Deep black cat.

[Anbesol]

This cat is hard to shoot, its hair is super slick jet black. I've got lots of black dogs, but this cat just tops them all in being super deep black.

So I just ran with it and crushed the shadows, exposed exclusively for the eyes with a tiny bit of hair detail. I like it, but I am interested to hear other thoughts on it, how does the crop work for you, how does the 85% solid black work for you? If you have ideas on how to improve this particular technique, please share your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

[CaraRose]

I think the left eye might be a bit soft...

I'm wondering if it might be better if you cropped the shot a bit, cutting the right edge and losing where the light hits the fur on the side of the face.

[OldClicker]

I see nothing left of the left eye. I think that a more square crop with roughly equal space left of the left eye as you have right of the right eye would be better. This at least gives me the space or constraint of the head. - Terry

[Anbesol]

Good calls guys! Dont know why I overlooked the left (his right) eye. Sharpened a bit, more square (4/5), I like it better already. Thanks for the input.

[NKP68]

Nice capture. I came in at the end of this. I think the suggestions were right on. I have three cats of my own and they're tough, probably like yours. I guess I'm just going to have to lay on the floor one day with my camera battery fully charged and a fist full of kitty treats. Love the shot.
Ed

[daq7]

Wow, nice. This one wants layer blending in a big way. It is effing gorgeous as it is, but a few highlights off the eyes would help, plus there is a lot of gorgeous texture in the eyes that a mild tone mapping would emphasize.

[Anbesol]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

NKP - I tried doing one of them in a studio, but the darn cat would blink on every single shot, *when* I got her to look at the camera. It was amazing, I almost think her blazing fast reaction time just reacts to the light, but there is no pre-flash, so it seems far fetched. At least the other one isn't a pit of deep black.

Daq - lol, I've been looking at it a while pondering whether or not I like the catch-lights. You made me do it, lol. So, after trying it out, I figured out why I was on the fence with it - I think I want the catchlight only out of his pupil, but keeping it in the iris.

I don't know what you mean by tone mapping in this, since there really isn't much tone in here to map at all? Could you show me what you mean in an edit, is that pic big enough?

Here is another couple that were inspired in the same vain as this.