Check out the chicken

"Extra extraordinary chickens" is the sequel to a similarly titled book by the same author, "Extraordinary chickens". Sorry, did I say author? I meant photographer!

As Stephen Green-Armytage himself admits, this is not a reference work on rare chicken breeds. And it's definitely not a scholarly study. It's a photo book. In many ways, the book is a work of art. And so are the chicken!

Stephen Green-Armytage has travelled across both the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, visited poultry shows, and photographed about 200 chickens of 61 different breeds. In fact, he didn't simply "photograph" them. Rather, he took their portraits. Many of these chicken have personality. Especially the chicken couples. Green-Armytage seem to have a special fondness for bizarre breeds and specimens. Indeed, some of the chickens in this book look as if they just stepped out of Twin Peaks, or live next to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Grand Daddy Punk Rocker at the book's cover is just the beginning of it! My anti-favorites are the Silkies, which look like furry mammals rather than birds. The book also includes photos of Jungle Fowl, the ancestors of domesticated chicken.

So who is this book intended for? Chicken enthusiasts, first and foremost. But the photos are so artful, colorful and (sometimes) plain weird, that the book is perfect as a birthday or Christmas gift as well. It's a perfect "coffee table book" to show your friends or scare your neighbours with. You might even enjoy it yourself.

CHECK OUT THE CHICKEN!