We arrived on Rabida Island in the Galápagos just as the first light of morning began to unfold. Our guide anticipated flamingos and other birdlife at a nearby saltwater lagoon, and we set out with the intention of photographing them in the soft glow of dawn.
The lagoon did not disappoint—flamingos were abundant, along with a heron or two. However, regulations prevented us from approaching too closely, a boundary we fully respected. Knowing this would require a tighter composition later, I composed with cropping in mind. Three flamingos, in particular, were interacting beautifully in the delicate light, and they became my focus.
I envisioned the final image as a square format, so I photographed vertically, ultimately sacrificing their elegant reflections in the water. The scene was captured one stop underexposed to emphasize the subtle light on the birds while gently subduing the background.
Post-processing was straightforward: I deepened the background tones and enhanced the whites and highlights on the flamingos. Final sharpening was completed using Topaz.
