United States
£ GBP
With its rugged Ozarks, rolling plains, big rivers, and wetlands, Missouri offers a diversity of habitats for native birds, and its location along a major migration route attracts many avian visitors. More than four hundred bird species call the state home, and birders from all over flock to Missouri to add to their list of bird sightings. "Missouri in Flight" is an invitation to Missourians to reacquaint themselves with their native birds. Wildlife biologist and photographer Mundy Hackett offers more than one hundred spectacular color images, along with his thoughts on the beauty of birds, the subtleties of their behavior, and all of the elements that make them the ultimate photographic subject. Along with interesting facts about the various birds of Missouri, he shares tips on how amateur shutterbugs can improve the overall quality of their photos. Whether considering a sudden, silent appearance of a barred owl or the migratory patterns of ruby-throated hummingbirds, Hackett shares moments that keep him heading into the wild to pursue his creative vision and, through his lens, interpreting the wonders of nature.
Birds may be a challenging subject, but, as these breathtaking images show, the time, energy, and frustration are more than worth it. And sometimes all it takes is going into your backyard with a camera, picking a spot to sit and watch, and waiting for the moments to materialize. Mingled with his amazing photos of coots, crows, kestrels, and more are Hackett's thoughts about choosing cameras, taking photos from cars, visualization, composing an appealing scene, using contrasting colors - a host of practical tips that can help birders and photographers better capture those elusive images. He even passes along suggestions on the most challenging of photos, those of birds in flight. "Missouri in Flight" is a testament to the skill of an artist and the beauty of his subjects. Through its examples and subtle instruction, the book can help readers record their own timeless moments and rediscover the beauty in the skies.
Mundy Hackett is a wildlife biologist in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at the University of Missouri - Columbia.
The beautiful images found in Missouri in Flight engender interest and wonder on the part of the observer, while also conveying the author's contagious excitement about the topic. - Oliver Schuchard, Professor Emeritus of Photography at the University of Missouri - Columbia "Mundy Hackett shares with the reader the learning process and evolution of bird watcher to bird photographer. He offers something to everyone: from just go outside and sit and watch to make a plan of when, how, where, who, and what in order to be in the right place at the right time, with the right equipment. Missouri in Flight leads us beyond camera and lens to teach us how patience and knowledge of bird behavior can create the opportunity to participate in some of nature's seldom-seen events." - Brad Jacobs, Ornithologist, Missouri Department of Conservation"
