Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

Our cats are ready to party! Maybe they’ll start dancing on the table tops, or swinging from the chandelier. Lets hope not! Christmas is pretty much here and we at twoguineapigs HQ wish you all the best for the season - eat well (not too much) - drink well (ditto!) and stay safe. Hope all your wishes come true.

Adopt before you shop.

Easter Bunnies and 2 Black Cats | cat photography

It's not the first year these boys have encountered Easter chocolate bunnies. When the two guinea pigs were still around (RIP), these boys were kittens themselves and learning well, not to be rodents. Fast forward 3 years, the Easter chocolate bunnies are still as new as anything to these cats. PF in particular, wasn't impressed he couldn't take a bite at the bunnies. (Frankly, I find it hard to eat the bunnies myself too!)

Christmas at twoguineapigs HQ

Happy Christmas and happy holidays from twoguineapigs HQ.

Its been a mad December (and last 3 months leading up to Christmas) and we are exhausted (Christmas orders to fulfill, lovely kikki-k Christmas cards to write and send, presents and hampers to deliver) - except for certain cats that - er - took a bit of a back seat when it came to working. Two were 'scheduled' in for our yearly Christmas photoshoot - only one stayed (cooperated). Who says working with cats with big personalities is easy.



This year, we decided to send lovely kikki-k Christmas cards and personalised every card's wordings.



Thank you all for your support and interest for twoguineapigs. Take care over the break and we’ll see you all in 2012! :)

Blackboard Jungle | cat photography

Today I decided to chalk up a post on facebook using my trusty blackboard. This little board I got from Typo and I love it. Very handy and it has a very handy delete function if you write a message you suddenly regret - called a duster!

You’d think photographing a blackboard, which just sits there, would be easy - but nothing happens at our place without the cats deciding its a good idea they should get involved one way or another. Both investigated the board and - erm - made their mark.

All cat “owners” out there (still not sure who “owns” who in these relationships) probably recognise subsequent events as recorded by this humble photographer.

Its not easy running a blog - especially a photographic blog which involves not only writing but also shooting. Add animals to the mix and it’s a labour of love.

This cat of mine | cat photographer

A quiet day here at twoguineapigs HQ.
PF, our unofficial mascot, celebrated the rainy peace and quiet by staring, first one way (my way *gulp*), and then another (out the window) - snooper.

With action packed pets like this there is always something to photograph. Maybe "Still life with cat" Parts 1 and 2?

New sleeping pose

PF has a new sleeping pose on the cushion across from my desk where I work.

Maybe he has a thing about seeing me upside down. He has his own way of seeing things. Maybe one day I'll teach him to make photographs.

Obsession

When we first moved into our apartment in Potts Point, the cats, especially PF, started to take an interest in the neighbouring apartments across from us.

I didn't think much of this as I thought he would outgrow it like Mr Big.

Almost 2 months have passed and still he's one nosy cat who is obsessed with the neighbours.

Still, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

V-day treats

Every now and then, I like to cook something new. I don’t admit to being a good cook. I promised the kids at home (yes, I have four-legged fur faces as children) their treats on Valentine’s Day, so I decided to bake a fish fillet for the cats and whip up some hay and greens for the guinea pig. The cats had tried this dish before — PF liked it and Mr Big didn’t seem to mind.

The guinea pig was easy. He would eat almost anything until recently - he seems to have lost his appetite lately. That’s for another post.

The cats, well, Mr Big didn’t like it this time. And PF didn’t hesitate to let me know how disappointed he was — he took off and had a go at the scratching post instead. Kids. Who said they are easy.

At least my friends remembered me and sent me emails and cards and even home baked ginger cookies. My partner and I exchanged cards and I got roses — you probably guessed it, my card’s on the left and his is on the right, yes that one with the strange looking Panda.

I hope you had a great V-Day.

The supposed fish fillet recipe that the cats weren't impressed with:

1 fish fillet (any fresh sort)

1 egg yoke

whole meal oats

Beat the egg yoke and sprinkle some salt.

Coat fish in yoke and cover it with oats.

Bake in oven for 10 to 15 min, turn once.

Cool before serving.

No impressed, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Taking it out, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Summer lounging

We have not been spared the Summer heat this year. Luckily we live near the water so we get the odd sea breeze or two.

The cats and Wiggley usually cope well in this heat. Though sometimes I wonder if they need a shave.

PF or aka Monkey, is known as the cat “with many faces”.

Lounging, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Season's Greetings

I was told a long time ago (and am still being reminded constantly) never work with children or animals.

Well, this year’s Christmas shoot has proven that the guinea pig is the pro! Wiggley is also the oldest amongst the remaining furballs we consider as kids in our household. (Ginger would have put the cats in their places). At least the cats didn’t mind wearing a Christmas collar for the shoot.

The Pro, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

2 more sleeps to Christmas!

Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year!

Thank you all for your constant support. Have a safe holiday.

Season's Greetings, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

In the meantime, here are some behind-the-scenes shots that I saved for this post that included my faithful staff assisting me with the shoot:

{behind-the-scenes}, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

{behind-the-scenes}, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

{behind-the-scenes}, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

The many faces

One of my two black cats has many faces — a pet photographer's delight. Well, his facial expressions are more obvious than the other's.

Face 3, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

This is PF. He's one cat I know who drools {A LOT}.

Face 2, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Face 1, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

And yawns excessively.

Anime kitten, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

The last frame reminded me of how you normally see Amine kittens being drawn — rounded head, rounded mouth wide open, ears to the back.



Technical specs:

1/100 | f/2.8 | ISO 250 | 8.0 fps to capture these in between moments

{Big} adventure on the deck

Last two weekends the weather was pleasantly cool (not chilly) and slightly overcast due to rain from the week before.

I didn’t get around to post this earlier because of the BHG event.

This is PF, stalked — hanging around on the front deck.

Now what, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

What, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

It's you again, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

One crazy cat

PF and Mr Big spend 80% of their time sleeping — I kid you not. Despite all the cat toys and such we invested in to get them active, they would rather lie in bed the whole day while the rest of us are busy working away.

Researchers say cats can sleep up to 20 hours, mostly during the day. Well, these black cats of ours sleep during the day and night.

But whenever there's a full moon, it's one crazy cat-house here.

PF especially sports that 'spaced-out' look — that big beadie eyes of his can send you off the moon!

Moonlike, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Picking on a stick, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Apart from his two white toes that I adore, I like how his coat shines in the sun. Who needs Brylcream!

Sun bathing, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Two white toes

Whenever I see PF's two white toes on his left back paw, it always makes me smile. Those white toes are distinctively his.

More of PF coming up!

Two white toes, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

The chair

PF is often spotted on the chair — he seems to have 'upgraded' from his pink beanbag.

Both cats got an extra fleece blanket each, for this Winter. PF has his on his chair.

But a certain other cat is now interested in that chair. This time, Mr Big had his chance.

Chair drama, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

I'm not sure if the chair, or Mr Big or PF is responsible for the complex situation.

It is a complicated threesome relationship.

Answer to Make-a-guess post

Maybe it was too hard to guess. For those who did try, well, the answer is PF.

I thought the bean bag silhouette gave it away if you read an earlier post on PF. He's one black cat that adores a pink camouflage bean bag.

[Kitty overload] PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

[Kitty overload] PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

[Kitty overload] PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

[Kitty overload] PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

These kitty paw pads used to be soft and smooth...

[Kitty overload] PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

Boy snuggle

It has been raining quite a lot lately in Sydney — almost non-stop heavy rainfall.

Apart from having to brave the rain to and from work (yes, I still work full time), I took the opportunity to sort through my archives and catch-up on cataloguing and posting.

Here's our two black cats, PF and Mr Big, sharing some love.

Boy snuggle, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

PF is the smaller cat with large beady eyes. He sometimes sports that sinister look. I dread to think what's on his mind.

(Boy snuggling is a pretty common sight for them. I haven't caught them fighting. I like to think they don't fight at all - peace on earth?)

PF

I forgot to post about my other cat, PF, no really, who could have forgotten about PF — he's the sweetest little critter unless he is in one of his mental ADHD modes. (Don't ask me how we got to call him PF — it's a long story for another day)

When his mental ADHD mode sets in, he can 'talk' for ages. Unfortunately, I don't know enough of the 'weow' language to understand him.

I reckon he complains a lot.

He complains during the day.

PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

And he complains during the night.

PF, originally uploaded by twoguineapigs pet photography.

PF isn't shy to remind me over and over.