Woman turns feline fancy into a career
Star-Telegram staff writer
KELLER -- Marvin is mad.
Marvin is Fiona Green's cat -- and a ham, as felines go. He usually sits calmly through photo sessions with Green, who photographs cats and dogs in the studio of her home in Keller.
On this afternoon, Marvin has decided to be difficult. When Green picks him up, he tries to squirm out of her arms and briefly bares his fangs to show his displeasure.
But Green knows how to put animals at ease. She loosens her hold slightly on Marvin while still keeping him in her arms. She makes soft, comforting sounds to help the cat relax.
A moment later, Marvin is transformed. He stops squirming and faces obediently toward the newspaper photographer, who takes several frames and pronounces the shoot a success.
The brief episode demonstrates Green's skill with animals, especially cats.
Her devotion to feline photography is paying off.
Green has just had a book of cat photographs published -- Mewsings: Exploring the Feline Mystique. One of her photos has been published on the cover of the March issue of Cat Fancy magazine.
Finding photography
Green, 43, grew up with photography in Glasgow, Scotland. Her father, Tom Green, worked as an engineer during the day and took photos in his free time.
She discovered photography for herself during a class trip to France when she was in her early teens. She found that taking snapshots of friends and interesting places like the Eiffel Tower was fun and fulfilling.
She moved to Montreal in 1991 at the urging of her husband, Mirek Kunagl. Green studied commercial photography in Montreal. Her interest in cat photography began after the couple adopted two strays. She shot a calendar of cat photos for an animal group, and her career in cat photography began.
Green sees photography as an outlet for her artistic energies.
"Photography's great because at least it's some kind of a creative outlet. You can still do something that's verging on artistic," she said.
The couple have lived in Keller just over two years. Kunagl is involved in a joint venture between Rolls-Royce and American Airlines.
Catching the perfect shot
Green is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs about 100 pounds and loves to run. She finished third overall in the women's division of the Fort Worth Cowtown half-marathon Feb. 23.
That athleticism comes in handy on shoots.
"I have seen her sprint up stairs and jump off ledges to catch the perfect shot. Her Scottish accent and peculiar humor put the human and animal client at ease the moment they meet her," Danielle McDaniel, a Keller animal groomer, said in an e-mail. McDaniel worked with Green on several photo sessions.
Two cats owned by Linda Kelly of Dallas -- Abbie and Ginger -- are in Green's book.
Kelly and Green met through running. Kelly noticed a red mark on one of Green's legs and asked what had happened. Green said she'd been bitten by a pig she was photographing. That gave Kelly the idea of having Green photograph her cats.
"My mother temporarily thought I was a genius until I told her I didn't take the photos," Kelly said.
Green's next goal is to publish a book of dog photographs.
"I would certainly describe myself as fortunate. I am lucky to have a supportive husband who is always behind my various creative projects. I am lucky to have met such great people in Texas, and that I am able to do something that I really enjoy," she said in an e-mail.
Fiona Green
Age: 43
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Residence: Keller
Professional experience: Photographer specializing in animals
Education: Master's degree in French and German, Edinburgh University; diploma in European marketing and languages, Napier University, Edinburgh; diploma in commercial photography, Dawson College, Montreal
Family: Husband, Mirek Kunagl
Book signing
Green will have a book signing for Mewsings: Exploring the Feline Mystique from 4 to 6 p.m. April 26 at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers store at Southlake Town Square.
JOHN KIRSCH, 817-685-3805
