Wild Refuge

Family can be hard to find in the midst of an identity shift. Sometimes we feel like imposters, sometimes we are welcomed into the herd anyway. This is a medium format photograph taken by the artist at a wildlife sanctuary. The person in costume is a scientist and professional caretaker of the birds. They uses a hand puppet to feed the cranes without exposing them to an excess of human interaction. As the photographer, I was also in costume so as not to disrupt the birds psychologically. This photo was originally published on Topic Stories in an articled titled "Raising Crane". During my transition, this photograph has taken on an entirely new context for me with regard to my identi...View all