Walter Chandoha’s cat models […] must be alert, graceful and beautiful

January 19, 2019 8:29 PM

In the internet age, we are all cat photographers. One study found that in Britain alone, more than 3.8 million photos and clips of cats are shared each day — twice the number of selfies shared (we love our cats more than we love ourselves) and more than twice the number of dog photos shared. Once upon a time, though, there was but One Cat Photographer to Rule Them All. His name was Walter Chandoha. (Hyperallergic)

By the time he died, on Jan. 11, Mr. Chandoha had taken some 90,000 cat photos, nearly all before cats had become viral darlings of social media. He was 98. (NYTimes) (Non-Times link, leaves out some adorable pics)

One of his best-known pictures, “The Mob,” was shot outside his studio. It depicts five determined-looking cats walking on his farm in Annandale, as if looking for trouble. “It was about time for dinner, and I called ‘Kitty, kitty, kitty,’ and all the cats came running,” he told CNN in 2016.

When they slowed down, he dropped to his stomach and captured their fleeting tough-cats-in-the-countryside moment.

posted by Johnny Wallflower (12 comments total)

That cat pack is so Sondheim, man *dramatic Westside Story esque finger snapping*
posted by Hermione Granger at 8:43 PM on January 19, 2019 [3 favorites]

some 90,000 cat photos does not in fact link to 90,000 cat photos. I demand a full refund.
posted by zamboni at 8:56 PM on January 19, 2019 [17 favorites]

Trying to make up for yesterday's post hmmm Johnny?
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:02 PM on January 19, 2019 [4 favorites]

My daughter insisted that one of these pics was included in Kittens, inspired by Kittens! but we were wrong. The Times article features a picture of three cats with their heads resting atop each other but the video is only of two kittens aligned vertically.

Chandoha did not take the Hang in there, baby cat photo but I present this link because it includes a story about Spiro Agnew (because of course it does because the 70s were a wonderful terrible time.)
posted by vespabelle at 9:15 PM on January 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
posted by a humble nudibranch at 9:20 PM on January 19, 2019

.
posted by lefty lucky cat at 9:26 PM on January 19, 2019

One study found that in Britain alone, more than 3.8 million photos and clips of cats are shared each day — twice the number of selfies shared (we love our cats more than we love ourselves)

Nah, it's just my cats are a lot better-looking than I am.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:19 PM on January 19, 2019 [7 favorites]

“The Mob” really needs a slo-mo explosion in the background.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:38 AM on January 20, 2019 [2 favorites]

.
posted by Cat_Examiner at 6:47 AM on January 20, 2019

Trying to make up for yesterday's post hmmm Johnny?

I regret nuthin.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:56 AM on January 20, 2019 [2 favorites]

Thank you, I love this post!
posted by Salamandrous at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2019

vespabelle, are you watching the new season of The Punisher? The Hang In There poster comes up in maybe episode 3, in a weird scene...
posted by supermedusa at 10:26 AM on January 20, 2019