Black-backed gull, evening

Bird portraits seem predominantly to focus on portraying the subject in vivid colours with strong light that maximises detail. Fine — done well, they can be spectacular — but sometimes a different approach can be refreshing. One doesn’t often see soft light and pastel colours in bird portraits (I’m not saying they don’t exist, just that they seem under-represented). Anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s my form of protest at the excesses of Velvia-like over-saturation and high contrast.

The bird is a black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus) on the coast of Wellington harbour on a midwinter evening in 2006.

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor