Bored Panda got in touch with Akbar Mehrinezhad, the photographer behind the picture of the cat we’re featuring in today’s list. Based in Iran, Mehrinezhad specializes in street photography, but as you browse through his portfolio, you'll quickly notice a distinct preference for cat-themed shots.
We wanted to learn more about Akbar’s work, so our first question was about what inspired him to focus on the stray cats living on the streets. The photographer explained: “Every photographer chooses a subject according to his mood, in the past few years, due to my interest in animals, I focused on urban animals, especially cats.”
When asked about the specific challenges he faces while capturing his signature black-and-white cat portraits, the photographer shared: “There’s no problem in being affectionate. Either they enjoy posing for pictures, or they don’t and simply walk away.”
Akbar told us that his favorite location to meet and photograph his cat models is around Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran. According to Mehrinezhad, this place “is symbolic for Iranians,” which gives it even greater importance.
#6
Lastly, we asked what makes a photograph of a stray cat powerful and emotionally resonant. The Iranian photographer responded: “Cats are a part of people’s lives, almost like their children. I take pictures of people’s children.”
