Mark Smith, The Spirit of Birds

Mark Smith brings The Spirit of Birds to The Elliott Bay Book Company on Thursday, October 22, for an evening presented by the bookstore. Smith is a wildlife photographer, and the collection he's showing is exactly what the title suggests: a series of photographs celebrating birds. He'll be there in person to walk readers through the work.

The collection focuses on a few specific themes that Smith pulls from the birds he photographs. He describes The Spirit of Birds as a look at their resilience, wisdom, playfulness, and love—four different sides of the same animal. It's a broad way to look at them, and the photographs are meant to shine a light on those traits. Since he'll be leading the conversation, you'll get to hear how he arrived at those images and what he saw in the birds that brought them together.

It's an all-ages event, so it works as a family outing as much as a solo trip. The evening is presented by The Elliott Bay Book Company, and the bookstore is the one hosting the whole thing. If you've spent any time in the neighborhood, you know the place—1521 10th Avenue in Seattle.

Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the event starts at 7 PM. It's free, but they're asking for an RSVP, so it's worth getting your name on the list before you head over. The address is 1521 10th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122.