November 2024 Wildlife Photography Contest Intermediate Winner

I arrived at the wetland before dawn, eager to capture its inhabitants in the brilliant golden hour backlight that I knew would soon flood the landscape. As I wandered along the boardwalk, I admired how the rising sun highlighted the thin clouds, turning them fiery orange and pink. A Red-winged Blackbird perched atop a cattail caught my eye. Carefully, I approached and crouched down, shooting just below eye level to reveal the blackbird’s iconic silhouette against the pre-dawn sky.

The wetlands were coming alive with the sounds of nature. I felt a sense of peace and tranquility as I watched the sun rise higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the landscape.The beauty of the natural world never ceases to amaze me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness and capture it through my photography.