2 . Fancy, feathered, and fascinating, these birds surprised portrait photographer Alex ten Napel with their beauty and charisma.
In the Netherlands, Alex ten Napel makes miniature (微型的)runways in barns and backyards to capture the essence of chickens such as this Polish rooster. “I consider them walking pieces of art, “ he says.
A chicken “is not just an animal that gives us eggs, ” says Alex ten Napel, who’s been wandering his home country of the Netherlands in search of farm fowl since 2014. Taking inspiration from Melchior d’ Hondecoeter, a 17th-century Dutch artist known for his work with birds, ten Napel uses lighting, backdrops， and an elevated， catwalk-like stage to bring chickens out of the coop (笼子)and into an entirely new context.
“What I hope you see in the photos is that chickens can be proud beings or funny beings, “ he says. ”They can be like gymnasts or ballerinas. Not what most people think of when you talk about chickens. “ While each animal has different characteristics, ten Napel has noticed the emergence of some patterns throughout his travels. Roosters, or male chickens, tend to be large, visually striking, and imposing (仪表堂堂的)，he says. But it’s the females ten Napel finds himself drawn toward. “I have a heart for the hens. They’re so vulnerable, ” he says. “They move me in a way that I want to protect them. “
Ten Napel first came face-to-face with a chicken while he was camping in the Pyrenees Mountains about 10 years ago. He felt an immediate connection to the species, which then became his main photographic muse.
A specialist in portrait photography, ten Napel paid attention to children and older adults-for 25 years. The chickens, he says, have reignited his passion for this type of photography. “I can’t direct them. I have to be patient and feel how they will show themselves, ”he adds. “Everything they give you is a gift. “
1. What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Alex took a photo for a chicken while he was camping. |
| B．When taking photos, Alex usually guides the chickens to show themselves. |
| C．When referring to animal characteristics, Alex prefers male chickens to female. |
| D．Alex makes miniature runways as catwalk-like stages to take photos for chickens. |
2. What is the author’s attitude towards female chickens?
| A．Caring. | B．Curious. |
| C．Proud. | D．Surprised. |
3. What was the focus of Alex ten Napel as a portrait photographer in the past?
| A．People. | B．Natural scenery. |
| C．Animals. | D．Historical sites. |
4. Which can be a suitable title for this passage?
| A．Chickens-Proud and Funny Beings |
| B．Chickens-Going From Cage to Catwalk |
| C．Chickens-Visually Striking Farm Fowl |
| D．Chickens-Walking Photographic Master |
