Oyster catcher - sometimes, small is good.

Black oyster catcher in Ambury Park, New Zealand, 2018.

I enjoy photographing wildlife and landscapes.  Occasionally, the two come together.  When this happens, the wildlife component may be relatively small, as in this case, where the bird is visible and identifiable, but hardly eye-catching.  Still, it makes for an interesting photo.

What makes this shot work is the multiple aspects that draw your eye.  The rough but narrow rocky shoreline, the two trees of different sizes, the blurry but recognizable background, and, of course, the bird (which is on the right, rocky shoreline, by the way).

Most of my bird photos are just of the bird itself, with some background or foreground relative to the bird's environment.  In this photo, the two are reversed, with the environment taking the stage and the bird remaining somewhat obscure.  However, the bird's presence is important as it gives important context to the image.  It also wouldn't be the same is the bird was turned away from the camera or even face on.  Its profile is perfect, and it is even pointing in the right direction.

Although the bird is small in the photo, it has a big impact.  Sometimes, small is good.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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