Coffee Table Book Highlights the Unusual Beauty of Chickens

Moreno Monti and Matteo Tranchellini photographed over 100 different chicken varieties.

BY Michele Debczak

Mar 08, 2018

A skilled photographer can spot beauty in the humblest of places—even a chicken coop. That’s what happened when Italian photographers Moreno Monti and Matteo Tranchellini began traveling to aviary exhibitions in search of a feathered companion. “We really wanted a pet chicken for our studio in Milan. This may sound like a joke but we were dead serious,” they said in a recent Q&A. They discovered that not only do chickens make good pets, but they’re also excellent models. Now, after photographing over 100 different varieties, Tranchellini and Monti are publishing an entire coffee table book of stunning chicken shots.

The book, titled CHICken, showcases chickens like many people have never seen them before. Feathery talons, poofed-up hairdos, and striking color patterns are all on display. According to the photographers, the birds "have a perfect balance between quirkiness and elegance.”

CHICken is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, with copies available to preorder for pledges of $58. You can reserve yours today with shipping estimated for July.

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CHICken, Moreno Monti and Matteo Tranchellini