Daily Photo: Modeling in Monochrome
It’s not quite monochromatic, but close. Bella and the mahogany headboard and window muntins are nearly the same color while the bedspread and light from outside the window are both nearly white. Lots of nice repeated curve shapes. And of course, the centerpiece is Bella.
But Bella wasn’t happy with Just one pose and turned her head to the right to see the drama in the energetic swirl made by her tail, torso and neck and head. Really, I considered running for my sketchpad.
The she turned to the left in an attitude of feigned indifference, at which Bella excels. It is feigned because just a quick view of a mousie will totally undo her poise.
She also reminded me of the photo below from two years ago, and still one of my favorites.
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What other photos have I shared around this date?
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Black Cats Are Beautiful, 2013
Mewsette and Mr. Sunshine awaken to cuddle during a heart-shaped nap.
I could title plenty of the photos I post “Black Cats Are Beautiful”. With nearly each photo or series of photos I take, a title comes to mind even as I look at the scene, and as I decide and prepare to photograph and actually take the photographs that title may clarify, but I nearly always go with that title as the one that comes from my heart and mind in the moment.
In part, I know, this particular title was intellectually inspired by overcoming all the technical challenges of photographing two black cats cuddled together against a dark background quickly enough to capture them before they got curious and came to investigate what I was doing—changing to my 70-300mm zoom lens which has greater clarity than the other, pushing buttons and turning knobs on my camera to define all the manual settings at my best guesses, and finding something sturdy to press my camera against to keep it steady for the slow shutter speed, in this case, the decorative carved post of my poster bed. The white quilt reflecting on them helped to illuminate shadowed areas, but the mid-range highlights could be lost in blackness with a programmed shot, the delicate highlights that defined their faces lost. A flash, even a slow and gentle one, would have destroyed the subtleties, introduced too much contrast, not to mention the effect on their eyes.
But by the time I was ready to photograph the two of them had lost interest and were ready to resume their nap, and I had to call them and laugh and sing and wave my hands like a fool to get them to raise their heads again, and slap myself on the forehead to get them to look at my face.
But it was all worth it.
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What Flavor is Yours?, 2014
“What flavor is yours?” Jelly Bean asks his sister Mewsette as she savors her taste of the catnip toy. “Mine is blue flavored.”
“I’m not sure,” said Mewsette, “I taste a spicy flavor with a lemony undertone, and a bright finish.”
“This from the sister who chews on cardboard.”
These toys are Pioneer Pet Nip Nibblers I brought home from the CWA Conference in November. The cover is a dense plastic mesh that dispenses catnip as it’s paw-handled and chewed. They managed to shred the third one the night I handed them out, so I supervise their use and put them away. They’re apparently great fun for a little intellectual discussion of nip brands. Bean isn’t sure whether to lick or chew, so he does both.
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Caught! 2013
Mimi has finally caught the elusive tape roll center thing! After chasing it all around under the cardboard, it popped out and tried to escape, but it was no match for Mimi’s quick paw, and the thing has seen its last freedom.
Another improvised toy…my poor deprived felines, they don’t often get new “real” toys, but they get plenty of tape roll centers, toilet paper rolls, waxed paper backing curls from double-sided tape, narrow trimmings from paper, even wine corks. My house looks like I just toss stuff around for no reason, but my cats are happy.
It’s hard to believe Mimi wasn’t much for play on her own. This was one of the first times I saw her really playing. Now she’s all over the house and instigates the evening play session!
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Wordless Wednesday: Pussy Willow
Read more about this photo at Pussy Willow, A Vintage Photo.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
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We like that pose of Bella’s. She is lovely.
We like the other pics, especially Jelly Bean’s claws!
And the pussy willows 🙂
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ