Nowadays, the Internet is flooded with cute cat pics. Legendary cats such as Grumpy and I Can Haz Cheeseburger have left their mark on pop culture, but do you ever wonder how the cat pics trend began? It originated from a cat called Loco and a famous photographer named Walter Chandoha.
Chandoha’s amazing career spanned over 6 decades. The photographer has cats to thank for. Chandoha’s pictures inspired new cat photography generations that are thriving right now thanks to his efforts.
It all started one day in New York when he found a cat meowing in the snow. He took it home and fed it, naming him Loco. The kitten was pretty loco, chasing his tail all day long and doing all kinds of shenanigans. Chandoha found that funny, and snapped a few pics of his new cat.
One day, he liked a picture well enough to enter a weekly photo contest in the Brooklyn Eagle. He won, and at that point, he went as viral as he could in 1940. The rest, as they say, is history.
Decades later, he was the go-to guy for cat photography. Chandoha’s bright cat photos defined the genre, inspiring hundreds of artists later. The photographer himself says he owns all the success to how he lights subjects. He uses up to 6 lights for each pic, creating amazing cat pics.
Currently at 94 and still going at it, Chandoha is a true cat pic pioneer. We bow to this man and so should you. After all, he’s the reason you’re browsing cute cat pics right now.
