The Girls

They are unexpectedly beautiful creatures, chickens.

I’ve seen them up close before at petting zoos, but never in someone’s garden and backyard. I felt like I had stepped into new territory—into their space of tranquility. As a guest, I admired them from afar, watching them go about their day.

I’ve always wanted to take photographs of chickens—farm animals in general. They’re interesting creatures with amusing personalities. Chickens have this suspicious manner about them; the way they move reminds me of the way people hunt for keys on their keyboard, one finger at a time.

While they are peculiar, they also have this majestic and royal sense. The back feathers flow like waves upward and outward. Their faces are petite and hidden amongst the dramatic red of their comb and wattle.

As I followed them around with my camera, they kept a close eye on me. In some cases, I felt their participation in the moments I was trying to capture—it almost appears as if they’re posing.

And along the way, a little feline friend decided to join in on the fun.

Thank you to the wonderful homeowners (and my friend Reilly for the intro). This was such a fun experience—I’m very grateful for the opportunity! This blog is also named after the owner’s name for her chickens.

She calls them “The Girls”.

Photographs are by Stephanie Snyder documented on Sony a7iii and edited using Adobe Creative Cloud.