As conservation biologists, we often try to get people thinking more about biodiversity, questioning how we interact with nature, and changing their attitudes or behaviors to try to help preserve biodiversity. We use scientific inquiry to do this, sometimes falling guilty of throwing too many facts and figures at people, and leaving the emotion out of it altogether.
Artists do exactly the same thing. They challenge people to see the world differently, to think outside of the box. They also show people the beauty in the world and provide important documentation of the way things are.
Artists do exactly the same thing. They challenge people to see the world differently, to think outside of the box. They also show people the beauty in the world and provide important documentation of the way things are.
Above is a shot of Richard and Cherry Kearton carrying out circus-esque maneuvers to get a photo of a bird nest in 1900. They were pioneers of early wildlife photography. The first wildlife photos appeared in National Geographic in 1906. (FYI- This month's national geographic is dedicated to photography in the magazine).
Before the age of computers, most scientists were artists. Their field books and lab manuals would have been covered in sketches to illustrate their observations and findings. Before photography, natural history and landscape drawings were the only way to show people what animals and places looked like. They still serve that purpose in some cases- historic bird paintings are also often the best way we can picture extinct species, because skins and taxidermy often doesn't do the trick.
Because I love birds. I love bird art. Artists can portray the attitudes and personalities of birds in ways that photographs often can't. They can capture the details and patterns that are hard to describe catch on film. Watch for more posts of bird and nature inspired art... and hopefully for some art-inspired science.
Before the age of computers, most scientists were artists. Their field books and lab manuals would have been covered in sketches to illustrate their observations and findings. Before photography, natural history and landscape drawings were the only way to show people what animals and places looked like. They still serve that purpose in some cases- historic bird paintings are also often the best way we can picture extinct species, because skins and taxidermy often doesn't do the trick.
Because I love birds. I love bird art. Artists can portray the attitudes and personalities of birds in ways that photographs often can't. They can capture the details and patterns that are hard to describe catch on film. Watch for more posts of bird and nature inspired art... and hopefully for some art-inspired science.
I'm a sucker for anything with birds on it, and am, worryingly becoming the avian equivalent of a crazy cat-lady. I'm doing my best to restrict myself from purchasing too many items of clothing or household goods with birds on them. As this skit from Portlandia shows though, everything better's with a bird on it- and current trends are making it harder and harder for me to avoid my avian-focused consumerism.