Playing Favorites

Speaking of black-and-white photography:

No one has ever asked me what my favorite photo taken by me happens to be ... but if I had to choose, these 2 would be the ones.

Joesie & Jake

Mittens Toonces Simon (a.k.a. Mitty)

OK, OK, I know you cannot have 2 favorites; by virtue of calling something your “favorite,” you are indicating that THIS is the one that you like above all else.

I was reminded of these photos — both of them taken many years ago — over the past couple of days. First of all, I saw Jake (he is now 18; in the photo, he is approximately 4 months old!) 2 days ago when I was on my way to a tennis match. Last night, that darn cat was snuggled right next to me, trying to take advantage of an excess body heat I might have been willing to share. And then today, at the nursing home, I had a wonderful chat with Joe Anne.

Perhaps the photos are my favorites because the people — well, OK, technically, one of them is a cat! — are some of my favorites.

“Joesie & Jake” was taken at a freshman basketball game during the 1987-88 season. Jake’s cousin, Matt, was playing that night, and I had not officially met Jake or his parents until I went up into the stands to say hi to Joe Anne. I had a couple of frames remaining on the roll of film in my Minolta X-370, and this is one of the shots I came up with.

I shot the cat (eek!) one day back in 1989 or ’90 whilst she was in the midst of cleaning. Since then, most of my pictures of her have been when she is either sleeping or rolling on the floor or cleaning; aside from eating, those activities are pretty much all she does.

: )