"Wild" Cats!

I haven't had much time to take any photographs lately, so when I was given a list of photographs that work wanted it didn't take me long to get  a little distracted!..

Some of you may already know, but the owner of the BWC, David Mills, is working on a children's DVD and accompanying book series. Series one is now out, and series two is due to be out in time for Christmas this year.  I was asked for a list of photographs a couple of months ago, but summer being so busy, just didn't have time to take them. Having been reminded on a few occasions that these were needed, I spent a little time the past couple of afternoons trying to get what they have asked for.

Having not taken any photographs for myself for a while, it didn't take long for me to make the most of a grumpy wildcat. Macavity, above and below, wasn't really in the mood for having his photograph taken. So I made the most of the situation to get a couple of nice snarling shots... something I am actually quite short on surprisingly!

The light wasn't the best, but then sometimes that can add to the mood, and I am really happy with the photos I got. After waiting for a while, I soon gave up on what was asked for, and went back the next day... both days keeper Meg helped me get the photos, and on this first day I have to say... I don't know who was more grumpy, Meg or Macavity!

So, what was the wildcat shot that was asked for?.. A cat washing...

OK. Difficult... You can't make a cat wash, not humanely anyway, so it would be a case of waiting. Could be ten minutes, could be ten hours. I din't have time for this so we just had to hope. Eventually on day two we got a bit of action, not sure if above is really suitable for a children's book.

Having no joy after half an hour, we tried feeding him. This usually leads to licking lips as above, which I hoped may lead on to something a bit more towards a full wash. No joy.

We then thought that he was distracted by the food, so Meg left me to it. After a few minutes ( I got lucky) he began to start having a full wash. Unluckily though, he was in the shade with the background in the bright midday sun!

Never mind though. He was washing, so I snapped away. Not the best photos by any means, but good enough with a touch of editing for a children's book, and shows off what was needed. 

As with last years shoots for series one book (you may remember I was photographing fallow deer for that) they wanted a mix of shots, landscapes and portraits, close ups and some with more space etc. Just a few posted here.

Another photo on Pip's productions team wish list... A hedgehog in a ball! How do you make that exciting? Anyway, again a variety of crops/compositions were asked for. Above was probably my favourite. 

Whilst we had Timone, one of our hedgehogs, out I took a couple of detail shots of her spines. I am working on a couple of projects, and by working on I mean thinking about but whether they will ever actually get done who knows?!! Any who, for one of these I need a photo like this so took the opportunity.

An even closer up of the spines. Look at the detail in the markings, incredibly beautiful... and makes you appreciate how sharp they can be! Bit of grass in the spines unfortunately, may have to do a re shoot next year, but good enough for now.

Finally, another work shoot for a different reason, but still related to Pip. David was interviewed for a magazine, and they wanted a few photographs of him with the squirrels. Usual stuff. David with one on him, feeding one, looking for one etc etc. All stage and mocked up of course. I won't bore you with them all, but I think this is the main one they went for. Quite a nice one of him actually, and look... he's smiling! This took much prompting and reminding by Liza :-)

Thanks for looking :-)

Wildcat Snarl

Wildcat

It has been extremely busy over the past few weeks here, and I have had little time to take any photographs... but when I have, experimenting was what I was doing. I have a couple of photos in my head which I am very keen to get, and am just working out the best way to do it. One is of a wildcat snarl and strike.

Above is the closest I have got, but work is needed. The light was non-existent and finding a background that works in the pen is very difficult. I think it may have to be a snow shot if we get it this year. Two things I have learn't thought are... 1. Use the fisheye lens (as above). The wide angle just didn't give the effect I wanted, but this does make the background harder to get. 2. Wear a glove! :-)

Wildcat

While setting up I took a couple of simple portrait snarl shots.

Wildcat

And a simple one to get the settings right for the fisheye lens.

Pine Marten

Another thing I was experimenting with was the pine martens. They are looking really good at the moment in their longer coats. The tricky things with this are the pens are not too great for photography, and the light is on Bonnie's pen in the morning when they are more afternoon animals.

Pine Marten

We got somewhere though, and I think we found a nice area to work with...

Pine Marten

This spot has potential for something.

Pine Marten

But still needs a bit more work.

Running Weasel

Another experimentation was a running weasel, this had to be done in the run to get a straight head on shot, but is difficult... and I mean really difficult! Above was on f/2.8 and ISO 3200. Even then the shutter was not really fast enough and I will happily admit, that the above was a lot to do with luck! It was very dark though, so with some light I think it is possible.

American Mink

A couple of photos from a few I took of one of our mink. I have never really photographed them before, but Mindy, our female, was out a week ago in the morning so I took the opportunity to get a few snaps.

American Mink

Thanks for looking.

Scottish Wildcat

Scottish Wildcat, Felis silvestris

It is very difficult to take a photograph of a wildcat and have it look like a wildcat!., a nice normal portrait looks like a picture of a tabby cat to most people. Don't get me wrong, myself and I'm sure others that work closely with them, or are really interested in them, could probably pick a wildcat with relative ease. But to Joe Public, and I don't mean that in bad way at all, they look just to similar.

Of course the differences are there, all be it subtle, but it is the behaviour in particular that makes them stand out. So this leads to countless photographs of a snarling wildcat, as a above.

Wildcat Stare

I like a good snarl shot myself, but you don't always need that. It is all in the look to make the wildcat look like a wildcat.

And a Nice Chianti...

This one was one of my earliest wildcat photos, and has been shortlisted a few times in competitions, but never made the finals... It is quite old now so has been retired.

Wildcat in the Snow

If you can't get the look, then having a wildcat in the snow is the best way to go. This is where they should be and where they look their best.

Wildcat in the Snow

Full on winter coat making them appear their true size, the larger feet, head, legs and face really showing through and their tail is the full bushy wildcat tail with the black rings and blunt end.

Peeking in the Snow

This is one of my favourites of the wildcats in the snow, peeking around the vase of a tree trunk where the snow has drifted about 3 foot up it. This was taken a few years a go in the very heavy snow we had one winter.

All three snow photos above are of an old wildcat called Lex... arguably the best male we ever had. Unfortunately he died young, but continues on in his daughters Kendra and Iona.

Wildcat in Evening Light

A couple here a little different, above with the lighting.

Panning Wildcat

And this one attempting a bit of panning. I went for a slower shutter than I would usually use for this one, I think it went okay, but more practise is needed.

Little Tom with the Wildcats

Our three kittens bred here last year are great jumpers, and I have many of them in "supercat" poses flying through the air! It leads to fun photos like the ones above of Little Tom. It may look like he is kicking and throwing the cat, but it is just them jumping for the food he has thrown... honest!

The last one in the row shows you how close they get when they hand feed, you have to be careful feeding them, but they rarely miss.

Jumping Cat

Flying through the air with the fish-eye lens.

Kitten, only a few days old

One of the many advantages of working here is getting to see the rare moments, such as these very young kittens. They are only a few days old here, eyes still closed, I have not seen them this young before or since, but this one litter a few years a go were kept outside Kendra's nest box and successfully reared. This could even be Richy Junior, now on loan at Wildwood.

Young Wildcat

It is lovely seeing the young animals grow and mature, a real pleasure of the job.

Snarling Kitten

Even at this young age they have their characteristic aggression. Weight for weight they are believed to be the most aggressive cat in the world!

Wildcat Kittens

These are two of Iona's kittens from last year, still with their cobalt blue eyes!

Wildcat Kitten

And only a couple of weeks later, the eyes turned already to a browny green.

Dougal: Bonafide BadAss!

This photo is of one of our original wildcats, Dougal. Taken many years a go now with an old point and shoot. Still one of my favourites though as it really shows off his attitude well.

Thanks for looking.