Neko and Kuma Together and Never

Our kitty Neko relaxes before a photo prepared by a neighbor of our lost love. Kuma disappeared Jan. 15, 2012. Fifteen days later city workers found his collar in a canyon; presumably a coyote snatched our Maine Coon.

Neko joined our home from the animal shelter a few months later. Kuma is Japanese for bear and Neko is, simply, cat.

In shooting and editing this portrait I strongly considered light as cast by a floor lamp and decided to leave Neko’s face darker. I like the more three-dimensional quality given and brightness cast on Kuma’s photo, which is intentionally blurred.