Peek-a-who? by Tisha Clinkenbeard
In a playful moment in Powderly, Texas, the photographer captured her cat, Smokey, amidst a pile of freshly raked leaves. After covering him, she was delighted to find him engaging in a spontaneous game of peek-a-boo. Recognizing the charm of the scene, she quickly retrieved her camera to document the interaction. The resulting image is a testament to the beauty of candid, everyday moments, elevated by the cat's expressive curiosity and the soft, natural textures of the autumn foliage, making it a standout example of artistic animal photography.
Tisha Clinkenbeard
Based in Powderly, Texas, Tisha Clinkenbeard has cultivated a career defined by a lifelong passion for capturing the world's hidden details. Her work has been showcased in prestigious venues such as the Black Box Gallery in Portland and The Fine Arts Center of Hot Springs. Through her blog, Found Round & About, she shares her unique perspective on the beauty found in everyday life, a journey that has also earned her recognition in publications like Birds & Blooms.
Resonance Score Breakdown
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Expert Photography Reviews · 5
Hidden in Plain Sight
I spent twenty minutes this morning looking for my keys, only to find them sitting on the kitchen counter exactly where I had left them. It is funny how we can look right at something and still not see it.
Read the reflection →The Weight of Hiding
To be seen is a choice. We spend our lives building walls, pulling blankets over our heads, or burying ourselves in the debris of the seasons, hoping to find a quiet place where the world cannot reach us. There is a safety in the half-hidden.
Read the reflection →Reviews & Comments
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A Nikon Coolpix P90 and a pile of leaves. One suspects the cat, Smokey, was far more patient than the photographer here. It’s a charming snapshot, certainly, but it’s a transaction of convenience, not craft. I’ve spent weeks shivering in damp hides for a single frame; this was clearly captured between chores. It’s cute, I’ll grant you that, but it didn’t cost a thing. One doesn’t earn a photograph by simply reaching for the camera.
The ochre of these desiccated leaves, reminiscent of a Turner sunset caught in the decay of autumn, provides a rich, brittle foil for the cat’s slate-grey fur, a shade echoing the muted, dusty stillness of a Morandi still life. It’s a chromatic collision that feels surprisingly tender; I’ve found myself quite moved by how the cool, shadow-drenched eyes pierce through that warm, golden chaos, creating a harmony that’s as fleeting as it is profound.
The frame collapses under the weight of its own sentimentality. While the cat’s eyes provide a focal point, the surrounding foliage lacks the necessary spatial tension to anchor the composition. It’s a cluttered mess of texture without a clear fulcrum. I’ve grown weary of these candid snapshots masquerading as art. The geometry doesn’t hold. It’s merely noise disguised as a moment. The frame fails to organize the chaos, leaving the eye adrift in the leaves.
A pile of leaves. A single pair of eyes. It’s a study in restraint. The cat doesn’t demand the frame; he inhabits the gaps between the foliage. I’ve spent minutes watching those golden, serrated edges. They aren’t just debris. They’re the silence surrounding his curiosity. Nothing here is accidental. The empty corner is not empty. It’s a breath held in the Texas autumn. I find myself smiling, waiting for him to blink.
Of the thousands of pet portraits I’ve reviewed, most are forgettable kitsch. What separates this from the pack is the cat’s direct, unblinking gaze through the foliage. It’s a rare, honest connection. I’ll admit, it made me smile—a genuine rarity in this job. While the technical limitations of the P90 are evident, the composition captures a fleeting, singular curiosity that will still feel alive in thirty years. It’s a small, perfect victory for the candid.
You can see other photos at my blog: foundroundandabout.com! Hope the photo today made you smile and thank you to L&C for choosing it.