(This definitely pops out on Black...)
For a number of years I collected old photos and albums with the express purpose of using the images in art work (Mixed-Media Collages). It was a very rare occasion that I used the original, preferring to make copies and keep the histories of the albums intact. It's my opinion that this image is not far removed from the sort I'd find in an old photo of a home interior, utilizing the natural light. By today's standards, the images were seldom well-lit.
This image of "Fred" is lovely in sun-lit colour, but seemed ideal for interpreting a by-gone era of early photography. The Dauphinee family built this house in 1888 & lived here for 100 years. I've given them a couple of years to settle in and acquire a cat... This home calls out for the serene presence of this young Tom, and so they will have it... and 125 years later, we have the picture to "recall" it...
@panthora Thanks, m'friend! Yes, I'm just up from the dinner table, and Ken and I chatted about what a wonderful cat Fred is...and such beautiful markings...(and here he is next to me ready to jump into my lap...) (OK...here comes a letter :) I patted my lap for him to jump up...he just looked at me and uttered a meow... I said, "Do you want to go outside?" and just like a dog, he turned and went right to the door and went out! Since he's arrived, he spends hours-on-end with us, and has no need of an indoor litter-box. YES...this cat is a keeper! He's friendly, photogenic, "speaks" quietly and is patient...he should be making babies with a pedigree like that! (via 365 I think I already have placements for the first litter!) You never know what you'll get when you adopt a cat...more-so a kitten! This guy's a Prince, and you and I know how special they can be. Before we leave, I plan to introduce myself to the people I think are his owners... Surely they have noticed he's packing on the pounds! I'll try to be my charming best and bring them some nice photos in the hope they won't hate me...(I know they also have 2 dogs & possibly another cat...) I'm not testing my theory for another month, but I hope they find the humor in it :)
i look at this and it felt like i was actually looking through a window of another time it gave my heart a start. excellent set up and composition as well as the mix of textures. and that colour tone is to die for. great shot!
@merteskid Hi Jo...I was having a little photo play here...this was actually taken in my living room (all the details of the house & original family are correct)...I processed this as it might have been taken in the late 1800s and then pretended that Fred-the-cat had a family history, too! (Very confusing, I know!)
Well Louise, you are really doing some nice work, and this one is no exception, the vintage tones and just the right amount of lighting to show off his handsome markings.
@pyrrhula Fred lives the life of an innocent child. His needs are cared for, he's cuddled and loved, and he does what he pleases! He passes many afternoons in this sun-drenched spot in Ken's chair!
@lynnz Oh Lynn...don't make me feel any worse than I already do about that ultimate date! He DOES have a family (we've been told, 2 doors down). What we think is that they rent their house out for much of the summer and probably just ask the renters to feed the cat(s). We KNOW they spend the winter in town at that house, so it's my hope he gets more attention. He spent much of last summer like this with us, and then returned after we'd been here about a month this summer... I DO plan to let "his folks" know how much he's been a part of our family these months, and ask them "to give him good cuddles and keep him warm for the winter"... Beyond that, I have a lot of good neighbors who will hopefully keep an eye out for him...but I wish it could be us... (If he were truly MY cat, I'd never abandon him...it's a travesty when people do that to animals!) Thanks for sharing the moment with me...
Seriously, this looks amazingly authentic of a bygone era....wonderful processing!