This shot is from the cages at the Mile High Humane Society. I was taking photos of the adoptable animals for their website.
02.05.03 Post Script: On reply to the comment by Aurore Lynch
I took haste to say too little. Rather than try to explain my meaningful but common, more emotional than technical, aspects about my photo, I neglected to state that this photo was not used or to be used on the website. We try not to use any pictures of our animals in confinement. I was just snapping in my spare time! That is why I like this photo! The truth is that I am just one of many, many volunteers out there. I just help them. But we do help the hundreds of "in transition and future members of your families", animals per year but the truth is that I just took this photo for myself. To get into his head.
One Word: Dignity
p.s.s. By the way, the little General found a home and family the next day... the kittens always do.
Thank you, M. Lynch. You made me realize that my hasty words gave a different impression than had I intended. I ammended my comment, and I thank you for your concern. You would be an excellent volunteer!
Sad... would be an effective 'hook' for those considering adopting... with sympathy factor considered. The only thing missing is eye contact. He doesn't look horribly discontent here.... he is, after all, looking into the cage. If he were looking out of it, at me, the viewer, I would feel a much deeper sympathy, and I gather, from the title, that this was your aim. It doesn't take much to get an animal to look at you... a 'tsk' or a jingle of the keys will do it, usually. Even better, bring some treats, and dangle one just in front of the cage (out of camera view, of course)... you're likely to get a pleading expression, which could be seen by me, the viewer, as a desire to be freed from this cage, and confinement. Still a beautiful shot... color is clear and vivid without being oversaturated, and DOF is used well to blur the background, though if you can go larger, do... 2.8 or even 1.4? Or move around a bit... while blurred, the background is still slightly distracting. Good job!
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