Birds are Beautiful - Shapes

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In the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds (2000), David Sibley wrote “Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature.” The “colors, shapes, actions” segment of this sentence inspired the organization of the photos to be included in my current photo book project. The images below (with a focus on the feet) are being considered for the Shape section of the book.

Tufted Puffin, St. Paul Island, Alaska, June 2014
Nikon D7100 with 300mm f/4 lens
1/2000 sec at f/4.5, ISO 1000

American Coot, Viera Wetlands (FL), Jan. 2013
Nikon D300S with 300mm f/2.8 lens and 1.7x teleconverter
1/200 sec at f/7.1, ISO 640

Purple Gallinule, Orlando Wetlands Park (FL), Feb. 2015
Nikon D4 with 500mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter
1/2000 sec at f/9, ISO 900

Snowy Egret, Opal Beach (FL), July, 2010
Nikon D300, 500mm f/4 lens + 1.7x teleconverter
1/1250 sec at f/6.7, ISO 400

Osprey, Lake Blue Cypress (FL), March 2012
Nikon D300S, 500mm f/4 lens
1/1600 sec at f/7.1, ISO 250

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit.