Cats and photos

Tom1956 · Jun 11, 2014

Do not subject these old photos to water, no matter what the miracle ingredient is. The whole photography-and-chemical process is alchemy, wizardry, and research; all in one. It worked the first time, don't press your luck. They don't smell like cat urine because cat urine is the cause you speculate on. Only an idiot would plop them in a tray of water now. In another hundred years, someone will say they smell like they were in an old person's house, or they smell like a box of 70's record albums.

fotch · Jun 11, 2014

Info from Kodak & Fuji:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/cis145/cis145.shtml

http://www.fujifilm.ca/products/film_photography/photo-cleaning-tips/

Tom1956 · Jun 11, 2014

Fotch--is that your website?

fotch · Jun 11, 2014

Tom1956 said:
Fotch--is that your website?

Which web site?

Rick A · Jun 11, 2014

I would try a two bath approach. First bath in water and baking soda, followed by a rinse in plain water.

Tom1956 · Jun 11, 2014

fotch said:
Which web site?

Th camera35 thing below your post. Is that you?

Mainecoonmaniac · Jun 11, 2014

HowardDvorin said:
There exist a deodorizer people use toclean urine oder out of carpets. It is a liquid
mixed with water.

They're enzymatic cleaners. One of them is Nature's Miracle.
http://www.natures-miracle.com/

I don't know how this will effect photographs. I know about the stuff from owning a male Red Tabby, Golden Boy. He was a sprayer.

NedL · Jun 11, 2014

Tom1956 said:
Th camera35 thing below your post. Is that you?

If it is, that's a great photo!

removed account4 · Jun 11, 2014

fotch said:
I would avoid the sunlight. A short wash & proper drying should do it. Very similar to the original procedure.

if they are FIXED why should one avoid sunlight ?

DREW WILEY · Jun 11, 2014

I'm going to have to literally rip the carpeting, tack strips, and even some drywall out of my old studio area due to what a cat did. Even the
enzyme cleaners don't do a good job when cats start really showing off. This was an old porch cat who was getting so feeble we had to take
him inside; but he still did his thing before he passed away. Our two regular house cats are siblings from the same litter, so don't contest each other by marking territory. There is an expensive product called Odor Medic I'd like to try. Anyone have experience with that?

fotch · Jun 12, 2014

Tom1956 said:
Th camera35 thing below your post. Is that you?

Yeah.

fotch · Jun 12, 2014

NedL said:
If it is, that's a great photo!

Well, I agree its a photo, great might be a stretch.

fotch · Jun 12, 2014

jnanian said:
if they are FIXED why should one avoid sunlight ?

The mfg web sites stated that, I assume because of UV fading?

Fuji site
"Once cleaning is finished, rinse in still (non-running), clean, cool water, and leave to dry in the shade or in a dark place where dust will not settle on the photo. It is fine to spread photos out on newspaper (image side up) or hang them to dry using clothes pins. Rapid drying using hair dryers or other hot air or heating devices is not recommended as the heat may cause the photo print to curl up."

removed account4 · Jun 12, 2014

thanks fotch !
i had no idea ... and
just new the sun ( uv ) kills smells
and figured if left in the sun for a short time
it would do what the wash couldn't, if it didn't ..

now i know it won't and... don't.

mhcfires · Jun 15, 2014

Truzi · Jun 19, 2014

Thanx for all the advice. I'll probably wait until I get setup to print, and experiment on a few before deciding to wash the old prints.

They have other, older, pictures airing out in the garage as well (I just learned this). They are larger ones that may have even been hand-colored (I've not seen them yet). The good thing for these is they are framed.

I suggested that maybe the framing material is holding the smell, and removing the photos may yield a less odorous surprise. If this works, they can always get new frames.

As for washing, I will not attempt anything with the older portraits - only the snapshots.

lxdude · Jun 19, 2014

I think that if the of the snapshots have gotten brittle, it would not be a good idea to wash those.

madgardener · Jun 20, 2014

Speaking of cats. How does one take a picture of a black cat? I happen to have two of them and no matter what I use, I cannot get the eyes and fur texture. All I get are black blobs with a head and ears. I really want to get a picture of them with their shiny fur and especially their eyes. Where is a good starting point to start bracketing?

polyglot · Jun 21, 2014

madgardener said:
Speaking of cats. How does one take a picture of a black cat? I happen to have two of them and no matter what I use, I cannot get the eyes and fur texture. All I get are black blobs with a head and ears. I really want to get a picture of them with their shiny fur and especially their eyes. Where is a good starting point to start bracketing?

Have a google for dark-field lighting, it will solve your black-cat problem. The basic approach is that you light your subject diagonally from behind, and have a dark background behind it. That will give you specular highlights (fur gloss). Then get a bit of light into the eyes from a front/side softbox.

Truzi · Jun 21, 2014

Thanx for the lighting idea. Our dog is black, with some "chocolate" in the right light. However, the pictures I've taken are similar to what madgardener describes. Most of those pictures are just me testing cameras, but the lack of detail has delayed my taking the time for a proper photo of her.

madgardener · Jun 21, 2014

Thank you. I appreciate the tips.

Cats and photos

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