Untitled (Tawny Owl)
Eric Hosking (assembled by Cooper Campbell)
1937, 2019
Inkjet print, polypropylene sleeve.

    A turning point in the career of british Nature photographer Eric Hosking arose from an accident on May 12th, 1937. While attempting to photograph a Tawny Owl in nature he employed a new version of a high speed flash, the light produced by this flash startled the bird causing it to attack. He was struck in the face, its claw penetrating his left eye. The resulting infection meant choosing between losing one eye or probably going blind. The eye was removed and there was ensuing publicity in all the national newspapers, where his photographs were already in great demand. As soon as he was fit he returned to the field to continue taking pictures. This image is the result of that incident.