Project Images
Gallery Overview
Individual Images
Image 1
Bobcat Portrait 1
Image 2
Bobcat Portrait 2
Image 3
Bobcat Portrait 3
Image 4
Bobcat Portrait 4
Image 5
Bobcat Portrait 5
Image 6
Bobcat Portrait 6
Image 7
Bobcat Portrait 7
Image 8
Bobcat Portrait 8
Image 9
Bobcat Portrait 9
Image 10
Bobcat Portrait 10
Image 11
Bobcat Portrait 11
Image 12
Bobcat Portrait 12
Project Description
On my birthday this year, I started a 365-day photo project, Walk Around, capturing images and practicing techniques within walking distance of my home. Grouped in these images, were some themes that seemed project worthy. This submitted project developed only in hindsight, as the portrait “photo session” occurred unexpectedly.
I was walking alongside the small desert wash behind my home, mid-afternoon in the beginning of July, looking for scenes. As I stepped down into the dry wash, I saw the bobcat. It was lying in the shade of the sandy wash, about 40 feet upstream. I started taking some shots. To get a clearer view and help stabilize the camera, I sat down on the sand and leaned against the bank of the wash.
I continued to take capture images for about 20 minutes, until it became clear that this bobcat was not going anywhere soon and my heat tolerance not nearly as good. I slowly got up and backed away without the bobcat changing its position.
This bobcat seemed so relaxed in the shade, occasionally licking its lips, a puzzling behavior given how dry things were. So, I went out the next morning to where the bobcat was lying, to investigate, and found a 5-inch section of a gopher snake tail. With evidence of its early afternoon meal,
the bobcat’s behavior became clearer.
Portraits of a Bobcat is a compilation of some of the bobcat’s expressions, captured during that unexpected afternoon encounter.
Self Critique
What I like about this project is the portrait style images of the different expressions, but all in a similar setting. I put in 12 images, with a thought that this might be a calendar set. However, some are duplicated enough that is could be trimmed into a smaller grouping.
Creative Direction
The project goal was to process and portray the variety of expressions in each image as if this had been a formal sitting.
I wanted to try to develop the same processing for each position and expression, creating a similar look and feel for a cohesive portrait set of an unusual subject.
Specific Feedback
Is the selection of 12 images too ambitious?
Does the concept work as a project?
Do the expressions portray the emotions/behaviors of the subject, its sense of calmness/contentment, with occasional alerting to outside distractions?
Would this fit into a calendar style portrayal or more eBook style with some writing to accompany a smaller set of images?
Intent of the project
Additional Details: Calendar or eBook of the full set
Gallery of a smaller subset of the images, triptych or grouping