Book review: Portfolio 1 by Rafael Armada
If you’re reading this review, then chances are you love birds. If that’s the case, then you will be equally enamoured with Rafael Armada’s stunning Portfolio 1.
The book forms something of a love letter to the avian world, demonstrating its beauty in emphatic style with light, open and honest text introducing sections and captioning the imagery. Details of the species shown, their habitats and conservation are covered, though in a manner that wouldn’t put off a casual reader. Recollections of time spent in the field will feel familiar to birders, with insight into the challenges and opportunities for photography adding welcome depth.
Undoubtedly though, the photographs are the stars here. There’s no other way to put it: the array of imagery is simply dazzling. From quails to warblers and pittas to petrels, there’s nary a feather that’s not pin-sharp and perfectly exposed. Any photographer’s eye will be caught by the compositional framing and perfect backgrounds, setting off the subjects magnificently.
There are artsy captures that may not be to everyone’s taste. For example, blurred albatrosses feeding in a frenzy or abstracted penguins recognisable only by the hues of their plumage are not the type of photos I would take. Art is subjective after all, and these creative takes do not devalue the more classic ‘portraits’. Indeed, some – such as a full-spread view of a King Penguin’s feather detail – wouldn’t look out of place in a large-scale format on a gallery wall.
But the shots that draw this amateur photographer’s attention and marvel the most are those from within forests. Knowing how little light can penetrate these dense, thickly vegetated locations and how foliage can creep mysteriously in front of the shutter without the observer noticing make these bright, crisp photos appear extraordinary. Not to mention the fact that the birds found within forests are often shy, easily flushed and supremely fast-moving.
Flight shots are equally mesmerising, with a sequence of Red-footed Boobies hunting flying fish appearing in dreamlike quality. The sheer number of hours expended in the shooting sessions cannot be underestimated; neither can the talent and artistic flair of the photographer working in dynamic conditions.
The core message this book and its mesmerising illustrations deliver is of the ultimate beauty of the natural world that is being lost day by day, and that we must do something about it. A closing ‘Conservation Leaders’ section highlights organisations working to save nature and birds, including BirdLife International and one of our Partners in the US, the American Bird Conservancy. Also mentioned are other organisations we work with: IUCN, Re:wild, the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
We are immensely grateful to Rafael Armada and the publisher Lynx Nature Books for this mention. BirdLife is at the forefront of conservation work around the world to ensure the species and scenes depicted remain present for future generations to witness.
And for those moments when you can’t get out and see birds in the real world, this book is a magnificent and highly recommended collection of superb photos and incredible species.
Reviewed by John Fuller