The magnificent chicken: portraits of the fairest fowl

134 Pages·2013·29.461 MB·English

by  Velbel, Christa;Staples, Tamara

T H E M A G N I F I C E N T C H I C K E N

T H E
M A G N I F I C E N T
C H I C K E N
Portraits of the Fairest Fowl
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TAMARA STAPLES
Essay by Ira Glass
Text by Christa Velbel and Tamara Staples
Early 20th-century chicken photo by Arthur Schilling.
Photography copyright © 2001, 2012 by Tamara Staples. Additional credits:
Text copyright © 2001 by Christa Velbel.
Photo on page 4 provided by Bill Wulff, Poultry Press, photo by Arthur
Additional text copyright @ 2013 by Tamara Staples.
Schilling.
“Trying to Respect a Chicken” was broadcast on the public radio program
New feather and all globe illustrations, pages 34–126 by Scott Piper.
This American Life, produced at WBEZ in Chicago and distributed by
Public Radio International. Produced by Julie Snyder. Copyright © by Ira Text on page 21, selected text on pages 34–126 from the American
Glass and WBEZ Chicago. 1997. Used by permission. Standard of Perfection, 1998 edition; text on pages 22–23, images on
pages 22–23 and 30–31 from the American Standard of Perfection, 1930
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form
edition; selected feather illustrations on pages 34–126 from the American
without written permission from the publisher.
Standard of Perfection, 1910 edition. Used by permission of the American
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available. Poultry Association.
ISBN: 978-1-4521-2562-6 Photo on pages 110–111 by Bill Newell.
Designed by The Grillo Group, Inc. www.grillogroup.com Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
Additional design by Anne Kenady.
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
INTRODUCTION
to the new edition
I began photographing chickens more than ten back to the chickens. There’s really no reason other
years ago. In 2001, when The Fairest Fowl was first than pure love. As more time passed, I became
published, there was little information available curious as to what had changed about the poultry
about poultry shows. Since that time these chick- shows, the birds, and the people. As I moved back
ens have become a more familiar and beloved sight. into their world, I found that, happily, little had
There are record numbers exhibiting at the shows. changed. People are still devoted to raising the
City laws have relaxed to allow backyard chicken perfect specimen. The birds are as magnificent as I
coops. New books and magazines about raising and remember. I am happy to report that The Fancy—as
breeding backyard chickens have become available. the shows are known to their devotees—is alive
And Martha Stewart honored the chicken by using and well. Thriving, in fact. In this new revised and
chicken names for paint colors. Needless to say, the expanded book you’ll find twenty new chickens,
fancy chicken has arrived. new glimpses into the shows, and a new resource
section. I am so pleased to present to you a rare
After The Fairest Fowl, when thinking about other peek inside a world that few outsiders ever see. I
subjects I wanted to photograph, I just kept coming hope it delights and amazes you.

C ON T EN T S
INTRODUCTION ................................................. 5
THE STANDARD OF PERFECTION ...........................26
On judgment day, chickens of every national
TRYING TO RESPECT A CHICKEN ........................... 8
origin march (or strut) to this tune.
Ira Glass, This American Life.
The experiences and insights of the host of
THE CHICKENS. ...............................................32
Public Radio International’s This American Life
Pictures of perfection, or something very near
during one of Tamara’s chicken photo shoots.
it, at least. Prize-winning chickens and what
makes them that way.
THE WORLD OF CHAMPION CHICKENS. ..................16
Getting up-close and personal with the amazing
RESOURCES .................................................. 128
chickens of the poultry show circuit.
8
TRYING TO
RESPECT A CHICKEN
BY IRA GLASS This American Life
9