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 How did I become so passionate about bird photography? I guess my passion started as a child while watching

my grand mother Lucienne feeding the birds in her garden. My mother on the other hand had a passion for ducks

and roosters and she had quite a collection of wood ducks , roosters and marbled eggs. I guess I inherited this

bird passion at a very young age without really knowing it for many years.

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I did study and graduate from University of Montreal and I was always interested in the Visual Arts. As for bird

photography It all started one day on a trip to Florida , as I was enjoying the view this great white egret landed

gracefully next to me on the terrace, so my first reaction was to go inside the house and to grab a' camera  and

there I took my very first bird picture , I was hooked! I love to catch them in different positions and surroundings

and I try to present them in a different way. The surroundings and composition are as important as the

subject itself , I do feel like I'm painting on canvas except I'm using my camera instead of a paintbrush.

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I also love to take picture of people in different surroundings (weddings, anniversaries etc. making sure they look

their most natural and their very best making them feel at ease with me first, then with the camera.

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As for animals, well I love them all! so to be surrounded by them in nature with my camera at hand, I try not to

disturb them and I find a way to catch their best behaviour and funny expressions. I did get feedback from

sending some picks to National Geographic and received good reviews by a few editors. 

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   This passion became a welcomed blessing and a very useful way for me to escape from work related stress

as an 911 operation manager for twelve  years, and as a Customer Service Manager for an Airline company

for three years until Covid hit the world and rendered me jobless like many in the Airline Industry. I will miss the action of the operations , my coworkers and the passengers . This situation on the other hand gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion more.

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Please enjoy!

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Chantal Amy Rutledge

watchthebirdyphotography1@gmail.com