5MINS with Jesus Segura & Napoleon the Cat
Jesus Segura is a Spanish photographer who featured his hilarious and adorable series of his cat, Napoleon in Issue 11. We caught up with Jesus and Napoleon to speak about how he creates these exciting images, as well as inspirations, concepts and what's next for little Napoleon.
Hello Jesus! (Never thought I’d be saying that!) Could you please introduce yourself?
I've been a cameraman since I finished my audiovisual studies. But three years ago, the TV channel I was working for, fired 900 workers and I lost my job. I spent 12 years working there.
How did you get into photography and what made you want to photograph your cat, Napoleon?
The economic crisis in Spain was very hard since 2010 and it's been difficult to find a decent job as many are underpaid and unstable. So I decided to do so something on my own. Photography had always been a great hobby to me since I was a teenager, but my TV job used to take all my time. Napoleon is very expressive, I've never seen a cat that shows so many faces and I thought it would be funny to take photos of him and take advantage of his expressiveness.
Some of your work featured in #PHOTOGRAPHY Mag #11, the space scenarios. How did you come up with this hilarious and adorable situation that Napoleon is in?
Well, I was tired of typical images of cats and kittens, being so nice, standing on a bed or a cushion or a flower pot... Too much sugar for me. I looked at Napoleon and I saw him being so curious, trying to climb furniture and not knowing how to go back to the floor. He was very little and unconscious. I started to think about the things that could happen if he wasn’t limited by the house and my imagination began to fly. Besides, I love absurd sense of humour.
What things inspire you to create these comical photographs?
Movies, advertising, random images on the internet, cartoons... Almost everything can inspire one of these images, as long as I can mix it with a little of funny and nonsense elements.
You use a lot of editing techniques to create the different scenarios for Napoleon, briefly, what processes do you go through to complete the image?
First of all, I make a list of all sorts of situations I'd like to see Napoleon involved in. Then I draw some sketches, trying to find out if they are real possibilities to create the silly things I have in my mind. Next step is making a list of the material I will need and building the stages. I use a green background in all the photos because it allows me a better integration between real elements of the pictures, digital elements and Napoleon himself. So he is always in a real and little stage in front of the camera. I use a different variety of led lights, because I don’t think using flashing lights with animals is a good idea. His safety and tranquility are the most important things to me. After shooting dozens and dozens of
photos, trying to capture his best performance, the post production of the image begins. I use photoshop to include in the original photo all the elements that I separately photographed before.
One piece of yours seems to be famously inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘Psycho’, is film something you take inspiration from? And do you think working on a film related piece with Napoleon is something you would consider?
You are right, I took the famous shower scene on Psycho as a reference in one of the photos. I wanted something funny and recognisable, and I swear to you that Napoleon's face is real and it hasn't been photoshopped. In fact, all his faces and reactions are always real. Working on a film related series of photos is a good idea, there are many iconic moments in many movies that could be used, but at this time I have no plans about it.
Have you focused on creating any other photographic projects without Napoleon?
When I started this project I thought of it as a 'one-time-project', but people asked me for more, so, who knows? ;-)
What does the future hold for Napoleon?
Well, I have to admit that we have no plans in the near future, because creating these images requires much time and dedication, and I am involved in other things these days. But anyone can find Napoleon on his Instagram account (@napoleon_t_cat). You have been very nice with us, so if we created something new, you would be the first to know it. I promise.
Thanks Jesus!
