A World of Birds – Natural History Photography & Digital Interpretation

I have been photographing Mansfield Museum’s natural history collection as part of the development of the new permanent gallery, A World of Birds. My role focused on capturing high-quality images of the museum’s bird specimens to support new forms of digital interpretation and interactive displays within the gallery.

The Joseph Whitaker bird collection is internationally significant, containing around 3,000 specimens, including species that are now critically endangered. For the new gallery, over 600 exhibits representing more than 500 species are on display, ranging from the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, to the smallest, the hummingbird, alongside rare and unusual specimens such as albino and colour-variant kingfishers, parrots, owls and birds of prey.

I photographed the bird specimens specifically for use on digital interactive screens, allowing visitors to explore the collection in greater detail than would be possible through display cases alone. These digital elements help bring hidden aspects of the collection to life, offering close-up views, additional context and accessible ways for audiences of all ages to engage with the material.

The gallery also includes the museum’s important butterfly and moth collections, along with spaces for community exhibitions, learning and discussion. The digital interpretation aims not only to showcase the beauty and diversity of global birdlife, but also to encourage visitors to think about conservation, biodiversity and the future of the natural world.

This project reflects my interest in using photography and digital tools to reinterpret historic collections, increase access, and help museums connect audiences with complex subjects in engaging and contemporary ways.