Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: July 25, 2023 by Crystal Uys

The French Cat Rachel Hale

“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.

The French Cat excerpt

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.

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