Gazing

Hi Sharon! Wow - my kids and I are jealous. We have yet to point our lens at a bobcat or lynx in the wild (though I did spot a young lynx the other day that stuck around all of .00000001 seconds).

I think you did a decent job with very tricky lighting, and I like the slight rimlighting on this handsome young cat. Nice intense gaze as well, and I like your decisions for overall comp. If it were mine, I might try moving him SLIGHTLY to the right and, if it's there in the original file, slightly up. If this is full-frame, it might be worth cropping in slightly (and nearly equally, I think) from the right, top and left. I also think you could improve this further with just a touch more midtone contrast. But none of that changes the fact it's a pleasing portrait of a beautiful bobcat, and I remain jealous!

I agree with John's comments. I would be very happy to have this in my files too! I agree with you that it is best to compose things as best as you can in the field in camera, but there is nothing wrong in my view to do some cropping later as well, if needed. The sun behind the bobcat may have limited your options but getting an even lower perspective might have been something you could have done to improve the photo. Nicely done and nice find!

I can't argue with any of John's advice. This is really a beautiful cat. Great find.

Max

John pretty well nailed it. I have gotten exactly one shot of a bobcat, so I am envious!

Such a adorable kitten... I'm loving it.

Cropped and tweaked.

Comments?

Beautiful pose! I agree with John that there might be some good tweaks to try, especially in brightness and contrast on the cat's shadowed body.

Edit: Just saw the repost, and think you made the subject stronger, but I feel the framing is now too tight, especially in needing more space over the ears and in front. All totally subjective, of course!
Neat experience, with this bobcat!