Studio Portraits of the World's Most Extravagant and Endangered Species

A photographer from London is traveling the globe shooting studio portraits of unusual birds and showcasing their individual personalities. Most of his feathered subjects are endangered due to human activity.

Tim Flach is an animal photographer who has an interest in, in his own words, “the way humans shape animals and shape their meaning while exploring the role of imagery in fostering an emotional connection.”

Many of the species that find themselves one of Flach’s subjects have seen a huge reduction in numbers due to the likes of habitat loss and climate change.

Interestingly, he photographs the birds in the studio against a plain backdrop. The birds range from the Silver-Laced Polish, which has upward-curling frizzle feathers, to the Gouldian finch from Australia that is red, blue, green, yellow, and purple in color. Some have a very human feel to them, with their feathers emulating a hair-do or items of clothing.

Flach says he enjoy bringing to life the complexity of these animals. And he doesn’t just photograph birds; he’s had several books published, which have focused on the likes of horses and dogs.

Many of the images here are taken from Flach’s photo book Endangered. See more of his work at his website and Instagram.

All images Tim Flach, used with permission.