Meet My Muse

Sometimes the photograph you create has nothing to do with the one you planned.

I had gone to a Magic Valley Camera Club meeting intending to photograph the sunflowers on the CSI campus along the way. I tried, but I just wasn’t feeling it that evening. I decided not to force it and headed home without anything I was excited about.

When I got home, Jorge was interested in my camera. Instead of putting everything away, I started photographing him. Within about 30 minutes, I had created this image.

The close crop, his bright eyes, and the detail in his black fur came together quickly. Converting the photograph to black and white made his eyes and expression even more prominent.

The next day, I ordered my prints for the Twin Falls County Fair and decided to include Meet My Muse as a 16 × 24-inch print. I entered it in the professional photography division, where it received a second-place ribbon.

I had gone out that evening looking for a photograph among the sunflowers. Instead, I found what I needed at home with a rescued kitten who was apparently ready for his close-up. Application accepted.