Keiko Niimi
Keiko Niimi is a dog and cat photographer with numerous published works to her credit, including "Europe - A Kingdom for Canines" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), "Occupation: Dog & Cat Photographer - A Tokyo Story of My Cat and Me" (Nippon Camera), "Katekin - The Cat That Won't Listen" (Nihon Shuppansha). In fact, Niimi's "Cat Power - Love Is Free, Of Course" (Kodansha), published in May 2007, was her 50th book.
Understanding the strengths of film and digital imaging, Niimi uses both as she continues to create new works every day.
On the wonder of photography
I just think cats are so cute, I'm always trying to find ways to get closer to them.
When you get right up to them, their faces squarely fill the frame. It never fails to amaze me how beautiful their eyes are. You can see every detail, from the flow of fur on their face, to each individual whisker and eyelash. A cat's face is made up of elements that have markedly different textures.
At our house we have six cats, and as I photographed them one by one, I think I managed to capture the personality of each.
The hardest part was deciding which shot best reflected each one's personality. But the selection process is a way to enjoy those photos that shouldn't be overlooked.
Our cat, Tannin, the Heir Apparent. 8 years, 2 months
Our cat, Gluten, gifted to us by her stray mom. 5 years, 10 months
Our cat, Katekin, the rascal of the family. 6 years, 9 months
Our cat, Mischa, the Grand Patriarch. 11 years, 7 months
Our cat, Katekin, the family rascal. 6 years, 9 months (2)
Our cat, Adagio Pectin. 8 years, 2 months
Our Cat, The Secret Indulger, Marie Josephine. Age 10
Our Cat, The Secret Indulger, Marie Josephine. Age 10 (2)
* Click on the thumbnail to enlarge image.
