Gulls of Greatness
The First Look at a New Photo Story
All new paid subscribers will receive a poster print from this series of work.
Do you aspire to greatness, to be the best you can be? To garner praise for your achievements from peers and strangers alike? Well, friend, the birds are here to warn you. I hope you listen.
Take Queen Victoria, who ruled for over six decades an empire that spanned a quarter of the earth. The Empress’s statue is enthroned in Edinburgh, high above the neoclassical pillars of the Royal Scottish Academy. But pause and look closer. Above her sceptre and crown is a creature of radiant brilliance. Larus argentatus, or perhaps fuscus, or even marinus. Let me tell it straight: the queen’s crowning glory is a gull.
And this is no exception. For the last few months, as I have cycled around Edinburgh, I have noticed and admired many gulls atop the heads of venerated figures from history.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Now We See to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.