This photobook presents Dod Miller's portraits of people partaking in The Birdman competition.
"The Birdman competition is the quintessence of British humour and
eccentricity. Held each summer along the south coast of England, people
dressed in avian related garb attempt to fly off piers. The furthest
flight wins prize money, before splash landing in the water.
Standing on the pier, away from the crowd, Miller captured mixed
feelings of excitement, pride, anxiety and fear. As each birdman walked
away from the friendly and light atmosphere of the beach to get ready
for their big jump, whilst nervously glancing down over the edge of the
platform.
The old-fashioned twin-lens reflex, shooting black and white images in a
square frame, could capture the eccentric birds with clarity as long as
they stood perfectly still. Miller pictured each of them individually,
focusing on their uniqueness, particularities and self-crafted
narratives. Waves and clouds of rainy English summer days served as a
backdrop to their performance, divided by the horizontal lines of the
sea and the structure of the pier." - excerpt from the Birdmen afterword
by Julie Bonzon.