Submitter's name:	John A. Lind
Title:	K.C.
Gear used:	OM-2S, 85mm f/2 Zuiko
Diaphragm:	f2.8
Shutter speed:	1/60
Film used:	Kodachrome 64
Technical information:	Indoor using available light from a large window behind me.
Subject information:	Our cat (who is difficult to photograph).
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Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

I'm glad I didn't disallow animal portraits, for this is another great one! Well done, and lovely lighting.

Comment left by: Barry Bean (bbbean@beancotton.com)

Nice bokeh and use of color

Comment left by: Joel Wilcox (jowilcox@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu)

I suppose one could wish for a tiny bit more light on the main subject, but the background is wonderfully colorful and the catch lights in the eyes are terrific. Way to go!

Comment left by: Keith Berry (k.berry@telinco.co.uk)

Definitely my favourite so far. Very appealing face and spot-on focusing.

Comment left by: John Pendley (jpendley@mail.tds.net)

Impeccable. There is nothing in sharp focus here but the face and the whiskers. The face is in an unexpected place in the composition, but the power of the use of focus and the out-of-focus elements make it work. A masterful display of technique, producing a memorable image. (K64 is glorious, isn't it?)

Comment left by: siddiq (siddim01@student.ucr.edu)

curious, is there a reason why the photo was shifted slightly to the (viewer's) right? that is, cat more towards center of frame. i can't find anything in the right (vertical) quarter that is contributing (that's just me; maybe i'm missing something)

Comment left by: John Pendley (jpendley@mail.tds.net)

Acer, I don't know much about color work, but for me, the element in the upper right that saves the off-center composition is the only presence of any red in the whole frame. The placement of the cat works for me exactly because it is unexpected, while the cat itself is so poised. I'd think it far to static if the cat were centered. Also, the *base* of the cat is centered. Center the head, and what happens to the rest?

Comment left by: siddiq (no e-mail specified)

hmm. but now i do see part of the tail, so i'm not sure if would crop or not. btw, to the photog: this K64 slide is deserving of a better scan to read into the shadows (top left & bottom right which are a little murky) to do real justice, imo.

Comment left by: Susan Steele (DaEyeGuy@AOL.com)

I like it this way..more than enuf balance is provided by the strength of the color in the upper-right quadrant. Much more entertaining than always-lined-up-in-the-center compositions. And it takes a discerning eye to be able to compose this way..trickier. Well done.

Comment left by: John A. Lind (jlind@netusa1.net)

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. If I were to submit this again I would crop just a tad on the right, about 10%, perhaps a little more, to center the body at the bottom . . . would also balance her head a little more. The perspective, DOF and bokeh offered by the 85/2 was perfect for the series of shots from which this one was selected. Photographing KC has been an active project recently, this one being the best thus far . . . to capture images of her doing all the things she does around our house. Her kidneys have almost completely failed and she is on "borrowed time." She doesn't show or act like it, but her blood chemistry is off the charts, surprising the vet that she's still alive, not to mention still active. Very alert to any movement and noise, it's difficult to keep a composition and maintain focus, and requires patience. If I could have only one photograph of her, this one would be it. There's a 10x13 print of this hanging on the wall now just above where she's sitting now. John Pendley said it: "K64 is glorious, isn't it?" The color match of the print with the wall and cat is perfect! Thanks, -- John

Comment left by: Donald MacDonald (Donald.MacDonald@care4free.net)

This is my favourite of the lot. Makes me wish I had one this good of Ossie, who died recently. I took loads of shots of her, but none this good. I can empathise with the difficulty of getting a good shot. The one criticism I would humbly offer is the one you have yourself; maybe a tad off the right side.

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