To most, pigeons are ubiquitous urban pests. They’re something one rarely delights in or takes pleasure in seeing. But this hasn’t always been so—it could actually be the love of pigeons that has made them such a common, mundane part of our landscape. Humans have been domesticating pigeons for at least 10,000 years, and the pigeon was likely the first domesticated bird. Fancy pigeons, kept primarily for their beauty, have been around almost as long, and were depicted on Egyptian tomb hieroglyphs.
 
In this series, Brendan Burden explores the unexpected and often under-appreciated beauty of the lowly pigeon. Through the use of formal portrait techniques, the pigeon is presented with an esteem normally reserved for less humble subjects. This unconventional contrast provides a new perspective on something many people see every day and give little consideration to.