[ PORTFOLIO ]
Tom Alber
Tom Alber says the dark background of pool water behind his close-up of a flamingo lends drama to his picture.
Birds, amateur photographer Tom Alber says, are difficult to shoot because they're so shy. So it takes lots of stalking before you get lucky.
"I shoot different things when I go to the Honolulu Zoo," Alber says of one of his favorite sites, "and if I happen to see a bird, I just aim my camera. Birds are hard to approach, but I got a few good ones here and there."
His "few good ones" make quite an impressive display. Animals are his favorite subjects. (Some of his other zoo photography was displayed in "Portfolio" a few months ago.) Most of the pictures were taken at the zoo because "the birds there seem less shy. They must be used to seeing humans all the time," he says.
Alber says the right shot often takes agonizing patience. His shot of a peacock with tail feathers spread, for instance, is one he considers a coup.
"I've always wanted to take a picture of that. I waited forever for that shot."
"Forever" in this case amounted to two years.
At other times, however, good shots are just a matter of chance. His striking flamingo shot fell into place one day during a routine visit to the zoo.
"The flamingos are usually 10 to 15 feet away, but for some reason this one was only 5 feet from me. I managed to close in with my telephoto lens and get the shot.
"When I visit the zoo, I just walk with my camera and look around," he continues. "Sometimes I have an idea of what I want to photograph, but I don't always get what I'm looking for. But then something more interesting presents itself during the process."
A peacock at the Honolulu Zoo spreads its tail feathers.
In pursuit of a sunrise picture at Kailua Beach, Tom Alber came across a Black-Crowned Night Heron, above. "He wasn't shy, he was too busy looking for breakfast," Alber says.
Mejiro are difficult to photograph, Tom Alber says, because they don't perch for very long. The one in the picture above must've been hungry or thirsty, Alber believes, because it didn't pay any attention to him.
Egrets, like the one at right, are also shy birds, but Alber was able to get a dramatic close-up shot. Both pictures were taken at the Honolulu Zoo.
The zoo's Superb Starling, from East Africa, is awash in color.
Photographers are invited to submit portfolios of their work. Send samples to Portfolio, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; or e-mail jpeg images to
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