I’ve actually always been nervous around birds. That afternoon in Tuscany was the closest I’d ever gotten to a bird, apart from a pair of parakeets my family had when I was a kid. One was green and one was blue. My sister and I named the green one Harold, because our father drove a green car, and we called the blue one Anita because, well, her car was blue. That time Harold and Anita escaped their cage and began frantically flapping around the kitchen, I’m embarrassed to say I quickly found my way to the door and out into the backyard!
For some reason, Eddie gave me the nickname “Birdie” shortly after we first met in 1972. My favorite color in those days was yellow, so when it came time to give a press name to my first letterpress printed piece in Phil Hamilton’s graphic design class at the University of Wisconsin, I dubbed myself the “Yellow Bird Press.” With this now supposed connection to birds, at least yellow ones, I started to pay more attention to them – at a comfortable distance.
It wasn’t until years later, while living in Kansas City, when I heard about the Snow Geese that fly south to Missouri each winter to escape the harshness of their nesting grounds in the arctic tundra that I began to photograph birds with intention. Someone told me I could see a lot of Snow Geese at Loess Bluffs near Mound City, and it could be an interesting photo opportunity. So one Saturday morning I packed up my gear and hit the road.
I Was. Blown. Away.
I looked up to see tens of thousands of birds squawking and streaking across the sky, and the sound they made was sitting-near-a-speaker-at-a-Stones-concert- loud. The experience was stunning, magical, mystical, other-worldly, humbling and inspiring. It took me a while to even remember to get out my camera. I was in awe. On that chilly morning in northwest Missouri, my relationship with birds took a positive turn. At that point I started reading books about birds, asking questions about birds, thinking about birds, trying to draw birds, and discovering my own connection to birds.
A couple of years ago I decided to begin birding, so I attended a few free bird walks sponsored by the local Audubon Society (now called the Bird Alliance of Oregon, because of John Audubon’s history as an enslaver who opposed abolition and desecrated the graves of Native Americans). It's fun hanging out with birders. I'm always so impressed by their abilities to spot tiny birds hidden by branches in far off trees and to identify birds by their distant songs and calls. It's been a good way for me to learn, but I also love going off on my own. It’s become a favorite pastime, and, of course, I make photographs along the way.
The pictures I make don’t align much with typical wildlife photography. They’re in black and white rather than color, and they’re often blurred rather than tack sharp. While I absolutely love great bird images and follow quite a few renown wildlife photographers, I find I prefer making pictures that lean in a different direction… more towards dreams and memories and emotions.
I’m getting ready to have my first exhibit of bird photographs. It will take place June 1st and 2nd at the Northwest Marine Artworks Open Studios where my studio is located. I’d love to see my Portland friends there! The address is 2516 NW 29th Ave., and I’m in studio #23. For those of you who don’t live in Portland but would like to see what the show looks like, let me know and I’ll send you digital images. I’ve included a few of them here.
GRACKLE, California
SCRUB JAY, Mexico
EAGLE, Missouri
OSPREY, Oregon
CROW, Oregon
LESSER FINCH, Oregon
HUMMINGBIRD, Mexico
THREE FINCHES, Oregon
SAND HILL CRANE, Oregon
TWO GREAT EGRETS, Oregon
