Cat Portraiture

The Socrates Series The Iritis Collection by Nawfal Johnson

THE IRITIS COLLECTION (Sept – Nov  2013)
SERIES Title: SOCRATES.
SERIES NUMBER: #2.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: Four.

The IRITIS COLLECTION is a group of photographic series, designed during this difficult and painfully long period dealing with Chronic Iritis, and now, a second eye disease called PDS (Pigment Dispersion Syndrome).  The PDS in my right eye makes it almost impossible to see anything but blurry objects with that eye.  As far as I have researched, there is NO cure for PDS.

I have found that doing Photography now is more difficult because I have always been a ‘perfectionist’ when it comes to composing and editing my photographs.  Well, I have discovered even more clearly (no pun intended), that there is no such thing as “Perfection” – it is a figment of delusional thinking.  Nevertheless, what I can do, is to execute the design of my photographs to the best of my ability.  Maybe that means spending more time with my subjects.  Maybe that means, taking more breaks during a photographic session.  Or, maybe that means not being so hard on myself when editing my photographs:  I always want to produce the best results possible, and that is still the goal.  The main difference now is that I will depend more on my left eye (which was always my BAD Eye – GREAT!), and maybe the best I can do now will depend more on the technology within the camera – especially in terms of accurate focus.

Thanks for visiting my new post.

The SOCRATES Series:

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.1. COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION. SERIES: SOCRATES. SERIES NUMBER: 2. PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR. Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.1.
COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION.
SERIES: SOCRATES.
SERIES NUMBER: 2.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR.
Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.2. COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION. SERIES: SOCRATES. SERIES NUMBER: 2. PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR. Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.2.
COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION.
SERIES: SOCRATES.
SERIES NUMBER: 2.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR.
Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

A Note about photo No.2:  You can obviously see why cats are the most notoriously difficult subjects to photograph: By Image No.2, Socrates was already tired and becoming difficult.  The Photographer is ALWAYS at the mercy of their kitty-subjects who rarely want to listen to you – Everything is on their terms…so be ready.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.3. COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION. SERIES: SOCRATES. SERIES NUMBER: 2. PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR. Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.3.
COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION.
SERIES: SOCRATES.
SERIES NUMBER: 2.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR.
Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.4. COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION. SERIES: SOCRATES. SERIES NUMBER: 2. PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR. Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: SOCRATES, No.4.
COLLECTION: THE IRITIS COLLECTION.
SERIES: SOCRATES.
SERIES NUMBER: 2.
PHOTOGRAPHS IN SERIES: FOUR.
Copyright 2013 Nawfal Johnson ~ All Rights Reserved.

MAYSA’ ,October 01, 2008,#1a

Maysa’
Cat Portraiture.

"MAYSA" by Nawfal Nur

"MAYSA" by Nawfal Nur

Photographed by Nawfal Nur

Formal Cat Portraiture: It is a skill just as much so as human portraiture. Maybe not as glamorous, of course, but perhaps more difficult. With humans, at least you can reason with the unruly model who had to get up too early for a photo shoot and she “just can’t do a damn thing with her hair!” Right. These types of issues can be smoothed out when reasoning with another human being.

Animals, well…they are a totally different ball of bee’s wax!

There is no reasoning with animals: They either do what you need them to do; OR, in most cases, they do whatever they damned well please!

And of course, this can be fun the first 50 times you request that they stand properly on the “mark” so you can take a good shot. On number 51, a patient Photographer begins to wish he had listened to his mother and become a weapons demolition expert, because that job would have been less stressful.

Meanwhile, back in the human studio, the photographer is going: “Oh yeah, Baby, that’s it! Right, just a little turn to your left, BEAUTIFUL! Awesome! You are looking HOT! Alright, we killed it!”

And, back at the animal photography studio, the Animal Portraitist is going: “Maysa’….Maysa’….MAYSA’ are you listening to me? Sit here…no…NO….NOOOOOOO, HERE….Ah, good! No….MAYSAAAAAA’, Get up here on the mark, no, that’s not the mark, that is some old cat food that you dropped two days ago, leave that alone, you stay here, MAYSA’! Are you going to cooperate?”

30-minutes later…

Maysa’! No…Please, just stay there. Ah, yes!!!!! OK, READY…….NOOOOOOOOO, DON’T JUMP OFF THAT!!!!!

45-minutes later…

After several cat food bribes, a lot of patience, 127 “Maysa’s”, 153 “Don’ts”, and 182 “No’s”, we accomplished a few good cat portraits.

Did I say that Animal Portraiture was a little tough, hahahahahahahaha!

Tip #1: “Use the Force!”
Tip #2: Prepare a mind calming mantra before you begin the photo session, and repeat it throughout the session.
Tip #3: Use Bribes with all subjects!
Tip #4: If you get too impatient, angry, upset, discombobulated, irate, silly-brained, or go stark raving loony-toons. then use the ‘ol standby, a tranquilizer gun…ON YOURSELF! It could be a lot of fun, it will make you feel all good all under, and your kitty subjects might just cooperate better if you are not so uptight!

There you have it! Another fine lesson in Cat Portraiture!

Good Luck! Stay Calm! And everyone will be happy.