Honorable Mention / 2023 / Nature / Wildlife

• Photographer
  Emma Parker, Australia

The male Cattle Egret during mating season takes on a beautiful plumage, almost regal. With bright orange features and an extra set of tail feathers.

I wanted to maximise this change using a drop down in light and shooting at a site I regularly photograph the Egrets, with a deliberate plan to photograph on a windy day as it would enable me to get a photograph of the feathers flowing behind the egret.

I waited until the light hit the egret from the right hand side to create additional drama and shot a series of photographs. This was my favourite.