"Percy"

Svenedin, another shot that pushes me out of normal preferences. Subject-wise, I much prefer dogs, but this seems strongest of the posts. 'A rather expressive moment w/ killer execution makes it stronger than I think cat shots are. Very nicelydone.

Thanks Hiho. I very rarely used fibre paper. It was just such a hassle with the washing and trying to get it to dry flat. I was obviously doing something right because this photo looks like it was printed yesterday. He was a wonderful cat. We got him from some friends who were going to emigrate to the US. In the end they didn't go and 5 years later asked for the cat back! He ignored them completely and we said sorry but we are not giving him back. When I was studying for my A-levels at the dining room table he would sleep on my papers on top of the table. It's funny you say you prefer dogs; Percy thought he was a dog in many ways. He stood up to the GSDs and he got to sleep on my bed whilst the GSD slept on the floor.

I am not sure whether I toned this print, I did tone quite a few back then. I found RC paper didn't tone very well so that is why I occasionally used fibre paper. This print has very rich blacks like the mirror polish of a Guardsman's boot. I only had a darkroom for about 3 years and then no printing for 23 years but I'm back doing it again now. It is photos like this that remind me that I am capable of pleasing photos even if I have to learn all over again. I am still not entirely convinced by this new-fangled multigrade paper. I only ever had grade 2 or 3 paper and it didn't seem to be a limitation. Sometimes one can have too many options and it just overcomplicates things.....

This image kicked off my sideline of taking pet photos to make a few extra quid whilst I was at university. It didn't make sense for me to try to get a job flipping burgers or pulling pints when I could make far more money photographing cats and dogs. Of course my career got in the way of all of that and I'm an absolutely hopeless businessman.

'Big smile, Svenedin. 'Not hopeless. Your images betray a rather enthusiastic beating heart. Zombiehood will just have to wait. There's film to expose!

Hehe. Indeed there is film to expose. Not my beloved Agfapan sadly but there's still film. People harp on about these things and what's gone is gone but it was amazing film.