Birds of North America: A Personal Selection

by Eliot Porter

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA A PERSONAL SELECTION Here is a book to savor and to return to again and again as a record of America's master photographer at work in capturing characteristic portraits of the continent's rich but elusive avifauna. Eliot Porter's work, as artist and writer, reveals the commitment of a man who recognizes the primary of wild lands and animals in our daily lives. His artistry transports us directly into the natural world and offers a special vision enabling us to see beyond familiar details to nature's intricate patterns and textures. In this elegant new work, the capstone of his art and the result of painstaking field work and photographic innovation, Eliot Porter penetrates the images of nature to identify the beauty and behavior of birds in flight or in repose. As always, his concern is for the perfectly composed portrait, never the quick impression. When Eliot Porter first photographed birds, the face of North America was largely nature's. In the intervening half century the land has become increasingly urbanized, and today many of our favorite birds are endangered. Mr. Porter's deep concern for birds and our remaining wild lands persuaded him to change careers - from medicine to photography. His warm and personal narrative records the adventurous life of America's contemporary Audubon and the special challenges and joys of hunting with a camera. Magnificently designed, this exquisitely - printed volume contains eighty pages of photographs including sixty-four pages in full-color.

Genres: Birds, Photography, Nature, Natural History

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1972

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My edition was published by Dutton in 1972.Ir is a handsome book with beautifully printed color photo reproductions.

Although this is considered a photography book there is substantial text by Porter. He was a remarkable man with several successful professional careers.

As a photographer myself I admired the photographs of nesting birds and the incredible effort and technique it took to achieve them. But they don't relate at all to the nature photography I do. I will not be keeping this book in my library since it does not offer technique or subject specialization that I can adapt for my own work.

I so admire the knowledge and persistence of dedicated birders. I frequently come across them while on my nature hikes and their ability to identify birds from their song and imperfect observation opportunities always impresses me! Plus they are all along with Porter are staunch conservationists.

[Rob]

Photos are gorgeous even now, and the text is interesting. Both also serve to illustrate how far the technology and ethics pertaining to wildlife photography have advanced since these images were captured. Porter cheerfully and proudly discusses his methods, which include accidentally frightening adult birds away from their nests, then warming the juvenile birds himself. When nests are in locations that preclude photography, Porter describes–with notes of pride–his approach of cutting off branches or treetops (occasionally killing or injuring birds in the process) and lowering them to a height "convenient to photography." He also notes his concern for the welfare of the animals in this process, but it is interesting to read about his practices and detect no trace of chagrin about modifying the environment in ways that today's wildlife photographers are taught to abhor.

[Marilynn Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for the photos..5 stars for the perseverence of the author/photographer who had his book rejected twice by the same publisher..first, in 1941, for being in black & white,saying that he could publish if photos were in colour... then, after the same concept was offered in color ,being told 'too expensive to print in color"..

[Hapzydeco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master photographer takes us into the natural world. A world many of us will only visit between the covers of this volume. A must for all Audubon wannabes.