meow! cat takes pictures; releases book

There is that part in the book I’m currently reading (see old post here) where former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson describes Lehman CEO Dick Fuld this way: “He’s like a cat; he’s had nine lives.” Their nine lives are perhaps a cat’s most vaunted virtues, but maybe it’s time we add ‘photographer’ to the lot?

I have feline affections, and as if I am not awed by cats enough, one cat, an American shorthair won me and cat-lovers the world over yet again. Cooper of Seattle is the newly famous (cat)-photographer whose humans had placed a camera around her collar that takes pictures every two minutes. The result: a montage of images from the POV of a cat, not surprisingly surprising, inspired, affecting, spontaneous, playful, and all too heartwarming as if Cooper’s graceful and inquisitive demeanor is translated into the photographs themselves. I will go on to even say that these photographs reveal the soul of an artist. On the whole, the concept strikes me as creative though not quite as original. A book of photographs on Boston has been published from the POV of ducks as inspired by the iconic Bostonian book, Make Way for Ducklings. For those interested, the book is called A Duck’s Eye View of Boston which certainly has more picturesque scenes than those from Cooper’s cam. Still, a cat’s got to make a scratch, and for a first, this one is sure to leave a mark.

Credit: YouTube

So, what about photographs taken by dolphins to promote ocean conservation? Or by canines serving in war-ravaged lands? Of elephants serving tourists in Thailand? Or better yet, photographs of humans by a zoo animal in captivity or in circuses to promote animal rights? That should give us some fresh and badly-needed POV.

BOOKSHINE RECOMMENDS

Cooper Photographer Cat’s Official Website

Cooper’s Official Flickr Stream

Cooper’s Cat Camera by Mr. Lee

(Amazon) A Duck’s Eye View of Boston

(Amazon) Make Way for Ducklings