To many New Yorkers, pigeons are just a step above rats—pervasive and germy. Not to photographer Andrew Garn. “The problem is that there are just too many pigeons,” says Garn. “If they were rare, people would see them differently. I see them as jewels.” He’s dedicated the last eight years of his life to capturing the true essence and personality of these everyday birds in a series of up-close portraits—six of which are currently on display in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A lifelong New Yorker, Garn never really gave the seemingly insipid city birds a second thought—he was too busy photographing flamingos and hummingbirds (and other species—he's always loved birds), along with architecture and street life. Then, in 2008, Garn found himself stumped about what subject to shoot for an upcoming exhibit in Williamsburg. When he saw a pigeon fly across a building façade, he was suddenly intrigued, finding an attractive challenge in the birds’ mediocre...