Find out what moves you, because that’s how you help the world.
Owen Deutsch
You can also listen to this episode with Owen on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Castbox, and Google Podcast
Join our online community and interact with the host, Perrin, gain access to monthly photo contests, discover daily inspiration, and much more!
Interested in contributing? Visit our Supporter page to find out more.
reprinted here by permission.
Owen Deutsch still has the receipt. It’s from a Sears in Chicago, decades ago, for a darkroom kit that cost exactly $11.56. He was 11, newly bewitched by the magic of film, watching images suddenly appearing like ghosts on paper under the yellow glow of the safelight. That was when he fell in love with photography.
Interestingly enough, Owen didn’t grow up around artists. His dad was a plumber. His mom, a homemaker. But something about that moment in the darkroom flipped a switch. Over the years, Owen would turn that childhood curiosity into a career in fashion photography, real estate development and now bird conservation through his photography. His tale is not a straight line and he’d be the first to say so. But every chapter of his life has been guided by the same thing: passion and a refusal to do anything halfway.
In this episode we talk about that winding journey, including his switch from photographing supermodels to rare bird species in the Andes. We also get into his new book, Birds of the Tropical Andes, co-authored with Michael J. Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy. For those interested, it’s more than a simple photo book. It’s part field guide, part conservation manifesto, and 100% of the royalties go to supporting habitat protection in the region.
Here’s what we cover:
- What really happened in that basement darkroom, and why he still remembers every detail
- The strange parallels between fashion shoots and bird photography
- How colorblindness has helped, not hindered, his photographic vision
- The physical toll (and unexpected joy) of shooting at 17,000 feet
- Why beauty is more than aesthetic-it’s a tool for change in conservation
Whether you’re into birds, photography or stories about finding your purpose later in life, Owen’s got something for you. This one’s funny, thoughtful and full of moments that’ll stick with you. Enjoy the conversation!
reprinted here by permission.
Q: What unexpected lessons about nature have you learned through the years of immersing yourself in bird photography?
Owen: First of all, nature has its own alarm clock. The birds don’t wait or listen, they don’t wait for me. The only thing I can control is where they are and when I go there. The difference between bird photography and fashion photography is enormous, and yet it’s very similar in the need for passion. If you’re not passionate about what you do, you’re in the wrong business
reprinted here by permission.
Q: What is it about birds that captivates you? Why do you love birds so much?
Owen: I remember the first time I looked at those bird pictures from my friend, I got goosebumps. These birds are absolutely magnificent. Their colors and designs are just amazing, especially the birds of the tropics. I think fashion designers must have drawn inspiration from them. That moment sparked a passion that has lasted a lifetime.
reprinted here by permission.
Q: What were some of the challenges that you came across when you were learning how to take photos of birds that you never encountered during fashion photography?
Owen: In fashion photography, it’s all about control. In the studio or on location, I could control lighting, the models, everything. With birds, it’s the opposite, you go where the birds are, and you have zero control. Birds don’t pose or wait. That unpredictability was a huge challenge, but also what makes bird photography so exciting.
reprinted here by permission.
🔗 Connect with Owen Deutsch
🧭 What We Talked About
🎼 Early Journey / Origins
- Owen’s love for photography began at age 11 after stumbling into a darkroom at a community center.
- Built his own basement darkroom with his father’s help and charged friends to develop film.
- Entrepreneurial even as a teen, he pitched photo sessions to youth clubs and launched his first photography “business.”
- Transitioned from darkroom technician to fashion photographer after working with iconic names like Victor Skrebneski.
- Took a 20-year detour into real estate development, eventually finding his way back to photography through birds.
📖 Philosophy / Vision / Storytelling
- “Passion is everything.” Owen emphasizes that loving your craft is essential for longevity and impact.
- Believes in finding emotional connection with subjects-whether fashion models or birds.
- For him, photographing birds isn’t just documentation; it’s “capturing magnificence to inspire care.”
- Draws inspiration from nature’s colors and forms, especially tropical birds, linking bird aesthetics to fashion design.
📷 Tools, Gear, and Behind the Scenes
- Shoots with a Nikon 800mm lens handheld, no tripod, to maintain flexibility in the field.
- Swears by high frame rates (up to 30 FPS) and pre-release buffering to capture perfect bird movements.
- Shoots with a 50MP camera and embraces cropping thanks to high resolution.
- Chooses gear that withstands weather and dust; uses camera covers but trusts in durability.
- Doesn’t sell his photos, which allows him to create purely for conservation and art.
🔁 Practice, Teaching, Platforms
- Built a rich online archive of birds with sound clips and geographic filters to educate and inspire.
- Engages in conservation storytelling through photo books like Bringing Back the Birds and Birds of the Tropical Andes.
- Actively supports ABC (American Bird Conservancy) and donates 100% of his royalties to the cause.
- Continues to explore new places with top birding guides, most recently in Minnesota and the Tropical Andes.
- Developed a TV screensaver showcasing 150 images from his books and recent trips.
💬 Advice, Creative Strategy, or Challenges
- “Practice, repetition, and tenacity” are key, especially when photographing fast-moving birds.
- Recommends staying low, being aware of bird stress signals, and avoiding nesting areas.
- Suggests asking: “What didn’t I ask?” when preparing for expeditions-wisdom from years of travel.
- Despite being colorblind, Owen finds beauty through this unique way of seeing, proving that photography is still possible (and beautiful) without perfect color vision.
🌍 Influences, People, Brands, or Places
- Mentions Victor Skrebneski as a foundational influence in his fashion career.
- Shoots often at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary in Chicago and Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota.
- Passionate about the Tropical Andes, a biodiversity hotspot increasingly under threat from development.
- Collaborates with Mike Parr, president of ABC, on both books.
- Favorite gear includes the Nikon Z9, 800mm f/6.3 lens, and pre-release technology from Nikon and Canon.
🔮 What’s Next for Owen
- Recently released Birds of the Tropical Andes, combining Mike Parr’s expert text with Owen’s photos.
- Hosting webinars and live events to promote conservation through visual storytelling.
- Planning a trip to Brazil and contemplating more video work, though happy staying rooted in still photography.
- His ongoing goal: to inspire the next generation of conservationists through beauty, education, and emotional connection.
