One of my favorite books which I peruse so often that the pages are worn is The Birds of America, a collection of the exquisite paintings of John Audubon. The book consists of reproductions of all 435 of Audubon's bird paintings. I never tire of them. They inspired this collection of bird photographs. While Audubon's paintings show the birds interacting with and in their environment and are revealing of both the beauty and the predatory nature of it, these photographs by and large focus wholly on the bird removed from context. The aim is to highlight the physical beauty and the inner personality of these beautiful animals. What is it about birds that never ceases to peak the imagination for so many? When I watch them I see the intricate patterns created by their feathers and it makes me wonder how such perfection is created over and over again. I begin to wonder about flight and the shape of their wings and their bodies and I am compelled to hunt for information on the science of bird flight. I notice their individual personalities - how birds listen and see - a cock of the head, the intensity of their gaze as they take in their environment, and their distinctive songs and calls. I am struck when they turn and look directly at me - they know I'm there and our gazes lock, sometimes just long enough for me to record that stare with my camera. My curiosity kicks in with wondering what they are thinking of me and I take license with anthropomorphic musings. I become conscious of my every move and try to remain still and non-threatening. Art and science merge in the photograph - genetics, environment, vestigial traits and patterns are all there. Aesthetics and function, grace and form.
While subject matter varies in my photographic journey and portfolio of work, nature and wildlife often take center stage, in particular birds. In this project, by focusing on the portrait-like photos of each bird without other distractions, my goal is to bring to life the beauty and personality of each individual bird and freeze it in an image. My hope is that the curiosity of the viewer is awakened as they gaze at each image and that a sense of wonder prompts further exploration. We are surrounded by these animals everywhere we go - we hear them and see them and they often serve as our morning alarm clock. But so often they go unnoticed and unacknowledged as we go about our day lost in our own world. Most of all, the question begs to be asked: what do they teach us about ourselves and our place as humans in the family of things? They have the power make us stop and listen to their song. We connect in a locked gaze with the non-humans with whom we share time and space. The offer us the opportunity to stop and engage our imaginations every moment of every day. They call to us to remind us of what is always there but may have been forgotten. Mary Oliver says if perfectly in her poem ‘Wild Geese” ‘...the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting---- over and over announcing your place in the family of things.’