Eric Hosking

Eric Hosking, (October 2, 1909 - February 22, 1991) born in London, UK was a photographer who pioneered several techniques for bird photography.

Though both publishers and magazine editors confessed to be amazed by Hosking's work they failed to find a use for his images during the first ten years of his career. The breakthrough was not due to a change in demand but instead an accident while taking an owl picture in 1937. He lost an eye after being attacked by an tawny owl, and the newspaper coverage of the accident launched Hosking to fame creating a market for his bird photographs.

Hosking's most famous image is Barn Owl with Prey of 1934. His most widely read book is An Eye for a Bird, his autobiography published in 1970.

Hosking was the first and last photographer capable of earning a living by just taking images of birds according to the report Frühzeit der Naturphotographie by Fritz Pölking.