Introducing Michitsuna (aka. Tuna)!: A Quick Guide to Pet Portraits

 I got a kitten! I named him Michitsuna, after the son of the mother whose autobiography I research. Plus, there's a pun on "tuna," and I can never resist a good pun.

Michitsuna 道綱, the Surprisingly Symmetrical Tabby

Pet Portraits Tips:

• Focus on the eyes
• Creates empathy
• Shows us the pet's emotions, expressions, and personality
• Get down on their level
• Viewers get a sense of what it's like to live as that pet
• New perspective
• Easier to capture the eyes
• But be ready to get into weird or uncomfortable positions to get the shot
• Use toys/distractions wisely
• Using a toy to attract the pet's attention can help create a unique mood or expression
• Toys can help bring out the personality of a pet
• Toys can be used like props to create a sense of play
• Use a medium-length focus lens and wide aperture
• I used a 50mm prime to maintain the focus on the face
• A wide aperture (f/3.5 or wider) keeps the background out of focus, so focus stays on the pet
• Really try to keep focus on the eyes and face
• Be ready to constantly adjust focus as the pet moves around

Kit:

• Nikon D7200 camera body
• af-s Nikkor 50mm f/1.4g lens
• UV filter (protective)

Story

I'd been looking to get a kitten for a few months, checking animal shelters and Craigslist fairly regularly. Because I'm going to dote on this cat for the next 10-15 years, I knew I wanted a beautiful, smart, and quiet kitty. And I really was looking for a male kitten, since I'd had so much luck raising Dorian. Unfortunately, a lot of the animal shelters are closed for COVID-19, so my options were limited.

As I was getting weary of sketchy-looking ads on Craigslist, I saw a photo of a very special kitten. He was tiny and had the too-clever-for-his-own-good look in his eyes; I knew he was the one for me.

He haz da ribbin!

I emailed the person and got a response back saying the kitten (temporarily named Tony) was still available and that I could meet him. I asked a few questions about his health, and we arranged to meet the following day. When we met, the previous owners told me a few things about Tony's past, namely that he was found all alone on the street. It was unclear if he had simply lost his mother or if he had been abandoned. In any case, the previous owners did a fantastic job of bringing him back to health and keeping him safe while they had him. And more than anything, they wanted Tony to go to a good, loving home.

I was immediately struck by how curious and playful the kitten (immediately renamed Michitsuna/Tuna) was. He enjoyed being held as much as he enjoyed chasing shadows and toys. He had a wonderful disposition: quiet yet adventurous.

Taking a break from the zoomies

After I brought Michitsuna home, I gave him some soft food to help acclimate him to his new environment. I was worried that he would be frightened or confused, but those worries proved baseless as he immediately began exploring my flat. I kept a close eye on him to make sure he didn't get into any weird hiding spots, but he seemed to like attention and company, so he never went far out of sight. He seemed to be adjusting very well.

It's been a few weeks since I've had him, and the only changes are that he's a bit more feisty (he's in his bite-everything phase). But that's to be expected of a kitten. He doesn't get into too much trouble, which is a nice surprise. I had been expecting the worst: hiding/getting stuck, pushing things off counter-tops, general cat bratty-ness. The worst Michitsuna does is try to eat sticky notes or the pages of my books as I read them. Of course, that's not a good thing, but it's easier to defend my pages than it is to pick up stuff thrown from the table.