A Fold of Coral

About this piece

Mike Gedj frames a flamingo in close detail, its curved neck enclosing a patch of softly blurred background. Coral and rose plumage fills the composition, while a single yellow eye provides a sharp focal point among the overlapping feathers.

The story

I followed the curve of the neck through the frame, drawn to the way it brought the flamingo back toward its own feathers. Beyond it, green leaves and pale birds softened into indistinct shapes. What held my attention was the eye, still visible within that elaborate fold of coral. I wanted the photograph to keep both qualities together: the sweep of the bird’s shape and the small, precise details of its plumage.