Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 1, 2023 by Crystal Uys
“Cats make their own decisions, follow their own instincts. French cats are probably the most independent and enigmatic of them all.” This perfect quote from The French Cat sets the scene for a collection of beautiful cat photographs in a beautiful setting. Award winning photographer Rachael Hale says this assignment was like a love affair for her. Having previously photographed animals in a studio setting, this project allowed her to work with them in their own environment, using natural light.
Born in New Zealand, she moved to France with her new husband in 2009. France intensified Hale’s creativity. “Every corner I turn…makes my mind and eyes explode with inspiration.” And then there were the cats. “The…wonderful thing about French cats is that they occupy one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Artists through the ages have relished France for its old-world villages, rustic charm, and most of all, for the luminous quality of its light.”
All of this is reflected in the exquisite photographs in this book. Whether they are village cats, city cats, cats in a library or cats in a castle, Hale captures each individual cat’s essence with her camera.
This is a book to be savored. Each image is a tribute to what makes us love cats so much, whether it is their playfulness or their mysterious ways. The occasional captions or quote add to the allure of the book, but the photos really stand on their own.
If you’re a cat lover, you will enjoy this book. If you’re a cat lover who also loves France, you will be in heaven.
Portrait photographer Rachael Hale is widely regarded as one of the world’s most popular photographers and her images have been published on calendars, posters, greeting cards, and stationery around the world. Rachael is the best-selling author 101 Cataclysms: For the Love of Cats.
I’m giving away one copy of this gorgeous coffee table book to one lucky winner. To enter the giveaway, tell me in a comment why you’d like to win this book. For an additional chance to win, tweet about this giveaway or share on Facebook, and post the link in a separate comment. This giveaway ends Friday, March 23. With apologies to my international readers, this giveaway is open only to readers in the United States.
This book was sent to me by the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
