Oh wow dude. I never saw this on your photoblog. Creepy.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Steve: I didn't post this one on my blog, hence the morbid surprise. Thought I'd take a chance here and see how it was received.

This is completely different from the stuff you usually post Dave, as King would ask, what's the story?

Wow! Some of the highest scores I've seen on one of my Weekly Shot posts. This one was a complete gamble for me, and as mtmartini said, unlike anything I've ever photographed before.

Here's the story....

I went to Buffalo, NY with 3 other photographers to explore and photograph an abandoned orphanage. I am all about states of decay and the beauty that can be found within. I don't find beauty in death, however this particular find was very unique. We found this cat in a room in total darkness, surrounded by chairs in an almost ritualistic fashion. I have never seen an animal in this state of decay...almost mumified, contorted...very unatural looking, and in the middle of the floor. From my experience, when animals are ill or ready to die, they find a secluded hidden place curl up and pass on...not in a wide open area like this, with an almost screaming appearance. I was quite shaken by this discovery. What made it even more bizarre was the dicovery of child sized footprints outside in the hallway leading into the room. At first I thought they were painted on as a creepy hoax, but upon closer inspection, they appeared to be fused into the tiles of the floor...like a tar imprint baked into the ceramic. I was complelled to photograph the cat.

On a side note, I apologize to anyone who was offended or shocked by this image, and I thank you all for your honest critiques and ultimately the featuring of this picture. It was a risk I took, and I'm glad it was received as an honest attempt to meet the theme's criteria and not as a "shocker" shot.