J.D. Powe is a technology entrepreneur, scholar, and passionate collector of natural history and antique taxidermy. A graduate of Harvard University, Powe has cultivated one of the world's most extensive private collections of unique and historically important specimens, with a focus on the Victorian era's complex relationship with animal preservation.
His collection spans a wide range of genres, including the renowned anthropomorphic taxidermy popularized by masters like Walter Potter, as well as historically significant extinct species. Powe has lent his specimens to support educational and public exhibits, including programs at the Morbid Anatomy Museum and the Adirondack Experience. Best Friends Forever is his first book dedicated to the captivating, sometimes disturbing, art of antique pet taxidermy, showcasing his deep knowledge of its history and cultural significance.
Zach Ishmael is an acclaimed photographer known for his stylized, high-contrast portraiture and his ability to capture the unique character and mood of his subjects.
For Best Friends Forever, Ishmael used his artistic eye to transform the static, preserved dogs into compelling, lifelike portraits. His evocative photography emphasizes the unsettling beauty and historical context of the Victorian taxidermy, giving a fresh, contemporary vision to this niche, antique art form. His work for this book captures both the meticulous craft of the taxidermists and the enduring, if strange, legacy of human devotion to their canine companions.