Picture of the Month - Behind the Shot!
Congratulations to Vienna-based photographer Petra Rautenstrauch for winning our challenge this month - ‘Pets’- among some stiff competition. (People and animals, am I right?) Despite the serious look on the cat’s face, this photo is pure fun, with a hint of Magritte’s The Son of Man surrealism.
Me, as a cat with a hat, Vienna, 2021
We asked Petra to tell us the backstory of this self-portrait/animal photo:
‘I found this cat behind the window about two years ago in a house on my street. It was a lucky shot. I later found out that there are three cats living in this flat. On the same day I took the image with the hat, I also took pictures of another one of the cats, sitting in another window, with a mosquito net. She looked so scared and so beautiful at the same time; I was fascinated by her.
Since finding out there were three cats living there, I always walk by those windows to hopefully see them again - or even better - to make another funny shot with a reflection. But I had never found a cat sitting in the window again. Mostly the curtains are closed or the cats aren’t in the windows when I walk by - until last year. I passed the flat again with my young dog and found the red cat sitting behind the mosquito net, giving us the same beautiful, frightened look.
I still pass by this flat. You never know what tomorrow will bring.’
Congratulations, again, Petra! Sometimes we return to a place many times in the hope that it yields more treasures!
To see more of Petra’s work:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petra.rautenstrauch/
Website: www.rautenstrauch.at
