As easy as it would be to photoshop the word “CRUELTY” to this photograph of a card catalog drawer, I actually found it like this. I was on an editorial assignment to photograph the Multnomah County Central Library in Downtown Portland. I was wandering around trying to find cool “library” details to compliment the hero shots of the article. I liked the look of this old card catalog and just stumbled into seeing the words “CRUELTY” right there.

I just had to take it, but I don’t think I submitted it to the editor. This one was for me.

I feel like I could write a fun, if dark, short story about the Drawer of Cruelty. This would definitely be on the cover.