This Oriental Shorthair is posing like a super model.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Persian in a cowboy hat talking to its brush
There is a lot of humor at the shows, especially the ones Team Temple Parlor go to. There are a few cat showers that are very competitive on the East coast which was a new experience for me. One of them yelled at me at the Raleigh show and then body slammed me at the New Jersey show. I had to laugh, she probably thought she could knock me down easily because she was twice my size and I was wearing high heeled shoes and a dress. But she underestimated me. I didn't loose my balance, stride, or humor.
Proud Maine Coon Owner
She was always smiling and was happy to be showing her Maine Coon. Proud mama! I encountered this Maine Coon and his owner at both the Raleigh and the New Jersey shows. It was great to meet the east coast TICA community.
Analytical judging style
A judge in Raleigh explains to the audience the breed standards and how this Ragdoll meets them. I have learned a lot from the judges that educate their audiences.
Spiritual judging style
In Raleigh this judge seemed to be in an ecstatic state when she judged Aphrodite.
Meeting people and cats from all over the world
Here is the gorgeous Abyssinian breeder from Mexico at the Raleigh show. She has her maid take care of her cats when she travels to shows around the world.
Delta Breeze lounging at ring
Renata's Persian Delta Breeze is in the fifth spot internationally in the purebred kitten class.
Rene
This is a judge from the Raleigh show who also benched with us. She has her hair died partially pink for a friend of hers that has breast cancer.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bench Neighbors
Best of the Best at Raleigh! This cat was rescued from a crack house by this couple and lovingly brought back to health and not only shows but was one of the top winners at the Raleigh show. This is just one of the many heartwarming stories you hear from people who show in the pet division. One of my favorites activities at a cat show is hanging out with my bench neighbors. I call them "my comrades in the trenches", other times I call them "my neighbors". These are two of "my neighbors" at the Raleigh show. They not only had 9 cats they were showing, some of them were white and had long hair. For any cat person in the know, this is a sign of someone who takes grooming seriously and possibly has OCD. One of the things that impressed me about this lovely couple was that they were also groomed impeccably every day. I decided that they would be my grooming guru's and studied them. My makeup and hair improved each day from my studies with them. I found out later that he is also a TICA judge.
How to raise a show cat
Show cats get early training. They practice standing in place, being handled in the way judges do, along with getting socialized by going out often to galleries, workplaces, and other public events. They get to eat raw food diets made specially for them, go to high end medical specialists, travel the world, and learn how to handle celebrity. They love it!
The TICA Hollywood Lights
Beyonce under the TICA show lights in Portland. I photographed her on my grooming table.
Never get in the way of a girl and her bling!
Blossom gets her show bling in Puyallup WA and takes it very, very seriously.
It's about the love for many of us
This is one of of our bench neighbors from the Puyallup show. We were really lucky to get such a fine selection of ladies to bench with. I had met her at the Richland Canada show and it was great to see her again.
The Exotic's
Four Exotic Shorthair kittens waiting to be judged in Puyallup. From the left is Queenie, her brother Alex, Blossom, and Beauregard who is Queenie and Alex's cousin. They all won ribbons at the show.
On the way back from the rings
I enjoy watching people carry their cats to and from the rings. Everyone has their own technique and style. Some carry two fisted, some hold the cats outstretched, elegantly long, others carry them like newborn babies cuddled safely in their arms. I tried to create a signature style for how I carried Alex to the ring. So I carried him in pinky the basket, because he likes it so much. His hair does get disheveled though.
Temple Parlor's Alexander the Great
Here is my boy Alex in Puyallup being judged lovingly by Pamela Barrett. Alex is Queenie's brother and is a fine, fine young man, and occasionally wins his sister Queenie.
Pamela Barrett and her Team at the Portland Show 2009
Who would any of us be without the help and support of others? This is Pamela Barrett and her team of supporters who put on the Portland TICA show in 2009.
Not all cats want to show
Coco Channel made it very clear on the grooming table that she was not fond of showing. After a few rings we put her back in her cage and ended her career. She is now a non professional cat seeking joy and enlightenment.
Some cats have mustaches
This Oriental Shorthair has a mustache and makes his person wear purple because it shows off his green eyes.
About Bengals, CFA, and TICA
CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) does not except Bengals as a breed. TICA (The International Cat Association) does. Bengals are the most popular breed of cat in the world.
This is a Bengal from Majestic Bay Bengals that I photographed at the Portland show.
The Temple Parlor International Cat Association
We at Team Temple Parlor entertain ourselves in many ways. One was to invent our own cat association called TTICA (The Temple Parlor Cat Association). In our association color matters a lot, as does a sense of humor, and a spiritual path. We are praying that Jesus will be a judge for our cats. He can make water out of wine and I am fond of wine. As I have discovered many other cat show folks are fond of wine too.
This Bengal is from Kanpur Bengals.
The Beautiful Beyonce
I decided since cat show photographers sign their name on their photographs, I would do it for my cat blog photos to keep with the Tica theme. In the rest of the professional photography business, we use a copyright symbol and our name. But I think this looks better for these images.
The east end of my studio in Seattle
I work out of two studio's in Seattle. This is my studio on Capital Hill. A mile away is the studio at The Photographic Center Northwest where I am on the faculty and teach advanced lighting classes. I use the schools studio too. They both have their pluses. Alexander the Great is sitting by the left window (he is Queenie's brother) and Luna the Pomeranian is on the floor to the left.
Why are we always the last to leave?
Richmond Canada 2009. Team Temple Parlor has evolved a lot since our first team effort at the Tukwila Tica show where we were nicknamed by one clerk "The Zot Pack". Why is it that we are always the last ones to leave the show on the last day?
The Zot Pack
We have so much fun as a team working together at the shows. Especially the ones where we stay in the hotel and have a kitty/person sleep over together. From the left is David holding Aphrodite, Kitty holding Queenie, me, and Ben holding Alex in Richmond Canada.
Raleigh was a Show of the Heart
Hambone gets much love at the Best of the Best awards. The awards were honoring people and cats that had touched the lives of the Raleigh Tica world. Some of us had tears in our eyes during the awards ceremony. The Raleigh show was one of my favorite shows.
Learn how to pose for your winning portrait
This is one of our lovely bench neighbors and her Siberian after winning a ribbon standing with the judge. She told me when we were sitting at our benches that she did not like photographs of herself, so I had taught her how to pose for a portrait. We didn't know it would come in handy later that day. If you ever need help with posing for your portraits at ringside I can help.
Even more loving in Raleigh
Renata and her Persian kitten Delta Breeze. I met Renata the weekend before at the Raleigh Show. She came all the way from Germany. We spent a lot of time together at both shows since Queenie and Delta were kittens and were in many final rings together. What a delight it was to spend both weekends with her.
Judges have their own unique styles
Ed Manning is judging a Chartreux in New Jersey 2010.
I spend a lot of time watching and photographing how the different judges handle and relate to the cats. Some are like lovers, others like mothers. There are the clinicians, the magicians, and a bevy of other styles. I am trying to capture each of their style in photographs.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The hero journey
Anthony on the way to the rings in New Jersey! How proud he and his cats are as they stride to the rings to show.
You know that girls just have to have fun
The end of the New Jersey show on Sunday. Queenie, Kitty, and their bling. Queenie won Best of the Best Kitten in show, January 2010.
Temple Parlor's Queen Hatshepsut
As a professional photographer and instructor of advanced lighting classes I have been having fun at the Tica cat shows studying the types of professional photographs that are the standard in the cat show world. I am going to take photographs of Queenie in my studio using the styles of the most popular cat photographers, but until those get on my blog I am posting this one. I shot it on my living room couch.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Bo Peep by Andy Warhol
At the Portland show I set up a small photo studio on my gooming table and took free portraits of cats and kittens.
I am going to be in an art exhibition that is connected to the upcoming Andy Warhol exhibition at The Seattle Art Museum. I am considering showing my Andy Warhol style cat photographs. Bo Peep here is one I especially like.
I am going to be in an art exhibition that is connected to the upcoming Andy Warhol exhibition at The Seattle Art Museum. I am considering showing my Andy Warhol style cat photographs. Bo Peep here is one I especially like.
Phat Bottom Girl
Phyllis introduced me to two breeds, the Manx, and the Devon Rex. I loved them both immediately. This is Phat Bottom Girl, the first Manx I ever met.
Facehuggers Bo Peep Film Strip
Portland show Halloween 2009.
It was a pleasure benching next to Phyllis.
Beyonce and Beyond
Portland TICA cat show Halloween weekend. Thanks to the Kelloggs for their kindness to new exhibitors.
Litter Match Judging Vancouver BC
I learned quite a bit about different cat breed standards during the litter match in Vancouver BC.
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