Living in a South Minneapolis house, we are very aware that not everyone has wall space for a print, but they might have room for a pillow to brighten a room or might want to share images with others using greeting cards. We wanted them to be accessible to a broad audience. Why did you decide to translate your images into note cards, pillows and textiles? I also find that with the long Minnesota winter, the joy of hearing bird song in spring brings hope and lightness to my spirit. Stacy gave me a Peterson Field Guide to North American birds that kept me busy during a weekend camping trip. What sparked your original interest in birds? I was inspired by illustrations in Peterson’s Field Guides and Audubon’s beautiful watercolors and set out to discover how to accomplish such a thing photographically.

I wondered what clear bright pictures on white would look like represented in photographic form. It began as a personal project in my backyard. Photography by Paul Nelson How did Wild Birds Flying begin?

Pis art birds flying