Cross Processing Effect

Just Bo, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

This is a very subtle and well judged use if the cross processing effect in a photograph of a cat. The photo is by Giane Portal (aka forfurasfelinas -- on Flickr). Great photo again Giane.

The term "cross processing" comes from the days of film when professional photographers processed slide film in colour negative processing chemicals and vice-versa.

Perhaps this happened accidentally, originally, and the interesting colour balance was adopted as a way of enhancing an image.

Today you can emulate that effect in Photoshop and other digital image editing software.

The cross processing effect has to be used with subtlety as when overused it loses its impact and just looks plain wrong.

Giane has a page of cross processed cat photographs, which I am sure that you will enjoy.

Kitty play

Kitty play, a photo by fofurasfelinas on Flickr.

This excellent photo is by fofurasfelinas (Flickr name) - Giane Portal. It is part of her black and white cat images. Please note that the photo is protected by copyright. Giane has given me permission to use it. Please respect copyright.

Black and white photos of cats allow us to look more at the form of the cat. The design and composition of the photograph becomes more noticeable because the distraction of colour is removed. A lot of people like black and white photography for that reason.

About 40 years ago black and white photography was the default or standard photography. Photographing in colour was something you made a conscious decision to do.

I love the simplicity of the image expressing the gentleness, delicacy and vulnerability of the kitten. It has the right sort of feel for a photograph of a kitten.

Cat Sleeping in Flower Pot

You know, cats like the smell of the earth and the grass under their feet. They like it natural. Common sense, I guess. That is why it is nice to let cats go outside provided it is done in a safe and controlled manner. I am against irresponsible cat caretaking but accept human frailties. Cats should be allowed to express natural drives as it promotes good cat health.

White cat sleeping on the earth in a flower pot - Photo by zeevveez (Flickr)

Love this photo published under a creative commons license incidentally. You can just see her (I think she is a she) yellow left eye. All white cats frequently have yellow eyes and sometimes odd colour eyes, the other being blue as the colour has been taken out of the eye by the same gene that causes the hair to be white.

White cats are white because of the presence of three different types of genotypes: albino (not in this case - albino cats are rare), dominant white gene ("W") and the piebald gene that usually leaves some areas in the original color leaving the cat a bicolor. See Cat Coats White.

In this instance I will guess it is the dominant white gene that causes this cat to be all white. She loves the earth  - my guess. This is probably because of its smell and because it is cool. Sometimes we forget that cats are permanently clothed in a thick woolly overcoat! Cats with triple coats or double coats have a dense layer of downy hair under the guard hairs. These are like duvets!

My cat Binnie likes to sleep outside in the shade where she can catch a bit of a breeze to cool her.

British Shorthair Video

You can also see this British Shorthair video on the main page on this breed. This is a video with a difference. It is me talking. Uhmmm...not sure about that? Well I don't do it out of vanity believe me. It is just that our master, Messrs Google and co. like Flickr at the moment so stuff on Flickr including videos about the British Shorthair cat get noticed more easily. This then helps my main site to get noticed too.

The British Shorthair is one of my favorites because well....I am British..simplezz.  I am loyal to this cat. But it is not actually a British cat any more. That is what I say based on what I read about this cat.

If this cat breed was a refinement of the humble British moggie, mixed breed cat, then it would be a British cat. But if it has been made up out of Persian cats and Chartreux cats which appears to be the case, how can it be truly British?

Love the cat, still. Quiet voice. Stocky body. Crisp dense coat. Loyal and unassuming. Great cat companion. Get one.