This photograph is from my series “Secret Garden,” which aims to capture and showcase the magical world of Great Egrets in Florida's unique and diverse natural environment. It is one of the best among the thousands of frames I captured in 2020.
During the breeding season, Great Egrets gather in Kraft Azalea Garden to begin their nesting rituals each spring. They build their nests high up in trees to protect their young from potential predators. When they fly between the trees, I can capture the beauty of the morning sunlight filtering through their wings. The hanging Spanish moss and tree leaves create a natural frame for this magnificent bird.
The original capture was illuminated by natural sunlight from behind, revealing intricate feather details of the wings and the beauty of Spanish moss, creating a stunning effect. However, the blue sky in the background was a little flat. Without enhancement, they would only be considered good wildlife photos with significant motion and good composition but insufficient visual impact or artist input. Therefore, I approached them from an art perspective and added lights to the backgrounds. This creative enhancement resulted in a dreamy and ethereal image, adding artistic value to the photograph and elevating the results to a higher level, transforming the original capture into a piece of art.
