Splashing Pelican
Leo D.
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It was a cold, gusty day. A frigid 70 degrees. Cold, as I was in Texas. I was in Port Aransas, a place known for its diverse wildlife refuge and rare Whooping Cranes. Little did I know, the best picture I would make that trip would be of a common White Pelican, outside a wastewater treatment plant. Walking into the location where I would eventually make this shot, the stench was overwhelming. You had to hold your nose to make it through. But as I walk along a small trail, the wetland began to envelop me and the fumes faded away. I came upon a brackish pool teeming with life. A swarm of various diverse species of birds filled the pond, and an alligator even lay dozing near the shore. After observing this landscape for some time, a flock of pelicans glided in to join the other birds. Each magnificent bird drifted in with a splash one after another, each resembling a landing seaplane. I made this shot just as one particularly charming bird was shaking out its wings after the landing. I love this image not just because of the regal appearance of the subject, but because of the beauty uncovered so close to something as disgusting as a wastewater plant. This picture reminds us that even in the most improbable of places you can always find something wonderful.
Title: Splashing Pelican
Medium: Digital
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For me, photography is a way to escape. No distractions, just me, my camera, and the world. I'll often leave everything else behind, including my phone. I live across the street from a park, essentially my photographic playground. After a stressful day being able to fall into my camera is a blessing.
