Joel Meyerowitz got the idea for his book Wild Flowers when going through his archive, he noticed that he had dozens of photographs about flowers. Women carrying flowers, tables with floral centerpieces, gardens, people in gardens. He has encouraged photographers to look through their own photographs to see if they can find any recurring themes.
My “archive” is quite small so it’s easy for me go through my photographs. Though, I really didn’t need to do so to find a recurring motif in my work. I’ve submitted at least four photographs of birds for my class assignments in the past three weeks. I’ve never considered myself a bird person (it’s a well known fact that I am a cat lady). I don’t go birding. I don’t buy bird figurines or bird books or pictures of birds and yet I seem to like to photograph them. Perhaps I should take up birding. (My 20-something self is rolling her eyes so hard right now and getting ready to go day drink in an effort to make up for how lame her future self is turning out.)
The Birds, Chicago 2021
There’s corridor in the Loop where every single pigeon in the city of Chicago comes flying down at 5:00 pm. It’s like they know it’s quittin’ time and are heading to their little pigeon happy hour to squawk about how hard their day of pigeoning was.
Pigeon, Chicago 2021
I watched his guy strut around the platform while I was waiting for the train. He had such a confident little strut. His colors were so beautiful to me on what was a pretty gray and rainy day. The pigeons in Chicago are not afraid of humans so I was able to get pretty close to him to make a photograph before he strutted away.
Robin, Chicago 2021
I was working in my home office when I heard a bunch of scraping sounds on my deck and Gladys was chirping at the windows. I peeked outside and saw this distinguished gentlemen sitting on my deck railing. I was a bit surprised because I’ve never seen a bird on my deck and he was completely unfazed by the cat trying to get through the windows. He hung out long enough for me to make a few photographs and taunt the cat. Such arrogance!
Cardinal, Chicago 2020
During quarantine I would take walks around my neighborhood in the morning to stretch my legs and escape the prison my condo had become. I was surprised the first time I saw a cardinal darting about. I had only ever associated them with winter. I started taking my camera on my morning walks in hopes of getting a picture. Unlike the pigeons, they do not seem to like to pose for photographs. I followed this bird from tree to tree and house to house before he stayed still enough for me make a photograph.
