tips and Tricks
- I took three photos. The first one he simply opened his eyes and looked at me. The second one was this one. The third one was blurred as he jumped off the chair and went in to eat something. .
- I had a Minolta 35mm camera. I used natural light, and no flash. I was also using a zoom lens.
- I found you can get great results with cats and animals when you watch their habit patterns of behavior. Watch them, talk to them and reward them when they are doing what you desire. I follow my (3 step theory.) 1.)"Be Patient, 2.) Be Persistant and 3.) Be Prepared to Capture The Moment.
