Vornberger, Cal 1950–

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Vornberger, Cal 1950–

(Charles Calvin Vornber)

PERSONAL: Born March 2, 1950, in Detroit, MI; son of Charles Calvin and Mary Arlene (Ruhl) Vornberger. Education: University of Michigan, B.A., 1972; Wayne State University, M.F.A., 1975. Hobbies and other interests: Photography.

ADDRESSES: Home—New York, NY. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 115 W. 18th St., New York, NY 10011. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Freelance art director, 1978–80; Modern Telecommunications, Inc., New York, NY, director of design, 1980–87; Tumble Interactive Media, Inc., founder and president, 1988–2000; EpicEdge, Austin, TX, chief creative officer, 2000. Instructor at the University of Texas, New York University, Hunter College, Pratt Institute, and Katharine Gibbs School; National Opera Institute, fellow.

WRITINGS:

Birds of Central Park, foreword by Marie Winn, Harry N. Abrams (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Cal Vornberger is an award-winning art director for film, stage, televison, corporate videos, music videos, political campaigns, and live events whose passion for his hobby developed into a new career as a travel photographer. It was cut short, however, with the events of September 11, 2001, that thereafter affected the travel industry. According to Rene Ebersole of Audubon, Vornberg, who can walk from his Manhattan apartment to Central Park in just a few minutes, took his camera to shoot autumn foliage when his attention was caught by a great egret fishing in Turtle Pond. He returned to the 843-acre park, which is an important stop for more than 200 species of migratory birds, and built a collection of bird photographs. "Initially he focused on bird portraits," noted Ebersole, "but he gradually became more interested in behaviors—cardinals courting, green heron fledglings braving their first flight, robins building their nests in the oddest of places."

One of Vornberger's photographs is of robins nested in a crevice of the Romeo and Juliet statue near the Delacorte Theater. That, along with another 174 color photographs, described as "stunning" by Booklist reviewer George Cohen, can be found in his book, Birds of Central Park. Library Journal contributor Howard Katz observed that "the robins appear spellbound as they gaze at the figure of Romeo bending over to plant a kiss on Juliet." The book includes seldom-seen birds Vornberger has captured on film, sometimes after receiving tips from other birdwatchers by cell phone. He devoted three years to the project. The volume is divided into four sections, one for each season, so that readers can quickly see when each species is likely to be observed. Also included is a fold-out pocket guide. Cohen concluded that "birdwatchers will be captivated."