Alan Murphy was born in London and raised in Ireland, where a field guide and pair of binoculars — gifted by his parents at age five — sparked a lifelong love of birds and nature. When he moved to the United States in 1984, he was so struck by the sheer diversity of North American species that he borrowed a camera simply to document what he was seeing. It turned out to be a pivotal decision. He fell in love with the technical demands of photography and the pursuit of getting closer to his subjects. "Most of all," he says, "I found photographing birds to be the most intimate bird watching there is."

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That borrowed camera has since taken him far. Alan has now photographed nearly 700 North American bird species and is a globally respected photographer whose work has appeared in field guides, calendars, and major publications, including National Geographic, Living Bird, National Wildlife, Birds & Blooms, Ranger Rick, and many others. One of his Eastern Meadowlark images was selected for a conservation license plate issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles — a distinction as fitting as any award. And awards have followed too, most recently recognition in Bird Photographer of the Year, one of the most prestigious international competitions in the field.

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Alan is equally known for his teaching. For more than 30 years, he has led hundreds of sold-out, multi-day workshops across North America and abroad, guiding participants through bird behavior, ethical attraction methods, natural setups, and camera craft. He has also produced instructional videos and e-books, and spoken at festivals, conferences, and camera clubs around the country.

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His photography has a recognizable signature: thoughtfully chosen perches, clean, uncluttered backgrounds, and quality natural light that lets the bird — and its environment — speak for itself. In recent years, he has expanded his creative work to include painstakingly detailed charcoal drawings of birds and other animals, bringing the same patient eye to pencil and paper that he brings to the lens.

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Alan and his wife, Kim, live in Colorado, where they travel, explore nature, and share their home with a few lucky rescue dogs.