© Christine Ward. Connection, 2023 

Christine Ward  

I love photographing birds because they bring me a sense of peace and fill me with wonder. Being out and encountering different kinds of birds grounds me and brings me into the present, instead of thinking about the past or the future. Just the here and now. It's also exciting because there are so many wonderful birds to discover. Even though I often come across many of the same species, each bird has its own personality, which I think is fun to observe. I also enjoy learning how different types of birds have their place within various ecosystems. Different species have their way of doing things, but I also notice the little quirks in individual birds, which makes it even more enjoyable. I think birding can be especially helpful for those struggling with mental health as well.   

For my image Connection [above], I didn't set out with a specific image in mind. I was going through some significant transitions in my life at the time and witnessing the connection between the two crows made me reflect on certain aspects of my own journey. While I loved observing them, the moment resonated deeply with me and reminded me of the important things in my life. Going out into nature is funny like this for me. Sometimes I go out just to relax, but I often end up with little reminders and lessons. I like to self-reflect a lot, so just being out there usually teaches me something. 

© Junji Takasago. Heavenly Flamingos, Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia, 2019 

Junji Takasago 

I photograph all kinds of animals, and birds are one of my favourite animals to capture. The way they soar through the vast sky, flying freely, it feels like I’m fulfilling my own desires. I also like seeing the way how males and females seem so loving to each other. They diligently build and tend to their nest. Also, birds have such vivid and beautiful colours and designs. I like friendly animals, but I also quite like the way birds always keep their distance.  

I have photographed so many different faces of nature, but sometimes there are rare moments when everything just miraculously come together, it’s like receiving a gift. This was one of those moments. The sky, the wind, the light, the birds, they all created a harmony in the moment. Salar de Uyuni is located high in the Andes, so I was fighting back altitude sickness throughout the shoot. There was no obstruction between the flamingos and I and they could see me from afar, so it was necessary for me to approach with utmost care so that they do not become wary as I slowly crept towards them. Flamingos do not like conflicts, even to feed. It is for that characteristic that they ended up in such an extreme environment. They have given up their comfort to others. But the world they finally arrived in – the edge of the world – was extremely beautiful. 

© Leila Jeffreys. 'Duke No. 1' Eastern Grass Owl, from the series Prey 

Leila Jeffreys 

The appeal of photographing birds is because of their extraordinary diversity of form and character. They are the only beings with feathers, capable of crossing oceans, their songs are striking, and their societies are complex. Each bird carries its own presence, and they live in the moment. I am fascinated by the question of consciousness and presence, and I feel that birds remind us how to reconnect with that state of being they embody so effortlessly. I sense that humans are suffering from an epidemic of overthinking, birds bring us back.  

The studio allows me to come into close proximity with birds in a way that feels like a shared space, where everything else falls away. It becomes a form of nonverbal communication, a special encounter between species. In that stillness I can focus on their individuality and their character and invite viewers to see them not as a background to our lives but as life-forces alongside us. 

© Robert Clark. Flamingo, 2015 

Robert Clark  

What is not the appeal? I tend to think of birds as magic. I grew up watching birds in flight in Western Kansas and marvel at flight and the internal intelligence for migration. Besides the fact that they are dinosaurs that didn’t die. The verity of birds, the sizes, shapes and colours make for an almost endless list of individuals to photograph. The evolutionary stories that have led to the variety of the differences is amazing, fascinating and a reminder of the power and elegance of evolutionary biology. 

© Kimberly Witham. Still Life with Goldfinch, Bleeding Heart and Tulip, 2011. From the series Wunderkramme 

Kimberly Witham 

On the most primary level, birds are incredibly beautiful.  As a lover of beauty, it is hard for me to look away.  On a secondary level, they are rich in symbolism. Historically, birds have represented freedom and a connection to the divine. Today, I believe they also symbolize the fragile state of the natural world.  At times, I begin with a clear vision of what I intend to create. More often, I work intuitively, responding to what I have on hand that day. Flowers and window-strike birds frequently appear in my photographs. Their ephemeral nature compels me to embrace chance as part of the process. In the end, I create small vignettes that exist only long enough to be photographed. 

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