Wild Bird Photography

by Tim Gallagher

Sm Quarto, , PP.138,

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Best known for being one of the rediscoverers of the ivory-billed woodpecker (which was believed to be extinct since the 1940s) and writing THE GRAIL BIRD, author Tim Gallagher has another passion that has driven him since childhood -- the ancient sport of falconry. Gallagher's most recent adventure -- detailed in his new book, FALCON FEVER -- was to follow in the footsteps of 13th-century Emperor Frederick II -- a scientist, architect, poet, musician, and all-around Renaissance man 200 years before the births of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Frederick was also the greatest falconer who ever lived. His talks are illustrated with photographs of Frederick's spectacular castles and hunting areas, stunning hand-painted illustrations from his illuminated manuscript on falconry, and pictures of modern falconers hunting in the same style as Frederick II."

Reviews

[ALX · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gallagher's discussion of taking pictures of birds is highly enjoyable and never boring or tedious. It is quick read with many very beautiful photos. Even though the book was written in 1994 and he talks exclusively of using 35mm slide film, there are still a ton of useful tips for taking good photos and trying to sell those photos. There are instructions and drawings for building blinds to hide in while photographing, he discusses all the equipment one may need, when and where to find birds, how to position and conduct oneself while stalking birds in order to get the best photos and not stress the birds, and tons of other only-gained-by-experience type information about photographing in the field. Gallagher is good at writing about this stuff in an interesting and personal, sometimes even humorous, way.