Big Cats Little Cats
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this. Terry Pratchett
The countdown is on for my departure to Kenya. I have a new camera system this year. After 10 years with Fuji mirrorless cameras and I returned to Nikon. I’m thrilled with the resolution and low light potential of my Nikon Z8. New gear, however, means new buttons and menus. In the field you don’t want to be distracted with settings and menus when there is interesting action going on. Capturing the moment can make or break an image.
I shoot in manual mode which means I am constantly changing my F-stop, shutter speed and ISO to match the conditions. I needed to train my muscle memory for Nikon. Five kittens at my son’s farm were the perfect practice subject. Mini lions!! All cats, from 300+ pound lions to 2-pound domestic cats and every feline in between share common behaviour. Understanding animal behaviour helps me anticipate an animal’s movement and be prepared for the shot.
Here are some photos from my practice sessions along with parallel images from my archives.
Stalking
Play – Kitten/cub Rumble!
Pensive Cats
Daring Climbing Cats
Curious Cats
I’m away from this blog until Feb. 12th. Follow me on Instagram @kathykarnphotography for some images from my upcoming adventure. I’m returning to favourite areas like the Maasai Mara that has the densest population of lions in East Africa and excited to visit new territory in Tsavo East where I hope to meet some new Big Tuskers. Stay safe, I’ll be back here with a new story in a month.
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