I took this picture at a cat cafe in Savannah, Georgia. This room had about 6 cats roaming around playing with each other or taking a nap. But this one lonely gray cat is staring outside the window. I was trying to capture it’s emotion of it wanting to be adopted, be in its forever home, or just be able to run free outside.
In the original photograph, it the cat is slightly off centered and almost being framed by the window sill. At first glance, it feels like my eyes will go directly to look at the cat since it sort of in center. Then after looking at the cat, it makes me want to focus outward towards the other objects and environment in the photograph. There is a focus point, but the distance feels too far away.
I cropped the photograph the way I did because I wanted the focus to be on the cat and also to see what the cat is looking at, which is the outside world. I was trying to use the rule of thirds after cropping. Positioning the cat towards the left side while showing more of the right side of the window to focus on the flowers. I wanted to give the illusion that the cat is being framed by the window. I was also trying to change the story of the image too. Does it look like the cat is relaxing at a bookstore or maybe in cozy home? Does it look like it is enjoying a sunbathing session?
Hello! I have to say, at first I was just like “oh, a cat post”, but after reading your description, I really felt like I identified with the cat. I have a habit of sitting in silence in my house due to tinnitus, it hurts my ears. I feel like I am always looking on the outside pondering what could be if only…
I like the framing of the cat in the cropped picture, like you said, it pulls the attention away from the outside and lets you focus on what the cat may be thinking. Was he an outside cat that was rescued and longing to go back? Did he have owners he misses? I can’t help but wonder if he is writing all his thoughts down in his head and keeping track of his time at the window wondering when it will be his turn to be free again.
I can see thatyou took into account using the rule of thirds for your placement of the cat staring out the window. It does a great job of taking away some of the empty space around the cat and creates more of a focal point.
You could have cropped the other side of the cat showing more of the inside, but honestly I like your crop better. I do not see any room for improvement or way for it to change the meaning of the original picture. Great job!
Hi! I love your picture and stopped to look at it last week!
By cropping the original picture, it brings the cat into focus and cuts out a lot of unnecessary background. It makes the viewer really focus on the cat and wonder what he (or she) is thinking about as he looks out the window. Is he waiting for his person to come home from an outing? Is he looking for birds in the yard? Like you said, he looks like he is being framed by the window which helps bring focus to the cat as well as your use of the rule of thirds.
I think your cropping is the best choice when looking at the original. I don’t think there were any other options that would improve the image and I do not have any suggestions for improvement.
You did a fantastic job!