The Portraits

GVSU student Hannah takes flight as the Northern Cardinal at Aberdeen Park. In bold red at dusk, her voice and her color come out together.

Amber already knew she needed a red bird. As the Scarlet Tanager at Dwight Lydell Park, she becomes the flash you can’t look away from.

Robyn meets the Ruddy Duck in Rust Brown, Raven Black and a flash of Sky Blue. Compact, curious and finally letting her boldness through.

We went looking for Erica’s brand colors and found a bird. As the American Redstart in Raven Black and Pagoda Red, her spark flashes open.

Justice builds safe spaces for everyone she loves. As the Baltimore Oriole, the nest-weaver of Michigan’s treetops, she lets herself glow in gold.

Ashley as the Eastern Meadowlark: a bright, quiet song over an open field, and a friend of nearly fifteen years stepping into the spotlight.

“I think I’m a yellow bird.” ZamZam glows at sunset as the American Goldfinch, letting her joy and movement shine.

REWIND co-owner Tina hosts the party for everyone else. As the Ruby-throated Hummingbird among apple blossoms, she gets to be the spark.

Emerald green and bright red hair: Jade as the Mallard, proof that we become ourselves feather by feather.

Denisha as the Bufflehead: jewel tones in the wetlands, and a confidence that grew with every step she took.

A Kingfisher Blue sweater bought on a hot summer day led Winston to his bird. As the Belted Kingfisher, he dives in.

Wren leads on the dance floor. As the Lazuli Bunting, a bird a little out of range, she follows teal back to the playful girl she used to be.

Rena as the Indigo Bunting, a bird whose blue comes from light, not pigment. In blues and Celadon, her own electric spark gets to show.

Artist Timothy spends his life looking at color. As the Cerulean Warbler, a tiny sky-blue bird of the treetops, he steps inside it.

A nurse for 26 years, Angela started modeling after her divorce. As the Blue Jay, she steps into the clear, bold version of herself she’s becoming.

Big Chef spends his life behind the camera. As the Blue Grosbeak, with his son at the park where he played as a child, he finally steps in front of it.

Dante as the Black-and-white Warbler, a bird drawn in ink that climbs where others hover. Quiet and observant, he shows the power of contrast.

Dancer and space-holder Whitney as the Great Blue Heron, asking how much space she is allowed to take up, and taking it.

Dai as the Wood Duck at Reeds Lake: emerald, midnight blue and bronze. A woman quietly authoring whatever comes next.

Emmy as the European Starling: Raven Black and Imperial Purple, a bird that shimmers when the light finds it. So does she.

Jules as the Crow at Millennium Park: all black, steady, alert and playful. Their intelligence and humor finally get the spotlight.

Jenna as the Red-winged Blackbird, black and golden yellow at sunset. The herald of spring, and a woman stepping fully into her own song.

Swing dancer Selah climbs and balances along the Grand River as the Cedar Waxwing. In Marigold and Hot Black, her gentle boldness takes wing.

Birder Kes spends hours watching birds. As the American Kestrel at Huff Park, they become the quick, fierce, playful one being watched.

Curious, intuitive and always searching for beauty, Diva becomes the Great Horned Owl and finds gold in the gray.

Ryan DeLuca as the Eastern Screech-Owl: the little owl that hides in plain sight. A steady healer whose quiet attention is his power.

At the edge of a frozen pond at dusk, Nickole didn’t need to move to take flight. As the Eagle, her stillness becomes power.

“There’s a little wild in me.” On the Pickerel Lake boardwalk, Xandra becomes the Wild Turkey and comes home to herself.