Illustrations (photographs/ artwork) for the Atlas

David Norman

The Atlas Publication Working Group is pleased to invite local photographers and artists to contribute to the Atlas. Some illustrations will add to the information content of the book. Others will be needed to enhance the attractiveness of the publication; some judge a book entirely by whether they like the pictures.

The word ‘illustration’ is used, intending it to be a neutral word, encompassing photographs and artwork in all forms.

The type of illustrations for the Atlas is a subjective matter that has already aroused some strong opinions. The Working Group has no prescription for the type or style of the illustrations. Full colour will be available for every page of the book, although black-and-white illustrations could be used. I would like us to have at least one illustration in almost every two-page spread. There should be an attractive cover illustration as well.

The only specification is that we are looking for illustrations of two types:
- First, depicting a variety of Cheshire and Wirral habitats, obviously including those that are important for birds, but perhaps also those that are rather sterile. It would be good to have some identical views in the two seasons, six months or so apart, showing the seasonal changes in our landscapes.
- Secondly, we must have some illustrations of the birds themselves. A key point of the Atlas is that it is about what birds are doing, not just what they look like. The species’ illustrations, wherever possible, should show some aspect of the birds’ breeding or wintering behaviour, and the relation to their habitat.

We are aiming for paper and electronic publication, and illustrations should be suitable for both media. With publication intended in 2008, illustrations will be selected probably by about June 2007.

To offer your illustrations for the Atlas, please contact:
(photographs) Andy Harmer, tel. 01928 735847, e-mail andyharmer@btopenworld.com
(artwork) David Norman, tel. 01928 711064, e-mail davidnorman@cawos.org