Aby Traits

The trick in taking an action shot is to take the SLR out of autofocus mode. It takes too long for the camera to decide where the focal point is and, by the time it does, it's too late. Set an average focal point before the action happens and hope the subject stays in that range (a little out-of-focus is hard to see in that kind of a shot). You may have to bump up the shutter speed but I've usually found that the default is satisfactory with a flash or in bright sun. This photo was taken after teasing Squid ( www.squidgallery.com ) into jumping off the back of the couch after a toy. The camera was in a manual focus mode, the shutter speed was set manually and using an external flash gun to get enough light and a fast enough flash. His paws are clamped together right where the toy was. Notice his eyes are focused at that spot too.

http://rjknox.home.att.net/Squid_9007_23.jpg

Ok, ok -that's very professional and you must be a team of 2 -plus the Abyssinian. But the results are gorgeous. You see more than your eye would see.

This afternoon I wanted to try some close-ups of Filou and his adopted brother Tigris but they just walked away. :( It's not our problem if you want to keep on bragging with us:D -that's what they said.

I understand. You can't help bragging when your cat is beautiful... And you're right in that your eye would never catch the grace and intensity the picture captured.

I admit I am sometimes stalking the cats with a camera. There's always a camera ready, though, for that classic shot. This one just happened without any outside assistance. The camera was in full automatic mode and using natural light. This is Mango and Peaches with Peaches being the agressive one.

http://rjknox.home.att.net/Aby_Wars_2.jpg

Abys wrestle almost silently. You just hear flopping noises and turn to see this!

Randy K, your cat Mango is really special! I love that action-shot so much!
I just visited your web-site: it is gorgeous!! Congrats!

You can read and see all about my cats and other pets on my web-site too. See ye!

Oh, and WELCOME to Pt!!

Love those action shots!!!

Here's my Tama
This is the best I could do:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...d/fc59b798.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...0/fc59b7b3.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/fc59b7ca.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/fc43a262.jpg

Maya in action. It's very hard to get action shots with a digital !!!
She is off the ground in this one.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...1/fc43a263.jpg

Our first aby Zoe ( a spitting image of Maya) . We could not figure why the clock was always wrong. Caught her "red-pawed" one day.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...8/fdc2f24b.jpg

My last try to catch Filou in action with the digital camera:D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...f/fc4378c0.jpg

Tigris sends his admiration for jumping Maya.

Tama, what a cute little boy you are:)

lailamara, that picture of Zoe playing with the clock is great!

The only time I've used my digital camera on Mango is when he is asleep.

Randy, there are quite some Aby-lovers here.

Check out this thread and you can see them all:

http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=16885

In the meantime, NoahsMommy was adopted by an Aby too. Micah, a fawn boy just like Bastet:D

Well, Filou has a really nice tail....;) :p

Absolutely great photos everyone!! I'm a secret Aby admirer and that's why I'm lurking here!

;)

One thing I learned by creating and posting the It's Mango Madness! website is how much people worldwide love their Abys and how surprized they are to see that an Aby's behavior is fairly constant no matter where they were born or raised. The website started as a lark and, until I put up the guestbook and also started receiving e-mail, thought only friends saw it. How wrong I was!

The Squid Gallery has been written up in a newspaper in Christchurch, New Zealand and several art-oriented websites. It was originally created to showcase digital art with Squid being the willing subject but soon it took on a life of it's own with Squid becoming know internationally. Squid was my first interaction with an Aby and he changed my idea of what a cat was all about. It was so terribly hard to say goodbye to him when he died a few years ago from colon cancer. He was a great friend and companion. It was difficult to tell the children of friends that they couldn't come over to see Squid anymore. Funny how these little guys make their own friends...

Aby's just RULE!

Yah I am now spoilt for choice about what I am going to get as a companion cat for Bastet (when I find a new home!). She is definately going to have another Aby as company! I don't think any other cat would be able to keep up with her!

They are just such personable little furrpeople. :D

Russian Blue -I'm an open Nakita admirer:D :) If she was not a beautiful Russian Blue we would name her an Aby for honour's sake:D

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Russian Blue
Absolutely great photos everyone!! I'm a secret Aby admirer and that's why I'm lurking here!

;)

---

You have no idea how ironic that comment is!!! I was taking Micah to the vet yesterday and I was looking at him in the sun. He has that light fur Nakita has on his face and green eyes. I thought, "Gosh, wouldn't Micah and Nakita make the most beautiful couple??" Shhhh...don't tell my Basie that. ;)

Great pictures everyone!

Randy, welcome to Pet Talk!! Where in Southern California do you live?? Did you get Mango and Peaches from a breeder?