Some folks have asked how I came to be interested in birds and nature given that I live in an urban setting and my professional background is in labor studies, public health, and things like medical malpractice claims.
But it was not always like this. Having grown up in farm country, I was mostly outdoors in fields and woods. The nearest paved road from our house was about a half mile away. So I guess you could say that the camera gives me an incentive to go back out into the fields and woods.
Still, there is another reason, connected to my professional work. As well-publicized by Al Gore and many scientists, the natural environment is powerfully driven by geological and climatic influences. However, it also driven by us, as I discuss on a separate page in this blog. At first our environmental impact was slight; however, over the course of the twentieth century our impact grew exponentially. Though our effects are not as influential as geology and climate, the data show that our influence on climate is contributing to the warming of the planet.
So as I photograph the birds and landscapes, I’m providing a sociological glimpse into what humanity is doing, and dare I say, having a lot of fun doing it.
Stephen Fielding Images 