A Year of Patience and Precision
I had been holding off on posting my best photos for a while. The reason? It takes considerable time and effort to capture images that are truly contest-worthy, and I’ve always felt that if I posted everything in one go, I’d soon run out of material. However, these are the photos I hold closest to my heart, and I simply couldn’t wait any longer to share them. After all, the joy of photography lies in sharing these moments with others, allowing them to experience the visual beauty I see.
The Elegant Cattle Egret: A Breeding Season Portrait
Summer is the breeding season for the cattle egret, and this photo was taken just minutes from home. It shows the egret in its full breeding plumage — though not quite complete, as it’s missing the characteristic breeding blush on its beak (a bluish tint that comes later). I look forward to capturing this moment again, perhaps with better lighting or composition. To get eye-level with the egret’s nest, I had to work off a ladder, and as the papyrus around the area grows taller each year, getting that perfect shot becomes more challenging.
📌 Update: I’ve now photographed egrets in their full breeding blush! You can see the complete series and final shots in this article.
The Silent Question of the Little Pied Cormorant
Next up is the little pied cormorant. Although it was clearly aware of my presence, it was busy drying its wings and seemed reluctant to fly. You can almost read the silent question in its eyes: *Should I take off now?* However, he was perfectly positioned with the sun illuminating each feather, creating a rare and magical moment for a quality shot. It’s a great example of how sometimes patience and perfect lighting can make all the difference.
The Noisy Miner: Beauty in the Chaos
The noisy miner, often disliked for its aggressive behavior and incessant chattering, is a bird that doesn’t always win hearts. I’m not particularly fond of them either, but this one had an opportunity to hunt for nectar on a long grass-tree flower stem, and I couldn’t resist capturing it. I adjusted the white balance to create a light-filled, soft effect, which suited the image perfectly. This photo was taken in one of my favorite local parks, a place I often return to for its peace and quiet despite the noisy miner’s presence.
Reef Egrets and the Hunt for Fish: A Noosa National Park Adventure
During a family trip to Noosa National Park, I was fortunate enough to capture some incredible moments of reef egrets hunting for fish. The first image shows the bird catching a mudskipper — an impressive feat given the size of the fish. It’s hard to believe it all fits down the bird’s throat, but in mere seconds, it disappears. The second image captures the same bird hunting smaller fish. As the egret shakes its head to stun the fish, water droplets are suspended in mid-air, adding a dynamic element to the photo. The focus in its eyes makes this shot one of my best hunting photos to date. It’s also rare to have several images from a single session make it to the top of my year-end list!
The Majestic Whistling Kite in Flight
While visiting Fraser Island, I captured this stunning shot of a whistling kite in mid-flight. The deep blue sky provided a perfect backdrop, creating maximum contrast and highlighting the bird’s graceful flight. It’s clear from its posture that the kite was keeping an eye on potential prey below, adding a sense of purpose and focus to the image.
Pied Cormorant at Tangalooma Point: A Serene Moment
This next image shows a pied cormorant perched on a handrail near the jetty at Tangalooma Point. The bird, basking in the sun, was completely relaxed and uninterested in the humans passing by. I loved the calmness of the scene, and the vibrant blue of the ocean provided the perfect contrast for the cormorant’s black-and-white plumage.
The Murray River Turtle: A Rainy Encounter
One rainy morning in the same park where I photographed the noisy miner, I came across a Murray River turtle. The turtle appeared to be playing dead, not moving an inch. This gave me the perfect opportunity to capture the moment, with the rain-soaked surroundings adding a rich, saturated color palette. I imagine the rain softened the soil, allowing the turtle to lay its eggs, and after a long day of digging, it simply lacked the energy to flee. It was an extraordinary encounter, and this turtle quickly became famous for its stillness.
Golden Headed Cisticola: Nature’s Hidden Jewel
The golden-headed cisticola is not a bird that typically stands out — in fact, its plain appearance often makes it easy to overlook. But when I spotted this one in full breeding plumage, with its golden head and a red bug in its beak, I couldn’t resist capturing the moment. Despite its unassuming nature, this bird was clearly in full show-off mode, perched among delicate flowers in the soft light. It was a reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.
A Curious Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet at Brisbane Botanical Gardens
Lastly, I have a photo of a scaly-breasted lorikeet taken during the gum tree flowering season at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by pink bottlebrush flowers, the lorikeet looked directly at the camera with a curious expression. The soft lighting and vibrant colors made this a standout moment in my collection.
Choosing a Favourite: A Year’s Worth of Stories
If you asked me to choose a favorite photo from this collection, I wouldn’t be able to pick just one. Each image holds a special story, a moment of connection, or a challenge that makes it meaningful. But I’d love to hear which photo resonates most with you! Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.
Click the link below to view my best images from 2019.
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