Tips on taking pictures on cats

有人在討論組中問怎麼樣拍貓，心想，自己也拍貓多年，其實有沒有任何心得呢，不如總結一下。所以，在討論中說了下面的觀點.... 找個簡單的背景，是你成功的主要因素，因為家中一般有不同雜物，拍出來的效果不好，好在貓兒細小，一塊白色的小牆足夠了。下面是在街拍的一隻流浪貓，由於背景為白牆，突出花貓的效果良好。

Someone asked in a discussion group how cats can be photographed beautifully.  Having taking cat photos for years, I assume I have my ways so I summarize the method I usually employed as below. A simple background is the keyfor success.  Luckily cats are small creatures that merely a small part of an empty wall is enough.  The following picture shows a street cat I shot with a white wall as background.

沒有簡單的背景，可以用大光圈虛化，不過效果未必管用。這是我家的貓，雖然用f2.8虛化背景，但仍然影響效果。

When simple background is not found, we may apply large aperture to blur the background.  This although helps but not necessary gives satisfactory result.  In the picture below I use f2.8 for my cat but the effect is only acceptable.

都是在家中拍的，用光差效果把背景除去。

Another method is to use different of brightness level to make the background looks dark.

焦距選擇方面，其實跟你要的效果掛勾吧，不過太廣角的話，要考慮貓兒跟你有多熟，可以有多接近，太長距離的話，家中的位置足夠工作嗎？ 這是50mm在D700全幅機拍的，50mm在我家中工作比較合適，由於是自己的貓，也不怕太近接拍攝。

Different focal length creates different effects.  But if you are using a super wide angle lens, be sure the cat lets you come as close as a few cm.  On the other hand, you need to take into account whether the space inside a house be large enough for using a tele lens. The cat below is taken by a 50mm lens on D700.  This standard lens is quite suitable for working inside my home for my cats.

拍特寫的話，可以用中長焦，這是用85mm在全片幅上的情況。但要留意景深，會否不足夠表現。

Use tele lens for close-up shots.  This is by a 85mm lens on a full frame camera.  You need to check whether the dof is enough for you to put the interest part of the cat in.

用135mm拍的話，可以離開遠一點工作，對不熟悉的貓兒比較合適。

Use 135mm lens when you need to work at a greater distance to help the cat to feel more easy.

當然，你可能有特殊視覺效果需要，這是用14mm在D70上拍的，相當於21mm的效果，工作很接近，但可以做出你所需要的效果。

When you need a very special effect, you may consider using a super wide lens.  This is done by a 14mm lens on D70 (equivalent to 21mm in full frame camera).

燈光方面，盡量用自然光，否則貓眼會因閃光而不自然，出現紅/綠眼睛或合上眼；如非打燈不可，試離機引閃，效果會好一點。利用窗戶提供眼神光是一個好辦法。用燈引閃的效果﹝指N牌的CLS﹞機頂引閃的光已足以令貓兒合上眼睛。 自然光加貓向著窗戶創造眼神光。

Use natural light if possible.  Flash will make the eye of the cat looks strange like looks green/red or closed.  If flash is a must, try put the flash unit away from the camera.  If the CLS system of Nikon is used, the commander camera flash will make the cats close their eyes. The picture below shows the effect of using natural light while the reflection of the window makes there a bright spot in the eye.

引閃的光已令她合上眼睛。

The commander flash closes the cat's eyes

戶外的光最好。

If possible, use natural light.

貓一般比狗難拍點，主因是一怕陌生人二沒像狗的聽話，所以要拍好的話要多點耐性，不是可以短時間跟他們混熟，所以除了拍靜態的照片外，可以找點逗貓棒之類跟他們玩，順便拍動能的照片。 用玩具拍動態照片：這個玩具可以讓貓自己獨個兒玩，讓你自己專心拍，不過我家雜物太多，拍這些動態的相片，背景難以控制。

Cats can be more difficult to photo than dogs.  One reason is that they are not so trained to obey commands and the other reason is that they are afraid of strangers.  Great level of patient is needed.  So, you've better find some cat toys to play with them and try to take pictures when they are playing. The following picture shows my cat who is playing.  This is a toy that the cat can play by itself.  So you are free to take his picture.  As the cat moves everywhere, you can hardly control the background.

這是放手讓貓兒跳起時影的，可以說是擺拍，但勝在一個人可以完成，拍這個我選用廣角自動對焦，亦可以用泛焦讓成功率增加。 俯角可以稍稍避開雜亂的家中雜物。

This picture is taken when I drop the toy for the cat.  I can do it all by myself alone without anyone helping me.  To make the picture easier to take, I use a wide angle lens, AF.  Hypofocusing technique may be employed too. Choosing a looking down angle will make the background clear from the things in my home.

讓貓兒們自己玩耍時抓拍也是一個好主意，有不錯的動態

You can also make snap shots while cats are playing by themselves.  This usually gives photos full of energy.

還有用光可以更大膽一點，令你的作品更與別不同

May be you can employ more creative lighting to make your picture unique.

最後，找點道具與貓兒一起拍攝也是很好的點子

Finally you can use anything at your home to give the picture a special feeling.