People become obsessed with birds for a variety of reasons. Died-in-the wool birders, with their sensible shoes, big binoculars and lists of birds seen on a particular day are the true heroes of the bird world. Those of a philosophical turn of mind may see our feathered friends as symbols of freedom. A musician may regard them as our most direct connection to nature. And a scientist might see them as vital links in the threatened network of the natural world. “For me” says Patrick De Gabriele “the appeal is basically aesthetic. Brilliant colour, the sheen of sunlight on feathers, a reflection in water, a gleam of light at night, these are the things that attract me as a photographer”.

Patrick’s birds, which will be exhibited in Kangaroo Valley in May, were shot in a range of locations, from tropical Cairns to regional NSW and Victoria, the South Coast and, not least, in his own backyard in Berry. He used a Canon Eos 5d Mark II camera with a Tamron 150-600mm lens, and admits that shooting a fast-moving bird with a lens that magnifies the photographer’s every little shake was never easy. “But it’s always worth the effort” says Patrick “to capture a moment of stillness”.

The exhibition will be a benefit for the Kangaroo Valley Remexio Partnership, an admirable group of local volunteers who have forged personal relationships with the Timor Leste region, and who have raised a staggering amount of money over the years. The group’s focus has always been on education, and their past efforts have resulted in the solar electrification of many houses, the provision of vehicles and, currently, building a second residence in Dili for tertiary students from rural areas. The KVRP group has an ongoing commitment to financially support the needs of students in these two houses. 

Their fund-raising in recent years has been hampered by the pandemic, and this exhibition and sale will go some way towards catching up. 

The show will consist of approximately 20 images, each professionally printed on fine-grained canvas by PhotoMart in Barrack Heights. Only one copy of each image, stretched and ready to hang, will be available for sale. 100% of the sale price will go directly to the East Timor group, with no deductions for commissions or costs.

The exhibition and sale will be held at the Prescott’s Feat of Clay gallery in Glenmurray Road on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May from 10am to 4pm daily.

David Prescott