Artist Information:

Wu Hongli from Anji, Huzhou, is a street cat photographer. His online name on Weibo is “ε–΅ε‘œδΈεœ”, with over 2.7 million followers. He authorizes the 2024 cat-themed calendar “Four Seasons Cat”. After graduating from Shanghai Jiaotong University and working as a designer in an Internet company, he became enthusiastic about photography. His cat photography journey began in the winter of 2012 when he encountered a stray white cat near his company. In 2018, he decided to film cats full-time. In the past decade, he has been to places such as Beijing, Lhasa, and Shanghai, where he has been dedicated to capturing photos of ‘Chinese rural cats’, especially stray cats. His works not only showcase the charm of these cats, but also have an influence, just as a fan’s family changed their attitude towards cats after seeing his photos.

Use of art elements

  • Color: The left side features a warm and bold red tone in the background, creating a sharp contrast with the cat’s black and white fur, making the cat stand out. On the right, the soft pink on the flowers creates a gentle and harmonious background for the light colored cat, highlighting the tranquility and delicacy of the scene.
  • Lighting: On the left side, sunlight casts transparent shadows, adding depth and dimension to the image. It creates a dramatic effect and emphasizes the texture of cat fur and architectural details. On the right, diffused light provides soft and uniform illumination, enhancing calm and gentle emotions, highlighting details of flowers and cat fur.
  • Texture: The left image shows the smooth texture of cat fur and the gorgeous pattern texture of the base. The picture on the right features the soft and delicate texture of petals and the fragile and fluffy texture of cat fur.

Composition ideas

  • Framework: In these two images, the background elements (the red building on the left and the flower on the right) frame the cats and use them as the focus.
  • Balance: The cat is placed in the center, providing a sense of balance for the composition. The surrounding elements on both sides complement the cats, but do not overpower them, creating a harmonious visual layout.
  • Split composition: The split frame format allows for comparing two different environments and emotions while maintaining a coherent visual theme through the presence of cats.

Themes and concepts

  • Contrast and Harmony: These images contrast two different color palettes and lighting conditions (warm and dramatic on the left, soft and peaceful on the right), but both scenes achieve a sense of harmony between the cat and its environment.
  • The Beauty of Daily Life: By focusing on common animals such as cats in ordinary but beautiful environments, these images praise the simple beauty of daily life.

Camera technique and post-editing choice

  • Focus: A shallow depth of field may be used to keep the cat in clear focus while the background is slightly blurred, ensuring that the audience’s attention is still focused on the cat.
  • Exposure: Carefully adjust the exposure for each scene. On the left side, bright sunlight requires appropriate exposure to avoid overexposure of highlights and underexposure of shadows. On the right, diffused light can achieve a more uniform exposure.
  • Post editing: The color may have been enhanced, making the red on the left more vibrant and the pink on the right more delicate. Contrast and sharpness may also be adjusted to further emphasize the theme and its texture. …