Stilt in a still frame

Wildlife

Shot by KGK Deepak

Visakhapatnam

Company Name: Novartis Healthcare

Vote 72

Capturing birds bathed in golden bokeh against a sunrise had long been a dream of mine—one that always seemed just out of reach. But as the migratory season faded and summer crept in, the receding water levels finally offered the perfect conditions to chase that vision.

One quiet morning, I found myself aligned with the rising sun, determined to catch the magic. I mounted my camera on a mini tripod and, with cautious determination, eased it into the shallow waters. Lying prone, I searched for the ideal angle, chasing the richest bokeh I could find. My heart pounded as I watched my gear hover mere centimetres above the water’s surface—every movement a calculated risk.

And then, as if on cue, a black-winged stilt wandered into the frame for its early breakfast. My fingers were ready, my focus locked—and in that fleeting moment, I finally captured the image I had envisioned for so long.

EXIF: 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 800
Gear: Canon 200D paired with a Tamron 150-600 mm G2 lens.