Traveling to the continent’s wild perimeter in search of glorious North American waterbirds…this was the adventure of a lifetime. Maryland photographer, Middleton Evans, made 38 trips over a five-year period to complete his “wish list” of alluring species, captivating behaviors and pristine habitats.
In all, Evans encountered 180 species on trips to thirteen states and Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. A remarkable trip to Florida in 1998 inspired the project with ten days of daily surprises, including a Great Blue Heron grappling a plump muskrat.
Highlights include an unusually friendly King Eider, dancing Western Grebes, inquisitive Brown Boobies, a preening Roseate Spoonbill and huddling American Flamingo chicks. Yet nothing would eclipse climbing into a Bald Eagle nest on Middleton Island, Alaska! An introduction describes how Middleton’s odyssey became a spiritual journey, punctuated by arduous hikes, frequent perils, joyous camaraderie and moments of sheer epiphany. A Photography Notes section at the end of Rhapsody details the inspirations and circumstances behind each of the book’s 320 photographs. Rhapsody in Blue makes a wonderful gift for any nature lover, engaging the heart, mind and soul with turn of the page.
