A vivid coral flamingo curves its neck in the foreground, with paler and pink flamingos behind it in a pond reflecting gold and green light.

Coral Among Gold

MG-0188

2020-07-20

About this piece

A coral flamingo fills the foreground, its layered feathers and curved neck set against rippling gold and green reflections. Selective focus separates its sharply rendered head from the softer birds, foliage, and rocks beyond, giving the crowded scene an intimate centre.

The story

I framed the nearest flamingo so that its curved neck rose against the bright water, leaving the other birds to occupy the softer distance. What held my attention was the meeting of textures: loose, overlapping feathers beside reflections stretched into narrow ribbons. The pale bird at the left offered a quiet counterpoint to all that coral. For a moment, the pond seemed composed of colour first, and only then of birds and water.

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