05/19/2026
My daughter, Kristen, absolutely loves cats, so this one is for her.
While out for an evening stroll, I came across this beautiful cat. At first, every step I took made her nervous, and she would quickly pull away. But I’ve always had a way with both kids and animals, and before long, she began to relax and let me get close. As I photographed her, she would occasionally dart off, only to return moments later as if she were saying, “A few more photos, please.” She didn’t have a collar, but it was hard to imagine she was a stray.
Lately, I’ve been watching photography videos by Rebecca Kowalsky. In one of them, she shared a simple but powerful piece of advice about street photography: don’t just take the shot and keep walking. Go back. Wait. Be patient.
When I first saw this cat, I snapped a couple of photos and continued on my way. Then Rebecca’s words came to mind. I turned around, went back, and ended up spending nearly 30 minutes photographing her. The photos themselves may be simple, but that small bit of wisdom transformed the moment into something truly memorable.
Rebecca, if you ever happen to read this, thank you.