Human Ecology
1984-1985
Human Ecology was my graduate thesis at Rochester Institute of Technology. In my thesis proposal, I stated my objective was to “…create a photographic narrative about the interrelationship between humans and animals by exploring the diverse ways humans simulate, fabricate and include the animal world into their culture.”
Early in the project I photographed at the Buffalo Zoo, and in the thesis report I wrote, “One Thursday the zoo was nearly empty of visitors as I made the rounds to the animal enclaves. I ended up at the Feline Hall, which was located in an old yellow brick building. The hall was long and narrow with the cages of the great cats of the world on one side and a row of tall heavily framed windows on the other. Dimly lit, it was devoid of humans save for me, and a middle-aged man wearing a deerstalker’s hat. He stood midway down the corridor with his hands behind his back as he stared into the male lion’s cage.”
“The deerstalker glanced briefly at me as I made my way past the cats. I stopped in front of the female lion’s cage, three or four cells down from the male. The hall was quiet except for the chattering sounds of animals preening. Suddenly the male lion pressed to his feet and bellowed a deafening roar, which he followed with several staccato bursts. The deepness of the roar startled me; it echoed off the walls as if we were in cave. I turned to the deerstalker to acknowledge the poignancy of the moment but his gaze remained on the lion. Just then the female returned a roar—not as shattering as her counterpart’s—but haunting nonetheless. The other cats stirred in their cages as the two lions repeated their duet and then, as quickly as the noise began, the hall fell silent and the animals resumed their sedentary positions. The deerstalker soon left the building, his hands still clasped behind.”
Kudu and Letter Boxes, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 198
Dinosaur Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, Philad
Orca and Sea Lion, Museum of Natural History, NY, 1985
Whale Skeleton, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 1985
Archeology Diorama, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1985
Freeze Dried Specimens, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buff
Moose, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA, 1985
Grouse, Taxidermist's Studio, Rochester, NY, 1984
Lion and Roseate Spoonbill, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, B
Blue Heron, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buffalo, NY 1985
Polar Bear and Seal, Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, 198
Turtle Skeleton, McGill University, Montreal, 1985
Roseate Spoonbills, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buffalo,
Roaches, 1985
Salmon, Taxidermy Studio, Rochester, NY, 1984
Bird and Curved Branch, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 19
Diver, Museum of Natural History, NY, 1985
Frigate Birds and Scaffolding, Museum of Natural History, NY 198
Prehistoric Whale, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA,
Bighorn Sheep, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 1985
Kudu and Letter Boxes, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 198
Dinosaur Exhibit, Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, Philad
Orca and Sea Lion, Museum of Natural History, NY, 1985
Whale Skeleton, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 1985
Archeology Diorama, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1985
Freeze Dried Specimens, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buff
Moose, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA, 1985
Grouse, Taxidermist's Studio, Rochester, NY, 1984
Lion and Roseate Spoonbill, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, B
Blue Heron, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buffalo, NY 1985
Polar Bear and Seal, Philadelphia Museum of Natural History, 198
Turtle Skeleton, McGill University, Montreal, 1985
Roseate Spoonbills, Buffalo Museum of Natural History, Buffalo,
Roaches, 1985
Salmon, Taxidermy Studio, Rochester, NY, 1984
Bird and Curved Branch, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 19
Diver, Museum of Natural History, NY, 1985
Frigate Birds and Scaffolding, Museum of Natural History, NY 198
Prehistoric Whale, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, MA,
Bighorn Sheep, Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C., 1985